Happiness - what do you think constitutes true happiness?

[Lefty]

I've heard many ideas, like perfect balance (but then you would be boring, never having an opinion) and love, but sometimes that doesnt last, and ignorance, but then you would be stupid. What do you think?

[man in the red suit]

I think that the prime factor which constitutes happiness has to be candy. Honestly, have you ever felt blue AFTER eating candy? Candy constitutes happiness in its most simplistic and purest form.

[Rebelde para Siempre]

I think pleasure in any form is what consitutes true happiness.

Look at a child playing with a new toy, they get pleasure from that. They are happy.

A good self esteem is gaining pleasure from pleasant affirmations from yourself - Happiness.

etc etc...

It's hard to really say though, I'm probably wrong.

[Iepilei]

I believe that one is truly happy whenever the basic needs of that individual are met, and they are able to develop and grow. to seek and attain knowledge and skill. to feel a sense of worth, in some way shape or form.

[Eastside Revolt]

Happiness is nothing more than seratonin, something I lack.

[Spartaco]

I think there are two types of happiness: an absolute, perfect and complete true happiness which i think is a utopic concept and can't ever exist and which is also very hard to imagine, and an attainable but also partial happiness which is given by having an inner balance, people you know care about you, true friendships, something like love, being generally satisfied with what you see around you, a feeling of having realized part of your goals but still having hope in the future, and a certain economic security.

[Xvall]

Are you looking to seek true hapiness, Or what modern society tells you will make you happy? There are people out there who believe that televisions and radios will bring them hapiness, regardless of the fact that I believe that radio waves that project non-existant images and sounds could never amount to any sort of 'hapiness' whatsoever. What makes you happy? It's quite odd. Toys? Toys are nothing but neatly assembled pieces of wood and plastic. Candy? Sugar mixed with other strange, unpronouncable additives that will likely contribute to the ultimate decay of your body. To me, getting hapiness from these items is as absurd as obtaining any sort of happiness from currency, which is nothing more than green paper and finely cut metal. Then again, I am often viewed upon as a negative person. An anti-social socialist.

[Beccie]

Quote: from Drake Dracoli on 9:40 pm on Jan. 28, 2003
Are you looking to seek true hapiness, Or what modern society tells you will make you happy? There are people out there who believe that televisions and radios will bring them hapiness, regardless of the fact that I believe that radio waves that project non-existant images and sounds could never amount to any sort of 'hapiness' whatsoever. What makes you happy? It's quite odd. Toys? Toys are nothing but neatly assembled pieces of wood and plastic. Candy? Sugar mixed with other strange, unpronouncable additives that will likely contribute to the ultimate decay of your body. To me, getting hapiness from these items is as absurd as obtaining any sort of happiness from currency, which is nothing more than green paper and finely cut metal. Then again, I am often viewed upon as a negative person. An anti-social socialist.

Well said. Possessions give people an immediate false sense of happiness but they do not fulfill a person’s life. Who here, after buying something, has not thought of the next thing they wanted?

[Lefty]

What Rebelde and Drake said are completely contradictory, and I think Rebelde is more right, though Drake has a point. I am happy when I get a new CD, or toy, or whatever. However, that happiness doesn't last forever. You see? I am not truly content, but I am happy, and I doubt it is possible to attain true contentment, or perfect balance, or nirvana zen balance in today's society. You can approach it, which is what I try to do, but not attain it. However, I may be wrong.

[Xvall]

Do not be silly lefty. Anything is possible. It can be attained, but not at the rate this country's population is going.

[Larissa]

French Happiness:

When Charles de Gaulle decided to retire from public life, the American ambassador and his wife threw a gala dinner party in his honor. At the dinner table, the Ambassador's wife was talking with Madame de Gaulle.

"Your husband has been such a prominent public figure, such a presence on the French and international scene for so many years! How quiet retirement will seem in comparison. What do you most look forward to in these
retirement years?"

"A penis," replied Madame de Gaulle.

A huge hush fell over the table. Everyone heard her answer, and no one knew what to say next. Le Grand Charles leaned to his wife and said,
"Ma chérie, I believe zee Americans pronounce zat word 'appiness."

[Xvall]

I should be laughing right now. However, I am not.

[Larissa]

Quote: from Drake Dracoli on 9:07 pm on Jan. 29, 2003
I should be laughing right now. However, I am not.I guess you never are.

[Xvall]

I guess not, kid.

[soulrise925]

lol, well i am.

[Larissa]

Quote: from Drake Dracoli on 9:29 pm on Jan. 29, 2003
I guess not, kid.
Kid? well, thanks!
(Even if you meant to insult me - kid=immature- the word itself it's still a compliment.)

(Edited by Larissa at 10:59 am on Jan. 30, 2003)

[Xvall]

Are you mocking me?

[Larissa]

No, my dear, I'm not. Please, stop confusing me.

[Xvall]

Stop confusing you? Very well. I do not understand how it is possible for me to confuse an individual simply by asking if they are attempting to make a mockery of me. Maybe you are becoming confused due to your lack of interpretation? Did you consider that, Tim?

[Larissa]

Quote: from Drake Dracoli on 7:48 pm on Jan. 30, 2003
Stop confusing you? Very well. I do not understand how it is possible for me to confuse an individual simply by asking if they are attempting to make a mockery of me. Maybe you are becoming confused due to your lack of interpretation? Did you consider that, Tim? Tim?? Who the hell is Tim? I believe you are right: I must be confused do to my lack of interpretation, no doubt about it, and I'm definitely not mocking you. (In case you were asking me) BTW who is Tim? Is it some "character" I might not know and I should? Was it a typo?

[Xvall]

Well I'm freaggin sorry! Ok!? Are you happy now!?

[Larissa]

Smack!:biggrin: (Truly NOT mocking you)

[Xvall]

You upset me.

[Larissa]

Quote: from Drake Dracoli on 8:24 pm on Jan. 30, 2003
You upset me. Ok, Drake, I apologize, It's just I'm going through the "crisis of age 40", That's what's all about. Don't worry. Be happy, try to think I just don't exist.
I don't mean to upset you, really. Maybe I was just bored. Forget about it. I won't "upset" you anymore, that's not my purpose in this forum, nor in life.

[Xvall]

Don't worry about it.

[ravengod]

sex
non stop sex is full 100% happiness
and of course some yoga , nirvana , drugs and so on
love might mean happiness but it is a little wet from my point of view

[Androvich]

lol redcanada, I have a serotonin imbalance also, If you're being serious you could try "5-htp" a natural supplement you can find at your local pharmacy. And what is real happiness? I'm not exactly sure, but love and a clear state of mind are good.

[Hyacinth]

I would say that happiness consists in having your desires satisfied.

On a completely unrelated note, I think this topic would be more appropriate in Philosophy. If a mod could perhaps move it.

[apathy maybe]

On another unrelated point, I note that this topic is from 2003.

Oh, and I suggest that happiness is a warm gun. Bang bang shoot shoot.

Or maybe being able to have a much smaller community where off topic posts such as most of this thread are left alone by moderators who aren't too zealous in there jobs.

Umm...

Personally, I'll take the correct brain chemistry as the answer.

[Androvich]

Strange, seems like this was all posted yesterday. Anyways, I'll try and check the dates more often.

[redflag32]

Happiness is being content.

[rosa-rl]

waking up with a white fluff ball sleeping on your head purring up a storm.

But to be more serious, on one level it is strictly a chemical/matter thing. How the environments leads to the chemical changes within the brain that induce different emotional states is another matter.

I prefer purr-balls to prozac anyday but that does not say that some people do not need the prozac in order to get the same effect I do from my purr-ball rescue kitties.