They say happiness comes from within, but I disagree. If happiness does come within, how come people seek happiness from outside? Try answering that question.

It comes from both inside and outside, in my experience.

I don't think it does. I think one needs material things to some extent to be happy.

If for example, a person is homeless without decent clothes, food, or something to do, I don't see it being remotely possible that they're happy.

Even if one does have a roof over their head, if they're living in poverty and unable to do things they're passionate about; what would the point of living even be?

So no, happiness doesn't come from within because humans need external things to survive and thrive.

[Raindropvampire]

I think it's 90% outside 10% within.

[Entity06]

I think the within stuff if poorly interpreted by most. No one will be happy when their basic human needs, lots of them external, are not somewhat satisfied, we are social organisms and we also find nurishment from exterior sources.
The within part, the way I see it, is about whether or not you can use the positive external stuff to be content. It's like the difference between being in the middle of the desert with no food and water anywhere and starving/dehydrating because of that and being close to a perfectly good river in an area with fish and edible plants and being unable or unwilling to make use of those resources.

Most people won't be able to live emotionally healthy and content lives completely alone all the time, you can't not be lonely by always solely with yourself, for ex. But if you do have people around and the real opportunity to connect to them, if they try to connect to you and you are unable to do it or unwilling, then you do need to work with your inner self.

Well generally I haven't been able to rely upon myself to be happy. I think about now and the only other time I experienced Happiness and it definitely is owed to outside and others' influences.

I've heard of people who have practically nothing material wise and can still be happy… I believe that happiness does mainly come within… you can have all the riches in the world but would that make you happy? I don't think so because you would want more… To be happy you have to be truely happy within and be content with what you do have and not what you don't. To be happy inside in love… At least this is what I believe.

[TishaBuv]

Of course it does. CBT addresses we feel the way we think (how we perceive).

[Cat_Lover_58]

I think happiness starts within. I'm generally happy with what I have and think that the beginning of that state leads me to be open to receiving more.

[Thunder Bow]

When I see all those unhappy rich people like Donald Trump, I have to say Happiness comes from within First, the rest is 2nd.

If happiness does indeed come from within-I keep forgetting how to do these trigger warnings, so I can't say whatever it is I have to say without triggering anybody and disprove the whole "happiness comes from within" stuff.

[Big Mama]

Happiness come from within is what I am believing at the moment. When I look at my current situation, a nice house, a nice car, bills paid up, no credit card debt, house paid off, those things should make one happy correct? Well in my case it does not. It is the non non-tangible things that provide moments of happiness. A baby's first cry, the sound of a horse's neigh, a beautiful sunset, the smell of rain, those are the things that make happiness real.

I think about my current relationship and it is not a happy one. I have all the things above, but that is not the key to happiness. When I moved into a meager house with my children and separated from my husband, I had no job, I received food stamps, I was dirt poor living in a 40 year old double wide. But you know what, I was happy. Truly happy.

Being yelled at and demeaned, being treated like crap, being put in your place all the time and being reminded you are nothing, fear, anxiety, panic; these things breed discontentment. But life, the ability to live, feel and experience the world around you, that opens the door to contentment and happiness.

Even though I lived in that double wide, I sat out side and listened to the crickets, I watched the fireflies, I saw mama deer eat my tomatoes (dang her rotten hide) but I saw her baby playing nearby and carelessly chasing a butterfly. I heard something I had not heard in a long time, laughter. That laughter was from me. I had forgotten what it felt like to laugh. I had forgotten the sound of my own laughter. That is happiness. The ability to see and feel life, the ability to hear and experience lifes goodness, that is what makes one happy.

Peace and contentment set the groundwork for happiness. Money can't buy it, people can't give it to you, (you DO need to have your needs met in order to allow yourself to experience it though) , some one cant find it for you, it is something only you can find for yourself.

So take a moment and listen and feel the greatness. Choose to be happy my friends : )

No vote. 50/50. They reinforce each other.

If you are all alone. In the middle of a violent war or are homeless and starving--you are going to be seriously unhappy--you might be able to temporarily escape through prayer, drugs, etc. but it is hard to maintain without having your basic needs met. If you were not loved and were traumatized as a child, it is hard to find peace in side (this is an observation from the posts I have read here).

If your basic needs are met, much of our happiness comes from the process of self actualization plus we need acceptance from others (not everyone but someone). Hopefully our family accepts us completely--when they do, this gives us a great foundation. Plus, it is helpful to only associate with positive (accepting) people. When we have goals and are fulfilling them that process usually brings us together with others seeking some of the same things we are. It makes me happy when I become engrossed in life's activities to the point that I am only thinking about what I am doing in the present moment.

We are not meant to be happy all the time. Happiness feels more intense when we have also experienced sadness, pain, fear, etc. Life is about experiencing it all but hopefully we figure out a way to meet our most basic needs so that we can focus on the things in life that make us most happy.

From Happify.com:

“The research suggests that happiness is a combination of how satisfied you are with your life (for example, finding meaning in your work) and how good you feel on a day-to-day basis. Both of these are relatively stable—that is, our life changes, and our mood fluctuates, but our general happiness is more genetically determined than anything else. The good news is, with consistent effort, this can be offset…you have the ability to control how you feel—and with consistent practice, you can form life-long habits for a more satisfying and fulfilling life.”

So I think happiness is based on external as well as internal factors. It all depends on the level of satisfaction in our lives, and how that is measured and defined, I believe.

If happiness does indeed come from within, why do people take antidepressants? Try answering that for me.

[Big Mama]

Because antidepressants do not cause you to be happy. If you take an antidepressant and someone passes away you will still be sad, if someone yells at you your feeling will still be hurt and you may cry. So that is not how to find happiness.

I think of antidepressants this way. In your brain there is one side making chemical and one side catching that chemical. There is either not enough being made or not enough making it to the goal. So think of it in terms of basketball. If you need 100 baskets to be made every hour in order to "feel" happy and only 40 are made then you are not reaching happy. Some hours your brain makes 80 baskets other hours it makes 20. It is just never enough. Antidepressants make the basketballs stronger and makes them have more power, it makes the hoop bigger and gives you 50 extra balls to boot. So now it is more likely that they will make it to the basket and with 150 balls there is a greater chance of making that quota of 100 per hour.

In technical terms not enough neutrons are being made and fired and received every hour and it takes that for us to have the ability to be happy, but it will not MAKE you happy, that still comes from with in. But with out those neutrons there is just no way to even begin to allow your body and mind to even attempt to create that happiness.

I have depression by the way and take antidepressants. Sometimes I need to up the dosage with the assistance of my doctor. I have to find the right balance for me. Sometimes what works for a few months no longer works and you need more. Sometimes the antidepressant you are given is not the right one. (it doesn't make the basket bigger so it can receive more or it makes the balls stronger but not strong enough)

I hope this illustration helps you or someone understand how that works a little better. I have to take things out of the scientific context sometimes and make it something I can envision in order to understand it.

[lotusblossom19]

I'm not even sure where it comes from anymore, but I could use a bit of it. That's for sure.

Originally Posted by lotusblossom19

I'm not even sure where it comes from anymore, but I could use a bit of it. That's for sure.

It comes from within-or so they say.

[lowpoint]

Anywhere but within.

[CuriousCat27]

Sometimes I think being happy 'from within' can just be letting yourself be happy with yourself, if that makes any sense

[TishaBuv]

Originally Posted by tetrisfan1

If happiness does indeed come from within, why do people take antidepressants? Try answering that for me.

Clinical depression is a real medical condition.

You are not happy because you are thinking thoughts that make you unhappy. But, why is this happening? You may have depression or you may be unhappy with your situation.

Depression is anger turned inward.

Sometimes, we just can't help ourselves and stay in an unhappy rut. Like me.

Originally Posted by TishaBuv

Clinical depression is a real medical condition.

You are not happy because you are thinking thoughts that make you unhappy. But, why is this happening? You may have depression or you may be unhappy with your situation.

Depression is anger turned inward.

Sometimes, we just can't help ourselves and stay in an unhappy rut. Like me.

This is why I don't believe that happiness comes within at all.

Humans need external stimulation. We need things like food, shelter, the touch of another person, ETC.

Most of us also need some type of goal and purpose in life; our creativity and intellect is what separates us from the animals.

Deny somebody food and a place to live, take away the people that love them, and deny them the opportunity to do what they enjoy and you deny them any chance to be happy.

In fact, one could argue that depression is created by going without one or more of those things for a prolonged period of time. Of course, I'm no professional but I think that my hypothesis makes as good of sense as any.

So yeah, we humans are nothing without external influences.

[TishaBuv]

You're right. But it makes me think of Nelson Mandela in prison as an example.

Mandela said: - "I went for a long holiday for 27 years," Nelson Mandela once said of his years in prison. It was another example of the dry, razor-sharp and often self-deprecating humour...

This is an example of a person with a great, positive attitude who survived captivity.

So, I still maintain it comes from within.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by tetrisfan1

If happiness does indeed come from within, why do people take antidepressants? Try answering that for me.

People take anti-depressants usually if they have depression not because they felt unhappy at the moment due to sad event (have death or illness in the family for example).

If a person suffers from depression, then it's not as simple to just feel happy. And not everyone who felt unhappy about something needed to take anti-depressants.

Typically if you don't suffer from persistent depression your feeling of unhappiness (due to something specifically sad happening) will eventually subside and you are able to cope with what happened without falling into depression and needing meds.

Originally Posted by TishaBuv

You're right. But it makes me think of Nelson Mandela in prison as an example.

Mandela said: - "I went for a long holiday for 27 years," Nelson Mandela once said of his years in prison. It was another example of the dry, razor-sharp and often self-deprecating humour...

This is an example of a person with a great, positive attitude who survived captivity.

So, I still maintain it comes from within.

Nelson Mandela was an extremely resilient person. Makes me want to read more about him because I bet he had either a mother, father and/or other key relative who was nurturing and helped him establish good core values within himself. Values like forgiveness, self worth, openness, etc. Perhaps he had good genes too--for instance, I think it is easier to navigate life's obstacles when you have higher EQ and IQ. All of us have varying degrees or resilance. Everyone has a breaking point. I bet Nelson Mandela faced his many times in prison but in the end, he managed to survive. Don't you love it when the good guy's survive?