Is happinies really a state of mind? What I mean is can we really chose to be as happy as we want be? Does our thinking make things seem much worse than they actually are?
Re: Happinies
Is happinies really a state of mind? What I mean is can we really chose to be as happy as we want be? Does our thinking make things seem much worse than they actually are?
Sorry to say, it sounds like a silly question. no way you can choose to be happy, you can find a lot of text, tips and trick on the internet to find happiness but I think the best way to find happiness is to do good with others , it will return happiness to you.
Re: Happinies
^ Respectfully disagree.
One can choose to be happy no matter what the situation is.
The question then arise how successful that person really is. The person can be very happy to............ not quite happy.
Yes, happiness is the state of mind, just as depression is.
Just like being content and satisfied is.
Re: Happinies
Having "state of mind" can be active or passive.
Active= When person tries deliberately.
Passive= When person feels the emotion without any deliberate attempt.
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^^I agree happiness is state of mind. But, one cannot be successful by choice, yes, one can strive to achieve his/her objectives. To choose means we have different states of mind as options and we have control over mind, and i think this is beyond the human capability.
For example a man get 30k salary and think that he would be 'happy' if he could get 40k. You can call it 'unhappiness' And when he get that raise his satate of mind('happiness') changes to 'unhappiness' again after few months. What he is thinking of happiness is actually satisfaction. When he jumps to next level his level of satisfaction also increases. I think satisifsaction is also a state of mind and can be achieved throgh motivational thoughts.
Re: Happinies
Having "state of mind" can be active or passive.
Active= When person tries deliberately.
Passive= When person feels the emotion without any deliberate attempt.
nice, but i think normally people fail when they attemp delibrately. Could you give some example?
Re: Happinies
^^I agree happiness is state of mind. But, one cannot be successful by choice, yes, one can strive to achieve his/her objectives. To choose means we have different states of mind as options and we have control over mind, and i think this is beyond the human capability. For example a man get 30k salary and think that he would be 'happy' if he could get 40k. You can call it 'unhappiness' And when he get that raise his satate of mind('happiness') changes to 'unhappiness' again after few months. What he is thinking of happiness is actually satisfaction. When he jumps to next level his level of satisfaction also increases. I think satisifsaction is also a state of mind and can be achieved throgh motivational thoughts.
Agree for the most part. But success is not the same as happiness. And you described the state of mind being a willful act already.
nice, but i think normally people fail when they attemp delibrately. Could you give some example?
If a person loses everything in a storm or earthquake but decides to feel content and glad that he survived.
When a person loses job but feels satisfied that he still has health and skill to get back to his life...etc.
Example of passive state of mind is being depressed or pessimistic about everything. Feeling of doomed and worthlessness, emptiness which cannot be explained otherwise is a passive state of mind. The person may or may not be aware of this.
Re: Happinies
Agree for the most part. But success is not the same as happiness. And you described the state of mind being a willful act already.
yes, success can be a factor for happiness.
state of mind being a willful act does not mean we can choose a state of mind. To choose means you pick and have, where as to wish/strive does not guaranty that you will have the thing you wished for.
[QUOTE]
If a person loses everything in a storm or earthquake but decides to feel content and glad that he survived.
When a person loses job but feels satisfied that he still has health and skill to get back to his life...etc.
Example of passive state of mind is being depressed or pessimistic about everything. Feeling of doomed and worthlessness, emptiness which cannot be explained otherwise is a passive state of mind. The person may or may not be aware of this.
[/QUOTE]
yes, above example is of satisfaction but satisfaction is not the same as happiness.
If a student get the admission in university he wished for he will be happy, if he could get admission in any university of his respective field he will be satisfied. However, if could not get in any he will be unhappy.
Re: Happinies
Is happinies really a state of mind? What I mean is can we really chose to be as happy as we want be? Does our thinking make things seem much worse than they actually are?
Wisdom of the ages, the less you think the happier you are. Learn to focus your mind away from excessive thought, because it inevitably leads to negativity. Negativity creates an atmosphere in which distrust, animosity, paranoia, and ultimately depression can thrive.
Re: Happinies
Happiness is rooted in not having expectations, because 'no expectation' means 'no needs', which means 'everything is sufficient', which means 'peace', which means 'happiness' ...
desire is the condition of seeking what is not obtained ... It needs to be filled ... When things are found that will fulfil the needs then it does make us happy, but that is short lived ... Many people will seek to fill the hole ... But few will try to perceive that the hole is not real and does not need to be filled.
Perhaps it is too simplistic to call happiness a state of mind, but definitely a state of mind does play a major role in happiness. Perhaps one can define happiness as the mind checking to see if the heart/soul is at peace and if it is ... Then it sees that as something good and brings upon the person the state of happiness ...
Re: Happinies
yes, success can be a factor for happiness. state of mind being a willful act does not mean we can choose a state of mind. To choose means you pick and have, where as to wish/strive does not guaranty that you will have the thing you wished for.
yes, above example is of satisfaction but satisfaction is not the same as happiness.
If a student get the admission in university he wished for he will be happy, if he could get admission in any university of his respective field he will be satisfied. However, if could not get in any he will be unhappy.
One can choose to be happy. That is an example of active state of mind.
Agree with Psyah...Reduce the need, get happy.
Yes, satisfaction does not necessarily means being happy.
Satisfaction is just a middle state between being unhappy to being happy.
Going back to three questions asked by OP, all questions can be answered in affirmative.
P.S. Irrational happiness is just as bad as irrational sadness.
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One can choose to be happy. That is an example of active state of mind. .
yes, it may be an example of active state of mind but there is no example where we have power to choose happiness. Having a baby is an example of happiness, but we have no control over it.
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[QUOTE]
Agree with Psyah...Reduce the need, get happy.
Yes, satisfaction does not necessarily means being happy.
Satisfaction is just a middle state between being unhappy to being happy.
Going back to three questions asked by OP, all questions can be answered in affirmative.
P.S. Irrational happiness is just as bad as irrational sadness.
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Me too agree that reducing needs can help happiness but this is not the only way to find happiness.
but, again, one can attempt to reduce needs but there is no gauranty he/she will succeed.
P.S. my posts are around OP's point "can we really chose to be as happy as we want be"
Re: Happinies
Wisdom of the ages, the less you think the happier you are. Learn to focus your mind away from excessive thought, because it inevitably leads to negativity. Negativity creates an atmosphere in which distrust, animosity, paranoia, and ultimately depression can thrive.
yes, its another way to get happy.
Re: Happinies
Thanks for the replies.Guess it comes down to expectations and thinking, that's what I meant by "choosing". We can, to an extent, chose to not hold as many expectations from life and with time it does become easier to control our thinking and not excessively think about things that cause stress/unhappiness. I think , happiness is subjective-what makes someone happy might not make another person feel the same. It's safe to say that at the end of the day, the people who are the most happiest are the ones who learn to perceive all events/situations/things through a positive light and just be grateful with what ever life presents them with.
Re: Happinies
ajazali and diwana - that in some cases maybe optimism and pessimism
med- that may not be true for computer age
happiness is a state of mind according to parapsychology.
it may differ for each person depending on their understanding levels
Re: Happinies
Thats why you need to disconnect both literally and figuratively…
You know many psychiatric conditions can be explained by hyperactivity of particular segments of the brain. Frontal lobe and motor cortex hyperactivity have been linked with obsessive compulsive behavior and ADHD.
For example:
"New imaging studies suggest an overactive brain system may blur internal and external realities among individuals with
schizophrenia."But “…found that schizophrenia also involves an **excess of connectivity **between the so-called default brain regions, which are involved in self-reflection and become active when we are thinking about nothing in particular, or thinking about ourselves.”
Hyperactive Brain May Influence Schizophrenia | Psych Central News
So a hyperactive mind producing disharmony is not only a philosophical issue, but also something that manifests itself in very real clinical conditions.
So there is some reason behind all the wisdom traditions that tell us focusing the mind is the key to a sound mind, and by extension and a happy disposition. Meditation in Buddhism, Zen moving meditation, quite reflective prayer of Christians, Yoga in Hinduism, the whirling of the Sufi dervishes, NAMAZ in Isam, are all means of quitting the internal environment and centering the mind. A centered mind, and focused mind, is one that is able to make better decisions and create peace and harmony for the individual and those around him/her.
The internet has its benefits, but its also a trojan horse. Being connected can potentiate the hyperactivity of an already hyperactive brain, by giving it what it craves most, constant stimuli in the form of 24 hr news, entertainment, and gossip from your friends on Facebook.
Re: Happinies
What a great post :k: I am tempted to post this in my blog.
Re: Happinies
ajazali and diwana - that in some cases maybe optimism and pessimism
Superficially talking we have lot more ways to get happy.
However, what actually works, all of us know, sahir lodhi would be the spiritual leader of our youth if superficial talk can help. As psyh said happiness is short lived and eager to be happy is no more optimism. Being realistic (not pessimistic) I explained what actually we need and that is satisfaction not happiness. Furthermore, i could guess what actually OP means Happiness and that is what i exaplained in post#5
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it may differ for each person depending on their understanding levels
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In addition, it depends upon what type of environment you got, education you have, type of problems you are facing in your life. One suggestion will not work in every situation, what I suggest, do good to others, this what almost everyone can do less or more in his\her personal capacity. I personally feel happy when I help someone at work.
Re: Happinies
:smack: its not this way
i mean we get connected with more ppl in the modern age as compared to the past
Re: Happinies
:k: true