Is Happiness A Thought?

[Leon]

What makes you happy? Is it because your circumstances are good, or do you become happy because you think you are happy? Many people have nothing and still manage to smile and live a happy life, whereas you can see someone who has everything or more than others and they look unhappy. Is happiness just a thought, or do external circumstances matter?

[baangus]

Jan 12, 2015 13:51:10 GMT Leon said:

Is happiness just a thought, or do external circumstances matter?

Hi Leon. For me, it's a commitment to life, to incarnation, and to this miracle we call existence. I made the conscious decision years ago to wake each day with joy and appreciation in my heart. Anything less seems a dereliction of my spiritual responsibility and duty! Now that doesn't mean I'm always happy, it simply means nothing can shake my faith regarding our true nature. Problems are transient and seem trivial.

[gruntal]

Yeah I suppose it is all a thought but I still stubbornly think there are also Cosmic absolutes. That is probably why we call ourselves Seekers and not dreamers. And why the worst bane of spirituality is narcissism. Not to mention there are worst things in life then to be unhappy. Such is deluded.

My worst nightmares are when I am powerless to effect my surroundings. Assuming what is outside of myself matters. Apparently it does and it gives me much pleasure to be a part of something I think is good and worthwhile. I am the world's lousiest salesman. I love being the Craftsman. To create something of precision and harmony speaks for itself and is why I might seem dour or depressed. I am not . I get very tired at times pushing against the chaos.

"If you didn't like it then why did you do it?". My best reply is: "I had to start somewhere". "But I wasn't happy so now I am here".

It is very frightening though to knock on a strangers door which might explain why we stay outside and unhappy.

[madera23]

Hi

I believe happiness is a gift after overcoming our little petty resentments and unforgiving natures.

Happiness is not a feeling and does not come from thought. but a sense of inner peace.

It is very rare.

Madera

[tribunalofmercy]

I really had to consider this, Leon, because I had to figure out what I think happiness Is...and I decided to me, it is Not even a thought. Example: Sadness often comes out of us in the form of tears - a difference in my mind, between Feeling, and Emotion. And the happy emotions I may express on the outside in laughter, dancing etc is not always there, because it may hinge on external circumstances. But when I really think about being Happy, I think of peace, contentment and Love, and that is both a permanent thing, and one that bypasses thought.

...Which answers a Lot of questions of late, and I'm glad you brought this up because I Did 'think' as a result of it. Many things involve thought - hard to get rid of - but love, and my own ensuing Happiness, does Not. It's just There



Quote for the Day: Someone recently told me I was delusional; I almost fell off my unicorn!

[mojomojo]

Happiness is an emotional state of well being,
Ranging from contentment to intense joy.

Obtained from without is impermanent,
Happiness is the absence of striving for happiness.

Obtained from within, is permanent, and starts from a place of inner, unshakable, calm and contentment.
Happiness depends on living in the now, and the quality of your thoughts, therefore guard accordingly,
And take care, that no notions unsuitable to virtue are entertained.




Robert.

[sparklekaz]

There is a quote that I have always loved that goes something like. "Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder." Which kind of implies that happiness is not something we can force, or create, but it comes about by simply trying to live a good life. That it 'just happens' or it doesn't. I've been reading a book recently called 'eat, pray love'. By Elizabeth Gilbert. She believes that happiness is something that has to be worked on to attain. That being proactive, i.e. working on our own thoughts, interacting with positive people, eating healthily as well as putting effort into understanding how our minds work. That happiness is purely about mind, and not outer conditions. Which I think many of us already understand, at least on an intellectual level, just how much our thoughts, affect our mood.

This is not just about having 'positive thoughts'. Its about dealing with the ego mind and recognizing how it manipulates our thinking because of our need to control everything. Most of us have control issues, even if we are not consciously aware of it. We worry about the past, because we cannot change anything that makes us unhappy. And we worry constantly about the future. About what may or may not happen. Because we have no control over these things whatsoever, the mind is constantly off kilter. And so we feel unhappy, uneasy most of the time. Only in those moments when we are absorbed by, or focused on the here and now, do we feel any freedom or momentary peace. Think about what it would mean, if we could stay in the 'present', all the time!

If we could record our thoughts and play them out-loud, we'd be stunned to see how repetitive they are. A constant loop. Every time we start to 'feel' happy. Up rises those negative thoughts. To grab our attention back and dispel that happy feeling. She says, if you heard your inner thoughts 'outloud', you'd think you were crazy. Who is this crazy person who says the same thing, over and over again. Is it any wonder we start to believe those things, and feel the energy loss and despondency and hopelessness that negative self talk brings. The key to internal happiness, is to stop that mindless going around in circles inner dialogue. To rein in the runaway horse of the mind and start to take control of it yourself. To 'pick' your thoughts. Just as you choose what to eat and what to wear.

Did you know in Bali, the balinese form of meditation, is to sit for an hour on their porch. Cross legged, and smile. They call it the 'smiling meditation'. They believe this brings happiness. I can think of worst ways of meditating, can't you. And strangely, just typing this and thinking about it, makes me smile. It's an interesting perspective isn't it.

Love and light
Kaz

[baangus]

Jan 14, 2015 10:34:59 GMT sparklekaz said:

Did you know in Bali, the balinese form of meditation, is to sit for an hour on their porch. Cross legged, and smile. They call it the 'smiling meditation'. They believe this brings happiness. I can think of worst ways of meditating, can't you. And strangely, just typing this and thinking about it, makes me smile. It's an interesting perspective isn't it.

This is so my approach! Nice sharing Kaz.

[cyberangel]

I think Mahatma Gandhi said it all really

[Barry]

Happiness is not a thought its a feeling

Barry

[stardust]

Abraham Lincoln said we can choose to be happy. I know I sure do!! And my New Year's Resolution was to be happy and have fun. So far it is working out for me. We didn't see this when we were younger. It's like, we had to earn it. And even now, when the night comes and the brain is tired, it can elude us. But, all in all, if we have faith, it comes back.

[tribunalofmercy]

I''m still sure, a few months later, that Happiness is not about 'thinking'. Some have commented on different threads recently, that there's a Lot of 'thinking' going on here, and of Course there is Spiritual people just Think about things, but there is an Answer in that place between the simple and the complex, lol. And some people just Find it in the simple - 'no thinking'.

Um, there was this song from my childhood and (naturally) it's Not one I can 'google' - "Someone" wrote it and put it in a book, with music, but I guess it got lost somewhere. I never forgot the song, though, and I want to share the words here:


LITTLE CHILDREN

Little children cry when they’re left alone; little children get lost a long way from home;
Little children fight when they disagree; little children – like we ought to be.

Little children laugh as loud as they can; little children feel safe when they hold Daddy’s hand;
Little children have faith in things they can’t see; little children – like we ought to be.

You don’t have to convince them - they know that God is near;
Their faith isn’t shaken by grownup doubts and fears!
and their Father in Heaven watches over every one,
for he loves his little children like he loves his own son…

Little children live one day at a time; little children rejoice in the rain and the sunshine...
Little children love everyone eagerly; little children – like we ought to be.
Like we ought to be.

[Damian]

Ok - I'll throw in my first contribution

I would say happiness is indeed a thought.

When you're happy, you are actually feeling/connecting/experiencing love - from the heart. Happiness is the mind's way of providing reason/definition to that feeling and how it arised.

Happiness (as people have listed here) is generated in many ways and can differ wildly between people. Note however, the feeling it generates - love - is generally similar across the board. Only the cause/reason differs.