Debate: How do you know happiness?

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Might be a silly question to some but as a pessimist I get anxious when happy as I keep thinking when will it end?

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how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

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05 Sep 200815:46

might be a silly question to some but as a pessimist i get anxious when happy as i keep thinking when will it end?

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

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25 Mar 200901:51

might be a silly question to some but as a pessimist i get anxious when happy as i keep thinking when will it end?

does the anxiety prolong the happiness or heighten it?

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

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14 Mar 200923:12

might be a silly question to some but as a pessimist i get anxious when happy as i keep thinking when will it end?

soon... but don't worry

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

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22 Feb 200907:58

its a scientific fact it takes less muscles in the face to smile than to frown and yes i believe its a good thing you walk down the street happy and smile at someone 90% of the time their initial reaction is to smile back when you are happy those around you are happy every action has an opposite an equal reaction go for it share the happiness and enjoy it being happy should make you feel good about yourself not guilty its in everyones nature to feel happy sad angry upset...thats what makes the human race special every moment could be our last it makes us appreciate everything so much more...how do you know when your happy?... i believe you see it mirrored in the relationships you have with those closest to you...now let me ask you something ; how do you know when your sad and is it a good thing?

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

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23 Feb 200914:45

its a scientific fact it takes less muscles in the face to smile than to frown and yes i believe its a good thing you walk down the street happy and smile at someone 90% of the time their initial reaction is to smile back when you are happy those around you are happy every action has an opposite an equal reaction  go for it share the happiness and enjoy it  being happy should make you feel good about yourself not guilty its in everyones nature to feel happy sad angry upset...thats what makes the human race special every moment could be our last it makes us appreciate everything so much more...how do you know when your happy?... i believe you see it mirrored in the relationships you have with those closest to you...now let  me ask you something ; how do you know when your sad and is it a good thing?

rubbish.

try your theory on the tube.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

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02 Feb 200901:54

Good for you! Don't Worry, Be Happy!

It's the serotonin in your brain, all those receptors sending feel good chemicals through your grey matter.

Do at least one thing a day which makes you feel happy.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

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04 Feb 200902:00

Good for you! Don't Worry, Be Happy!

It's the serotonin in your brain, all those receptors sending feel good chemicals through your grey matter.

Do at least one thing a day which makes you feel happy.

Dear Apegirl does this paradigm still hold after 23 years of marriage or should I wait to ask Apewoman?

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

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07 Feb 200920:29

For myself, I specialise in feeling good for no reson whatsoever! Which is just as well.

I know when I feel good by the way I break into spontaneous dance whilst cooking my tea. Or feel the need to shout "Joy!" into the faces of startled colleagues at work.
Try it sometime.

Oh, and yes, it is most definitely a good thing.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

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10 Feb 200914:54

For myself, I specialise in feeling good for no reson whatsoever! Which is just as well.

I know when I feel good by the way I break into spontaneous dance whilst cooking my tea. Or feel the need to shout "Joy!" into the faces of startled colleagues at work.
Try it sometime.

Oh, and yes, it is most definitely a good thing.

You're delusional if you think your feeling good is for no reason whatsoever.

You have a job.
You live on your own (no kids or spouse to ask why you are dancing)
Your work boss is hardly ever about.
Your colleagues tollerate your mood swings.

...but you're probably over compensating for your lack of personal fulfillment and loneliness by fantasising?

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

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11 Feb 200900:36

You're delusional if you think your feeling good is for no reason whatsoever.

You have a job.
You live on your own (no kids or spouse to ask why you are dancing)
Your work boss is hardly ever about.
Your colleagues tollerate your mood swings.

...but you're probably over compensating for your lack of personal fulfillment and loneliness by fantasising?

Ooh, bitter or what? You sound positively resentful.
You seem to be implying that my occasional bouts of good humour are something to be supressed and followed by self doubt?
OK, so maybe 'no reason whatsoever' may be stretching the truth a bit, but if I am, as you say, lonely and lacking in personal fulfilment, then it would come fairly close, wouldn't it?
And, no; the people I share my life with don't ask why I dance or holler. They clearly recognise an obvious expression of high spirits, as most normal people do, without having to ask why.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

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11 Feb 200913:40

Ooh, bitter or what? You sound positively resentful. (what is there to resent)
You seem to be implying that my occasional bouts of good humour (I specialise in feeling good for no reson whatsoever!) are something to be supressed and followed by self doubt? (try self awareness rather than doubt)

OK, so maybe 'no reason whatsoever' may be stretching the truth a bit (its only yourself that you're fooling), but if I am, as you say (no as you chose to tell us), lonely and lacking in personal fulfilment, then it would come fairly close, wouldn't it? (close to dementia?)
And, no; the people I share my life with don't ask why I dance or holler (into the faces of startled colleagues at work.) . They clearly recognise an obvious expression of high spirits (or bipolar disorder), as most normal people do, without having to ask why. (they might just not want to engage with you because you are not normal and scare them?)

Maybe you've had too much trauma to be happy.

Go for a walk in the countryside and try yoga to soothe your anger.

Happiness is a reduction of stress not a manic outburst.

Stop trying so hard.

Drink more water and treat yourself to four respectable hour long massages booked in advance so that you can accept the benefits in advance. You will benefit from having your skin soothed by human contact.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

11 Feb 200921:53

Maybe you've had too much trauma to be happy.

Go for a walk in the countryside and try yoga to soothe your anger.

Happiness is a reduction of stress not a manic outburst.

Stop trying so hard.

I must say, I'm astonished at your penetrating insight into my life and character based on just a few lines!

Unfortunately I don't have the benefit of your wisdom and so I suppose I'll just have to live with myself the best way I can.
Obviously, I haven't realised that feeling good is just a mask for my deep disapointment with the hand that life has dealt me; better than many, not so good as some perhaps?

Although, granted I may be failing to make a distinction between happiness and joy. Timescale perhaps?

Meanwhile, and despite of what you've said, I wish you "JOY!"

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

12 Feb 200901:58

I must say, I'm astonished at your penetrating insight into my life and character based on just a few lines!

Although, granted I may be failing to make a distinction between happiness and joy. Timescale perhaps?

Meanwhile, and despite of what you've said, I wish you "JOY!"

Who hasn't been caught trying to finesse a busted straight?

We are conditioned to be sentimental when scrutnised - (what does a fair flop look like?).

The truth is not usually part of our common parlance.

I have no idea who you are or anything about you but I feel vindicated that my response to your assertions was made in earnest and valid in the context of the discussion.

If someone challenges me to look at how I come across would I be doing myself a disservice by becoming vexed with their observations especially when offered on a philosophy forum?

Why should I become defensive and suspicious of a stranger more than of myself.

Perhaps it reflects more on society rather than giving rise to any sort of individual indictment but how do any of us know if we are happy especially considering the guidance we rely upon?

We too often feel obliged to be happy because reflection is frowned upon as being indulgent or frivolous and happiness is assumed to be a function of circumstance rather than disposition.

Thank you for your wish.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

19 Feb 200904:09

Who hasn't been caught trying to finesse a busted straight?

So what happened SocraTzu? You still dancing and howling at the moon?

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

20 Feb 200918:10

So what happened SocraTzu? You still dancing and howling at the moon?

Still dancing at 'inappropriate' moments, yes but at the moon I do not howl, I chirrup softly.

But to return to topic;

How should we define happiness?
Is happiness simply the absence of unhappiness? Just a relative point on a sliding scale?
Is it achieved when circumstances meet expectation? Or when expectation is adjusted to circumstances?
Is happiness a function of brain chemistry?

Evrod's original post commented on the tendency to feel anxious at times of happiness; concerned by when it will end.
It is just as reasonable to consider, during times of unhappiness, that this too will end.

After all, we can't expect to feel great every day. And why should we want to? If happiness is indeed relative then we need contrast. Without unhappiness there can be no happiness. Without low there can be no high. And so on...

Maybe you know when you're happy when you are able to consider the concept of happiness in a general abstract sense rather than a personal sense.
Maybe you're happy when you're too occupied with life to stop and ask yourself whether you're happy?

Ah, I'm bored now!
You can keep your happiness; I'll settle for Italian food and Funk. Bring it on James!

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

21 Feb 200920:44

Ah, I'm bored now!
You can keep your happiness; I'll settle for Italian food and Funk. Bring it on James!

maybe not happy but you made me smile when I didn't expect it.

long time since a post did that to me.

happiness is often the relief from misery (high / low)

cure yourself of the misery and take your happiness gently (don't mix your chemicals)

tranquility absorbs happiness without jumping with relief or fear of it leaving.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

22 Feb 200901:26

maybe not happy but you made me smile when I didn't expect it.

long time since a post did that to me.

happiness is often the relief from misery (high / low)

cure yourself of the misery and take your happiness gently (don't mix your chemicals)

tranquility absorbs happiness without jumping with relief or fear of it leaving.

like going hysterical to overcome overwhelming stress or appreciating a moment?

so you know with both when this happens and it's good?

or in the former it behests a low to follow, which is avoided in the latter, thereby signaling and precipitating misery so in some sense happiness might not always be as good as it could be even when you know you are?

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

23 Nov 200808:19

I beleive in all the old clieches
be happy with what you have got it"s all you'll ever have
every cloud has silver lining
life is a rollercoaster full of ups and downs

I think each person has there own base line some higher than others

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

23 Nov 200817:24

Hey Johnny

what about, "Life is a minnestrone" ? ..."...Wrapped up in Parmesan cheese".

or "Every fool likes the sound of there (sic) own voice."

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

24 Nov 200809:53

I'm just a soul whose intention is good-oh Lord!-please don't let me be misunderstood!!- regards'Neil.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

06 Mar 200922:14

I'm just a soul whose intention is good-oh Lord!-please don't let me be misunderstood!!- regards'Neil.

Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Breeze driftin' on by you know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
And I'm feeling good
Fish in the sea you know how I feel
River running free you know how I feel
Blossom on the tree you know how I feel
Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don't you know
Butterflies all havin' fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
That's what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me
Stars when you shine you know how I feel
Scent of the pine you know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel

Nina Simone Feeling Good lyrics...happiness epotimized by a legend...and yes in my opinion it is a good thing...

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

07 Mar 200902:01



Nina Simone Feeling Good lyrics...happiness epotimized by a legend...and yes in my opinion it is a good thing...

Dear moderator you read my post and stopped it but I was right as you can see from above this is all about wanting a "cuddle" not a philosophical exchange. They want attention which is nice but if you want to help then stop and help. They are either going to get ignored or upset. Where's your conscience and compassion?

[Moderator: sorry, no direct links to other forums allowed as content too unpredictable] is a great place for cuddles then come back to joust ...you're going to struggle for validation around here.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

07 Mar 200911:45

i am not expecting validation i apprreciate your opinions on my opinions you are entitled ; just as we are to receive those opinions how we choose...and to share our opinions on other peoples opinions with if necessary constructive critisism.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

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25 Nov 200821:02

Dear Neil

If I seem edgy, I want you to know,
That I never mean to take it out on you...
(Bennie Benjamin / Sol Marcus / Gloria Caldwell)
The Animals - 1965

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

21 Dec 200818:49

Happiness is usually a state of circumstances and perceptions, if things are good we feel good, but if things are bad... It seems to me that to be able to work at a job we really enjoy, and to have a few people around us who really care about us, makes life worthwhile.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

23 Dec 200801:39

Yeah, try shouting that out in Woolworths tomorrow?

or any town in England this time next year?

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

23 Dec 200817:17

Yeah, try shouting that out in Woolworths tomorrow?

or any town in England this time next year?

You're right, I was just trying to point out that happiness is overrated. I think that real happiness comes from looking outward, not inward.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

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24 Dec 200802:15

the Buddhists will be pleased

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

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14 Nov 200801:34

surely as a pessimist you get happy when anxious?

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

21 Sep 200813:50

might be a silly question to some but as a pessimist i get anxious when happy as i keep thinking when will it end?

I see this as a very valid and thought provoking question, it is not at all silly.

'Happiness' is in my humble opinion, a state of well-being and contentment delivered by a pleasurable or satisfying experience. This can be/is, many differing things to many different people. For example:-
An infants wide eyed trusting smile to a doting suckling mother, the opposing G-forces rippling the muscles of a racing drivers neck as he exits a high speed corner or a tramps discovery of a wam and dry doorway in the onslaught of a forboding storm.

Knowing you are happy is more a state of allowing yourself the time and respect to recognise it, for the sum parts to the equation are often in place but we remain blind to their significance and ignorant of their importance. You don't know you are happy, you allow yourself to be so.

'Is it a good thing?'..

Yes. As a gardener works for the visual stimulas of spring and summer, he also respects, values and welcomes the generative power of autumn and winter. The blooming flower of happiness also relies on the regenerative decay of sadness to grow stronger growth the following spring.

I too am a pessimist and my own personal flower wiltered many moons ago but i still find comfort and solace in watching others gardens grow.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

20 Nov 200816:44

Easy peasy!

This forum advance search user names... ...'ave a read!

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

23 Nov 200804:15

Easy peasy!

This forum advance search user names... ...'ave a read!

Thank-You Sir.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

14 Nov 200802:31

If you're into gardens then you might like Tolstoy's poetry about leaves inside and outside?

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

19 Nov 200805:08

If you're into gardens then you might like Tolstoy's poetry about leaves inside and outside?

Good morning Sir.

Many thanks for the recommendation of literature. I have exhausted my limited searching abilities and come up empty handed (unfortunately) and wondered if you could be so kind as to elaborate further on said prose and/or where i may find it online.

Many thanks in anticipation..

..iceman.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

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07 Sep 200821:00

Better to accept that it will come to an end and make the most of it while it lasts.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

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18 Sep 200800:31

I know when I'm happy as I have been taught that when my brain is full of a specific set of neurotransmitters, my mood can be defined as 'happy'. It's neither good nor bad.

As for anxiety as to how long happiness will last, I don't have this problem. But that's only because I view the me that is not now is not me. That doesn't make much sense. I do what I want now, as now is when I exist. So I shall not be worried about not being happy in the future, as I am happy now. Of course in the future I may not be happy, but that is a problem for the future. A different I shall have to deal with it. Gotta remember that life is instantaneous.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

24 Sep 200808:25

I know when I'm happy as I have been taught that when my brain is full of a specific set of neurotransmitters, my mood can be defined as 'happy'. It's neither good nor bad.

Lissen dummy- would you like to tell us of examples of instantaneous life?. perhaps you meant that life is moral & can end EFFECTIVELY at any tick of the clock(so to speak)- hmmmm?.correction- moral is supposed to be MORTAL). Anyway you -yes YOU have a body & existence- the only way to instantaneously stop your life is to instantaneously disintegrate you- a nuclear blast comes to mind- anyway get off those mind altering substances & get back to reality!!(if you don't mind!!). AND register- so we know who you are- you ratbag!, kind regards, Neil.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

03 Oct 200802:42

Lissen dummy- would you like to tell us of examples of instantaneous life?. perhaps you meant that life is moral & can end EFFECTIVELY at any tick of the clock(so to speak)- hmmmm?.correction- moral is supposed to be MORTAL). Anyway you -yes YOU have a body & existence- the only way to instantaneously stop your life is to instantaneously disintegrate you- a nuclear blast comes to mind- anyway get off those mind altering substances & get back to reality!!(if you don't mind!!). AND register- so we know who you are- you ratbag!, kind regards, Neil.

When I'm drunk I don't go on forums, advice I'd give to you.

I know what I meant, you do not. I find it sad that you assume I'm on drugs because you didn't understand what I said. What I mean by saying that life is instantaneous, is that all that you experience is over in an instant. Certainly life is a large string of instants sewn together, but ultimately I live for an instant.

Perhaps you should only say things when you have something nice to say Neil. To me it seems that you just didn't understand something and then started shouting.

Re: how do you know when your happy and is it a good thing?

Archive Comments

25 Sep 200820:54

Lissen dummy- would you like to tell us of examples of instantaneous life?. perhaps you meant that life is moral & can end EFFECTIVELY at any tick of the clock(so to speak)- hmmmm?.correction- moral is supposed to be MORTAL). Anyway you -yes YOU have a body & existence- the only way to instantaneously stop your life is to instantaneously disintegrate you- a nuclear blast comes to mind- anyway get off those mind altering substances & get back to reality!!(if you don't mind!!). AND register- so we know who you are- you ratbag!, kind regards, Neil.

Strewth neil you are still so angry it would appear and a little offensive i would say. Why do you have to call this person a dummy assume they are taking drugs and call them a ratbag. you can still offer constructive criticism without resorting to name calling.

Blackhawk the warrior

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Originally published: Friday, 5th September 2008
Last updated on: Friday, 5th September 2008

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