[venusss]

How do you asses the "normal" population? Do you think they are happy or are they just as unhappy as me?

Hard to judge for me, because despite of living in one of the most beautiful places on the Old continent everybody is pernamently looks like they are going to a funeral and then they are gonna murder few people on the way home. (partly, kidding, but I live in one whiny country).

I think most people have struggles, ups and downs. They are not happy-happy-happy. In fact, maybe some live in blahland where only extremes shake them. ANd I am not sure I would want that. Because I certainly get weird looks when I do thinks as squeeing over pretty places and things or taking pictures of flowers or getting excited over stray cats.

But then, I go to events where "outcasts" gather and we are happy in our strange ways.

I fear that most people are not happy all of the time or even most of the time. I think many people are more content than I, and being content is a close second to being happy.

[Reao]

Everybody wants to be happy, but many people don’t realize that happiness has to start with “you.” If you’re not content with your life and at peace with yourself… no amount of money… no number of possessions… will ever make you truly happy. True happiness comes from learning to enjoy the life you are living right now and learning to appreciate all the wonderful things you have at this moment. Living for a future time and yearning for the things you don’t have will never make you happy. How To Be Happy In A Mostly Unhappy World

Positive psychology researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky describes happiness as “the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile.”

According to just-released data by Gallup (October 2013), only 13 percent of employees are "engaged" in their jobs, or emotionally invested in their work and focused on helping their organizations improve. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...going-to-work/

More than three quarters of people in the developed world say they are happy, but a clear majority wish their life was simpler, according to a study of adults in 20 of the world's leading powers. (Emphasis added) https://www.theguardian.com/politics...psos-mori-poll

Ms. Lyubomirsky's definition is foreign to me. That said, I cannot speak for others.

everyone has unhappyness in their life, everyone

I bet even the eternal optimist gets down sometimes.

I think it's so easy to fake happyness, fake you're okay, but how many people, if you stop and ask them, can truly say they are happy

I think some people truly don't have as many problems as others. I mean, you can't seriously compare a homeless person to someone who owns a home and has everything they need. I also don't agree that "money can't buy happiness" because in situations where a person isn't getting their basic needs met it causes stress which definitely isn't happiness.

I also think that rich people can be unhappy because there ARE things that money can't buy. Overall it truly depends on the person.

[-jimi-]

I think very many people are innately happy. There is something that constantly pulls them up so they can manage life. I do not think most people are unhappy.

[Ember_42]

I think that most people are at least somewhat happy most of the time. They may be tired and stressed a lot but still happy in general. I base this on how many times I've been told, by so many people, to stop being negative, to smile more, and that I should just choose to be happy. If smiling and choosing to be happy works for them then I feel like they must be pretty happy.

[LadyShadow]

I think for the most part people are somewhat happy. They get married, have kids and I guess enjoy life? For us it's different. Living with bipolar is hard and we see life through a different lens than others.

I tend not to worry about other people though, I feel that tends to bring me down. My therapist says the worst thing you can do is compare yourself to other people. Don't worry too much about other people, and draw all the focus on yourself and making yourself happy. That's what I try to do anyway.

Gentle (((hugs)))

Originally Posted by LadyShadow

I think for the most part people are somewhat happy. They get married, have kids and I guess enjoy life? For us it's different. Living with bipolar is hard and we see life through a different lens than others.

I tend not to worry about other people though, I feel that tends to bring me down. My therapist says the worst thing you can do is compare yourself to other people. Don't worry too much about other people, and draw all the focus on yourself and making yourself happy. That's what I try to do anyway.

Gentle (((hugs)))

Very wise advise LadyShadow

[Unrigged64072835]

I don't know. It depends on one's perspective, whether they see the world full of happy people or fearful people.

[Klaraja]

My personal experience is that I sometimes feel really down and sometimes something nice happens in life which lifts my mood. I always say to myself that it does not make sense to feel depressed, because there are people who fight for their life everyday and they do not complain. That usually gives me motivation for the day and also wanting to help people in need

[bounceback]

I think most people work at being happy by being grateful for what they have. I think everybody has bad moments at times. Some definitely have more positive experiences than others though and then there are the few who are born with a smile on their face literally. Just like their are others who enjoy being miserable maybe because it is all they know.

Yes, I do think most people are somewhat happy, compared to me a least. But a lot of people have had their fair share of tragedy and sorrow too, though you will never know that just by looking at them.