Then people in the Third World should be happy. How come they're not?
I'm convinced that happiness is largely a function of personality (whether it's a result of nature or nurture I can't say). I'm one of those "naturally happy" people whose mood just defaults to being very happy unless something actively drags it down. It wasn't until I was married that I truly understood that not everybody is like that.
Man, with a name like that, this guy could get into any speakeasy in town.
Some of us, like you Physicist, are naturally happy, but it still takes a conscious effort to decide not to let events outside of our control or people who want to hurt have no or little effect on us. I am one of those people everyone would hate in the morning. No matter what time I get up, which is usually very early, I am excited about the day and energetic and happy. That part is natural to me. Learning to stay focused and positive when events or actions beyond my control start to bring me down is harder. Living through eight years of Clinton was extremely hard for me. ;-)
This year I beat cancer, went through chemo and laughed and joked with friends and family that I hoped to have a crew cut by Christmas... which I have! My son is overseas right now, but I know it will be the happiest day of my life when he returns, which I have faith that he will.
Faith, to me, is what allows me to be happy no matter what. I have been blessed with so many good things in my life and all that befalls or befuddles me just makes me think something better is just around the corner. Of course, I still do have to work at it, but that is the joy... knowing it is there if I reach for it. I wish for every one of my FR friends this expectation of good things, and may the New Year bring all of you just that. :-)
Humans are so complicated arriving at a simplististic definition is so easy. When posed with this question at different times in my life, I would come up with different answers. All well thought out, too.
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The thorns which I have reapd are of the tree. I planted; they have torn me, and I bleed.I should have known what fruit would spring from such a seed.-Lord Byron
The world comes to us in an endless stream of puzzle pieces that we would like to think all fit together somehow, but that in fact never do - Robert Pirsig
There's always an easy solution to every human problem: neat, plausible, and wrong. Henry Louis Mencken
Always do right -- this will gratify some and astonish the rest Mark Twain
Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. Will Rogers
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Seriously, in Man's Search for Meaning, Dr. Frankl captured the essence of it, IMHO.
As I recall, Dr. Frankl postulated that happines is a derived condition, not attainable as a direct goal. Those people who constantly and directly seek happiness probably will never find it.
Those people who seek to live useful, productive lives have a better chance of attaining happiness. I.e., it is the mission that is important.
Been a while since I read that marvelous book, but that is how I remember the essence of it -- and that is how I try to live my life. Of course, good FRiends, good whiskey and good loving help a great deal!
Thanks for the post. May I commend Man's Search for Meaning to all FReepers? No psycho-babble there -- just some very helpful observations and information about life and living.
What kept me going is my faith in Jesus. It was time for Felix to go home. I know he is loved in heaven. What the sanctimonious won't admit or tell you is that there is a Hebrew word called nephesh. In most situtions it means soul. It occurs in the old Hebrew Bible 754 times.
It is used in conjunction to human beings and the lower animals. For the lower animals it is in 22 passages and rendered in nine different ways. The nine different ways are as a "creature", "thing", "life", "the life", "beast", "fish", "her". For man and the lower animals it is used in seven passages in three different ways: "creature", "the life", and "soul".
I could go on and on but you get the picture. It is reasurring for me to know that my precious pets soul is in heaven and someday we'll be reunited. So, for me Christ gives me happiness through His love and compassion. Knowing that no matter what, I can always count on Him makes my soul happy - not material things.