Happiness. What makes you happy?

[Celtaur]

It's a simple question really, but it also isn't...

How do you find happiness? What do you do to be happy? What makes you feel happy? Do you make others happy?

[Briony Haldane]

It's a simple question really, but it also isn't...

How do you find happiness? What do you do to be happy? What makes you feel happy? Do you make others happy?

The quick answer is, of course, that happiness comes from within, from our connection with Source and our willingness to live within that knowledge.

As far as making others happy, I know that is beyond my ability. There are no answers "out there" and each of us must make the inward journey to our own
happiness.

There are activities that give me great pleasure, that I feel passionate about, such as writing and sharing poetry and prose, teaching, practicing healing, being in the company of like minded people and sharing ideas through discussion, example, and study. I love to dance and sing. Music is wonderful expression of vibration to which I never fail to respond.

[Echo]

I agree with Briony, happiness is a personal state. But it can be brought to the surface by things, activities, people.

For me, sunlight and storms, the high, wild places, a smile from a stranger.. sometimes just the joy of being.

But it comes as a response to these things, and is dependant upon an inner state. Being happy is, for me, about living true.. to myself, my beliefs, my ideals. When I cannot, or choose not because of concern for others for example, then joy is harder to attain.

One cannot make others happy. One can create circumstances in which they can find happiness, perhaps, setting the scene for joy, through small acts, thoughtfulness and care.. all facets of love. But we are not responsible for the happiness of others... only for the way in which we allow them to 'be' around us.

[EyeCanBlackStars]

Happiness to many people means pleasure. As a matter of fact, I often feel the sense of pleasure is the regressing of higher states back to a lower state. I find that whenever I accomplish higher states in meditation when I get happy, I turn to no longer happy, and that turns to desire and needless, repetitive suffering. The trick is to not desire the pleasure, but to desire what come before pleasure. Pleasure is the moving of higher energy to lower states, from my observations, this isn't necessarily backed by any teachings I've read, but maybe it is, many times after having epiphanies I'll go back to literature I've read before and find that things I didn't understand before made sense.


This is a bit extreme I think. Experiencing pleasure is fine and it's a good thing to experience, it's kinda like asking a child not to play games anymore when that is what is natural for the child to do. Everything that is natural will be naturally happening.

[Briony Haldane]

I think you are correct Eye, when you say that happiness to most people means pleasure- love, contentment, satisfaction with a job well done, seeing the "happiness" of another we love.

It just occurred to me that happiness often occurs when people operate in the moment. Because their needs are being met, right now, the happiness occurs and there is no need to think or desire further for that time. However, "happiness" in that sense is certainly fleeting, for as soon as we emerge from the "moment" and feel the pull of desire, our happiness evaporates. So staying in the moment pays big rewards if one can do it.

[Haruth]

How do you find happiness?

1. Learn to like yourself for who and what you are.
2. Learn to like other people for who and what they are.
3. Learn to accept things when (if) they come.
4. Don't expect too much.
5. Laugh at yourself!

6. Learn to enjoy your own company.
7. Learn to enjoy the company of others (even when you don't necessarily feel like company...)
8. Do something crazy every now and then... (but not too often... they might just think you're crazy... )
9. Sleep often.
10. If you don't like what you do... change it.

11. Find someone you can share your happiness with, who understands your moods, who accepts you as you are, who finds happiness in your company, who shares your dreams and vision ...
12. When finances allow, and sometimes when they don't... buy shoes... (Erm... I think that's one for the ladies... )
13. Worry less.
14. Love more.
15. Eat well.

16. Carry out random acts of kindness.
17. Hug often.
18. Get a cat...
19. Stop judging yourself!
20. Watch a movie wrapped in a duvet with a bowl of popcorn and someone you love.

21. Dance on the street.
22. Cartwheel across an intersection... (Erm... make sure your loose change is secure first...)
23. Do something new at least once a year... (I used to say once a month, but when you get to a certain age you run out of new things to try... )
24. Don't take yourself too seriously...
25. Everything you do - do it to the best of your ability.

26. Accept your failures as well as your successes.
27. Offer assistance whenever you can.
28. Accept help when you need it.
29. Be gracious to those you pass on the way up... you're sure to meet them again on the way down...
30. Choose butter...

31. Procrastination isn't a sin...
32. Take a sick day, and spend it doing something you really love.
33. Play often.
34. Sing in the shower.
35. Try a new food... (except glace cherries... bad experience with a Tuttti-Frutti ice cream...... oh, and lobster... )

36. Skip to the store...
37. Ask the teller how their day is going... (Though sometimes this can backfire... refer to #26... )
38. Walk away!
39. Grab the opportunity...
40. Say Hi! to your neighbour...

41. Remember your dream... (and if you get it... find a new one!)
42. Spend the day naked... (This is best done at weekends... it can make others in the meeting uncomfortable... )
43. Never stop learning.
44. Take nothing for granted.
45. Don't be afraid to make mistakes...

46. Be a true friend.
47. White lies have their place...
48. ...but always be honest with your self.
49. Feel it? Express it!
50. Come here often, and immerse yourself in the most life affirming community on the net...

...and if all else fails, there's always medication... :P

Oh... wait...

51. Dig some dirt.
52. Plant a tree.
53. ...

[Echo]

Mrs H is a lucky lady

[Haruth]

She begs to differ on 22, 36 and 42 days... :P

[Echo]

Well, 22 I can understand...

[Hestia]

I love this Haruth! Such wonderful, whimsical wisdom. I need to print this one and post it on the refridgerator to refer to every day.