[Kotomi]

What is happiness?

Simple... Or is it? I've asked plenty of people and nobody has given me an answer that I have been looking for.. Also, one more question.

Is there such thing as too much happiness?

[Nsomthin]

hmm i think happiness is just the absence of sadness, i haven't experienced too much yet

[Rhiannonsmoon]

Hello kotomi,

Happiness as you are asking about is subjective and it means different things to different people.

There is
Mental happiness
Emotional happiness,
Family happiness
Financial happiness
Material happiness
Romantic happiness

And the list goes on, that is why it is subjective.

I totally agree that happiness is the abscence of sadness, but we can be happy about one thing and sad about another at the same time. So to define it is to examine what makes one happy and what makes one sad.

Hope you get some less confusing answers,

Rhiannon

http://www.psychologytoday.com/print/24153

[Marie67]

Hi, I think happiness is more than the absence of sadness, because otherwise you couldn't be happy and sad at the same time. I had twins years ago, and one of them died after a week in the hospital. The other was fine, and I had two other healthy little children. It was very confusing because I was grieving so hard and at the same time to delighted with my living newborn and little girls. That's an extreme case, but there's more to happiness than being not sad, and as Rhiannon said, there are different kinds of happiness: contentment, joy, pleasure... maybe the best way to describe happiness is that you can feel your eyes smiling.

[ECHOES]

It is something personal that we get to define for ourself
What makes you happy doesn't necessarily make me happy, so we have our own definition of what makes us feel happiness.

I think happiness is being comfortable and empowered in the world around you without having resigned yourself to it. I think often despair occurs when one resigns themselves to their plight. So, the next time you smile, imagine sending the smile as deep into yourself as you can, like a seed.

Sarpirus

[Typo]

Happiness is diffrent for each person really,

I know for me I find happiness in simplicity and little things, I find joy in living a simple life, in spending time with my family and friends, creating something, being in nature.

What is important isn't what the definition of happiness is generally, but what the definition of your happiness is. I think this post and asking others may help you lead you to your way there.

Best wishes on your journey
Typo

[El-ahrairah]

For me, it's simple living.

A house on a meadow, a small farm, someone who loves me, a pup.

[Perna]

Often people attempt to live their lives backwards; they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want. ~Margaret Young

[Christina86]

Originally Posted by Kotomi

What is happiness?

Simple... Or is it? I've asked plenty of people and nobody has given me an answer that I have been looking for.. Also, one more question.

Is there such thing as too much happiness?

Hi Kotomi,

If you're not getting the answer you're looking for, what answer ARE you looking for?

Happiness is subjective, in my opinion. At least to a degree.

Main Entry: hap·pi·ness
Pronunciation: \ˈha-pē-nəs\
Function: noun
Date: 15th century
1 obsolete : good fortune : prosperity
2 a : a state of well-being and contentment : joy b : a pleasurable or satisfying experience
3 : felicity, aptness

I don't know if there's such a thing as too much happiness, but I do think there is such a thing as striving to always be too happy that kinda falls flat and doesn't work. (Ie. I don't think it's normal to always be 100% happy, without the sadness/anger/other emotions)

[lorna]

at peace with yourself is my greatesss happiness

[Rhiannonsmoon]

I think it's really hard too, to expect depressives to really know what happiness is, because we are grateful for any little thing that makes us smile...

[lynn P.]

We have this orthodontist office where I got my braces when I was in my 30's, then my oldest daughter got braces there and then my youngest got her's. You're probably thinking what the heck does happiness have to do with braces. Anyway there's one of the ladies who does the adjustments and she's just a bubbling pot of happiness. Everytime I see her she smiling ear to ear. I've often been tempted to ask her, what makes her so happy but I don't have the courage lol.

I think it's hard to put a finger on what happiness is, since it's different for all people. A poor woman in Africa would be thrilled to receive a goat. I think many are searching for complete happiness, where everything has to be right in order to be happy. To be more realistic I think we should lower the expectations and grab the little bits of joy even if some aspects of our life aren't the best.

[vamphile]

Originally Posted by Kotomi

What is happiness?

Simple... Or is it? I've asked plenty of people and nobody has given me an answer that I have been looking for.. Also, one more question.

Is there such thing as too much happiness?

happiness is different for everyone. I do believe that in general it is, for most people sporadic.

[Kotomi]

What answer am I looking for.. Yeah, I asked myself the same thing.

I've come to a conclusion that there isn't ever going to be a definition of happiness. It'll always be that way, in my opinion. There shouldn't be a definition of happiness. Aah, I bet it was wrong of me to ask this question.. /:

I think I've been spending too much time thinking about something that doesn't matter. Thanks for everyone who replied, the answers were very interesting and helpful.

[lonegael]

For me, happiness is a transitory, intense positive feeling. Most of what i call happiness in everyday conversation is really "contentment". I have what I need. My lot is what I can deal with and grief or anger are not regularly occuring features just now. I have a good home, loving family, satisfying job, and yeah, there are small things I would change, but they dont' eat at me.
"Happiness" is nice, but I don't think that I can build a life looking for it anymore than I can build a life hunting "adrenaline rushes" Yet i feel that in general, I am what most people would call "happy" (if not coherent). Do I make sense? Huggs!

[PleaseHelp]

Kotomi, I think a lot of people wonder what happiness is. I know I do. My boyfriend asks me if I'm happy and I look at him like what is happy. I also think some of it has to do with how you were raised. There wasn't a lot of joy/happiness in our household. So I don't think I ever knew what it was like to be surrounded by happiness. I don't know if that makes sense. I'm still trying to find what happiness is for me. I wish you luck in your journey