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Apat Na Paraan Na Maaaring Saktan Ka Ng Kaligayahan

Sa nakalipas na mga taon, nakakita kami ng isang pagsabog ng siyentipikong pananaliksik na nagpapakita kung gaano kabuti para sa amin ang mga positibong damdamin tulad ng kaligayahan. Alam namin na sila ay nag-uudyok sa amin na ituloy ang mahahalagang layunin at pagtagumpayan ang mga hadlang, protektahan kami mula sa ilang mga epekto ng stress, ikonekta kami nang malapit sa ibang mga tao, at kahit na iwasan ang mga pisikal at mental na karamdaman.

Ginawa nitong uso ang kaligayahan. Ginawa ng agham ng kaligayahan ang mga pabalat ng Time , Oprah , at maging ang The Economist , at nagbunga ito ng maliit na industriya ng mga motivational speaker, psychotherapist, at mga negosyo sa pananaliksik. Ang website na ito, Greater Good , ay nagtatampok ng humigit-kumulang 400 na artikulo tungkol sa kaligayahan , at ang blog ng pagiging magulang nito ay partikular na tungkol sa pagpapalaki ng masasayang mga bata .

Maliwanag, ang kaligayahan ay popular. Ngunit ang kaligayahan ba ay palaging mabuti? Maaari bang maging masama ang masyadong magandang pakiramdam? Nagsisimula pa lamang ang mga mananaliksik na seryosong tuklasin ang mga tanong na ito, na may magandang dahilan: Sa pamamagitan ng pagkilala sa mga potensyal na patibong ng kaligayahan, binibigyang-daan natin ang ating sarili na maunawaan ito nang mas malalim at natututo tayong mas maisulong ang mas malusog at balanseng buhay.

Kasama ang aking mga kasamahan na sina Iris Mauss at Maya Tamir, sinuri ko ang umuusbong na siyentipikong pananaliksik sa madilim na bahagi ng kaligayahan, at nagsagawa kami ng aming sariling pananaliksik sa paksa. Ang mga pag-aaral na ito ay nagsiwalat ng apat na paraan na ang kaligayahan ay maaaring maging masama para sa atin.

1. Ang sobrang kaligayahan ay maaaring maging mas malikhain—at hindi gaanong ligtas.

Ang kaligayahan, lumalabas, ay may halaga kapag naranasan nang labis.

Halimbawa, madalas na sinasabi sa atin na ang kaligayahan ay maaaring magbukas ng ating isipan upang pasiglahin ang mas malikhaing pag-iisip at tulungan tayong harapin ang mga problema o palaisipan. Ito ang kaso kapag nakakaranas tayo ng katamtamang antas ng kaligayahan. Ngunit ayon sa 2008 meta-analysis ni Mark Alan Davis ng relasyon sa pagitan ng mood at pagkamalikhain, kapag ang mga tao ay nakakaranas ng matinding at marahil napakaraming kaligayahan, hindi na sila nakakaranas ng parehong creativity boost. At sa mga matinding kaso tulad ng kahibangan, nawawalan ng kakayahan ang mga tao na mag-tap sa at i-channel ang kanilang mga panloob na mapagkukunan ng creative. Higit pa rito, natuklasan ng psychologist na si Barbara Fredrickson na ang sobrang positibong emosyon—at masyadong maliit na negatibong emosyon—ay nagiging dahilan ng pagiging hindi nababaluktot ng mga tao sa harap ng mga bagong hamon.

Hindi lamang kung minsan ang labis na kaligayahan ay nagwawalis ng mga pakinabang nito para sa atin—maaaring talagang humantong ito sa sikolohikal na pinsala. bakit naman Ang sagot ay maaaring nasa layunin at tungkulin ng kaligayahan. Kapag nakakaranas tayo ng kaligayahan, ang ating atensyon ay napupunta sa kapana-panabik at positibong mga bagay sa ating buhay upang makatulong na mapanatili ang magandang pakiramdam. Kapag nakakaramdam ng kasiyahan, malamang na hindi rin tayo pinipigilan at mas malamang na tuklasin ang mga bagong posibilidad at makipagsapalaran.

Gawin ang function na ito ng kaligayahan sa sukdulan. Isipin ang isang tao na may napakalaking drive na dumalo lamang sa mga positibong bagay sa kanilang paligid at makipagsapalaran sa napakalaking sukat. Maaaring may posibilidad silang makaligtaan o mapabayaan ang mga palatandaan ng babala sa kanilang kapaligiran, o gumawa ng matapang na paglukso at mga mapanganib na hakbang kahit na ang mga panlabas na palatandaan ay nagmumungkahi na ang mga pakinabang ay hindi malamang.

Ang mga taong nasa ganitong mas mataas na 'happiness overdrive' na mode ay nakikibahagi sa mga peligrosong gawi at may posibilidad na balewalain ang mga banta, kabilang ang labis na pag-inom ng alak, binge eating, sekswal na kahalayan, at paggamit ng droga. Sa isang pag-aaral noong 1993, natuklasan ng psychologist na si Howard S. Friedman at ng mga kasamahan na ang mga batang may edad na sa paaralan ay na-rate bilang "napakasayahin" ng mga magulang at guro ay may mas malaking panganib na mamamatay kapag sinundan hanggang sa pagtanda, marahil dahil sila ay nakikibahagi sa mas maraming mga pag-uugali sa pagkuha ng panganib.

Ang lahat ng mga resultang ito ay tumutukoy sa isang konklusyon: Ang kaligayahan ay maaaring maging pinakamahusay kapag naranasan sa katamtaman-hindi masyadong maliit, ngunit hindi rin labis.

2. Ang kaligayahan ay hindi angkop sa bawat sitwasyon.

Tinutulungan tayo ng ating mga emosyon na umangkop sa mga bagong kalagayan, hamon, at pagkakataon. Pinapakilos tayo ng galit upang malampasan ang mga hadlang; inaalerto tayo ng takot sa mga banta at ginagawa ang ating sistema ng paghahanda sa laban-o-paglipad; ang kalungkutan ay hudyat ng pagkawala. Ang mga damdaming ito ay nagbibigay-daan sa amin upang matugunan ang mga partikular na pangangailangan sa mga partikular na konteksto.

Ganoon din sa kaligayahan—tumutulong ito sa atin na ituloy at matamo ang mahahalagang layunin, at hinihikayat tayong makipagtulungan sa iba. Ngunit tulad ng hindi natin nais na makaramdam ng galit o kalungkutan sa bawat konteksto, hindi natin dapat naisin na makaranas ng kaligayahan sa bawat konteksto.

Tulad ng sinabi ng psychologist na si Charles Carver, ang mga positibong emosyon tulad ng kaligayahan ay senyales sa atin na ang ating mga layunin ay natutupad, na nagbibigay-daan sa atin na bumagal, umatras, at mentally coast. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit maaaring masaktan talaga tayo ng kaligayahan sa kompetisyon. Natuklasan ng mga nag-iilaw na pag-aaral na ginawa ni Maya Tamir na ang mga taong nasa masayang kalagayan ay gumanap nang mas malala kaysa sa mga taong may galit na kalooban kapag naglalaro ng isang mapagkumpitensyang laro sa computer.

Sa sarili kong laboratoryo, nalaman namin na ang mga indibidwal na nakakaranas ng kaligayahan sa mga hindi naaangkop na konteksto—gaya ng panonood ng pelikula ng isang batang umiiyak o ang eksenang iyon mula sa Trainspotting nang si Ewan McGregor ay naghuhukay sa isang kasuklam-suklam na palikuran na natatakpan ng dumi—ay mas nasa panganib na magkaroon ng emosyonal na karamdaman ng kahibangan.

Josh Gosfield/Corbis

Ang kaligayahan ay may oras at lugar—hindi ito angkop sa bawat sitwasyon!

3. Hindi lahat ng uri ng kaligayahan ay mabuti para sa iyo.

Ang "kaligayahan" ay isang solong termino, ngunit ito ay tumutukoy sa isang bahaghari na may iba't ibang lasa ng damdamin: Ang ilan ay ginagawa tayong mas masigla, ang ilan ay nagpapabagal sa atin; ang iba ay nagpaparamdam sa atin na mas malapit tayo sa ibang tao, ang iba ay nagiging mas mapagbigay sa atin.

Ngunit lahat ba ng uri ng kaligayahan ay nagtataguyod ng mga benepisyong ito? Parang hindi. Sa katunayan, ang isang mas nuanced na pagsusuri ng iba't ibang uri ng kaligayahan ay nagmumungkahi na ang ilang mga anyo ay maaaring aktwal na pinagmumulan ng dysfunction.

Ang isang halimbawa ay pagmamataas, isang kaaya-ayang pakiramdam na nauugnay sa tagumpay at mataas na ranggo o katayuan sa lipunan. Dahil dito, madalas itong nakikita bilang isang uri ng positibong emosyon na ginagawang mas nakatuon tayo sa ating sarili. Maaaring maging mabuti ang pagmamataas sa ilang partikular na konteksto at anyo, tulad ng pagkapanalo ng mahirap na premyo o pagtanggap ng promosyon sa trabaho.

Gayunpaman, natuklasan ng aking pagsasaliksik kay Sheri Johnson at Dacher Keltner na kapag nakakaranas tayo ng labis na pagmamataas o pagmamataas nang walang tunay na merito, maaari itong humantong sa mga negatibong resulta sa lipunan, tulad ng pagiging agresibo sa iba, antisosyal na pag-uugali, at kahit na mas mataas na panganib ng mga mood disorder tulad ng kahibangan. Ang trabaho sa aking laboratoryo, sa pangunguna ng nagtapos na estudyanteng si Hillary Devlin, ay sumusuporta sa mapanuksong paniwala na ang mga positibong emosyon na nakatuon sa sarili tulad ng pagmamataas ay maaaring talagang hadlangan ang ating kakayahang makiramay, o kumuha ng pananaw ng ibang tao sa panahon ng mahihirap na emosyonal na panahon.

Ang punto: Ang ilang uri ng kaligayahan ay maaaring humadlang sa ating kakayahang kumonekta sa mga nakapaligid sa atin.

4. Ang paghahangad ng kaligayahan ay maaaring maging tunay na hindi ka masaya.

Hindi kataka-taka, karamihan sa mga tao ay gustong maging masaya. Kami ay tila nahihirapang ituloy ang kaligayahan, at ito ay totoo lalo na para sa mga Amerikano—ito ay nakaugat pa sa aming Deklarasyon ng Kalayaan.

Ngunit malusog ba ang paghahangad ng kaligayahan? Sinuportahan kamakailan ni Iris Mauss ang groundbreaking na gawa ni Iris Mauss ang counterintuitive na ideya na ang pagsusumikap para sa kaligayahan ay maaaring magdulot ng higit na pinsala kaysa sa mabuti. Sa katunayan, kung minsan, kung mas maraming tao ang naghahangad ng kaligayahan, parang hindi nila ito nakukuha. Ipinakita ng Mauss na kapag mas maraming tao ang nagsusumikap para sa kaligayahan, mas malamang na magtatakda sila ng mataas na pamantayan para sa kaligayahan—pagkatapos ay mabibigo kapag hindi naabot ang pamantayang iyon. Ito ay totoo lalo na kapag ang mga tao ay nasa positibong konteksto, tulad ng pakikinig sa isang upbeat na kanta o panonood ng isang positibong clip ng pelikula. Para bang kung mas mahirap maranasan ang kaligayahan, mas mahirap talagang makaramdam ng kasiyahan, kahit na sa mga kaaya-ayang sitwasyon.

Ang aking mga kasamahan at ako ay nagtatayo sa pananaliksik na ito, na nagmumungkahi na ang paghahangad ng kaligayahan ay nauugnay din sa mga malubhang problema sa kalusugan ng isip, tulad ng depresyon at bipolar disorder. Maaaring ang pagsusumikap para sa kaligayahan ay talagang nababaliw sa ilan sa atin.

Paano makahanap ng malusog na kaligayahan?

Ngunit paano nga ba natin makakamit ang isang malusog na dosis ng kaligayahan? Ito ang milyon-dolyar na tanong.

Una, mahalagang maranasan ang kaligayahan sa tamang dami. Masyadong maliit na kaligayahan ay kasing problema ng labis. Pangalawa, ang kaligayahan ay may panahon at lugar, at dapat maging maalalahanin ang konteksto o sitwasyon kung saan nararanasan ng isang tao ang kaligayahan. Pangatlo, mahalagang magkaroon ng emosyonal na balanse. Ang isang tao ay hindi makakaranas ng kaligayahan sa halaga o gastos ng mga negatibong emosyon, tulad ng kalungkutan o galit o pagkakasala. Ang lahat ng ito ay bahagi ng isang kumplikadong recipe para sa emosyonal na kalusugan at makakatulong sa amin na makamit ang isang mas grounded na pananaw. Ang emosyonal na balanse ay mahalaga.

Sa wakas, mahalagang ituloy at maranasan ang kaligayahan para sa mga tamang dahilan. Ang sobrang pagtutok sa pagsusumikap para sa kaligayahan bilang isang wakas sa sarili nito ay maaaring talagang nakakatalo sa sarili. Sa halip na subukang masigasig na makahanap ng kaligayahan, dapat tayong gumawa ng pagtanggap sa ating kasalukuyang emosyonal na kalagayan, anuman ito. Ang tunay na kaligayahan, tila, ay nagmumula sa pagpapaunlad ng kabaitan sa iba—at sa iyong sarili.

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27 PAST RESPONSES

User avatar
me123 Jun 13, 2012

This is an interesting and controversial article. I love stuff like this. First of all I do believe that too much happiness can be unhealthy, in a sence that too much water is unhealthy. you can die from too much water but it has to be gallons at one time. I think that just like a relationship if you don't argue every once in a while then how are you going to know you truly love the person and care for them.  As human beings we need different emotions, happy, sad, frustrated, infuriating; Without these emotions we can not love because we dont know what is good and what is bad. With the persuite of happeness i think the article pined the nail on the donkey with that one, as for everything else, i think they did not word it properly.  

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MegGuest Jun 5, 2012
As I read comments that criticize the article, I generally agree: problems with definition of happiness, over-emphasis on mania, surprising and I think challengable link to excessive risk choices because "happiness" might block mindful self-care.  At least one comment mentions a general feeling of "contentment" as a description of what might be meant by "happiness", and this resonates with me.   Others might add "feeling in harmony with oneself and relationship to larger world".  Still others might add "feeling a general personal confidence about oneself in relationship to larger world."One negative aspect of "happiness" I was surprised to *not* find is mentioned, but not developed. This is a link between an individual "happiness" and reduced ability to empathize.  The possibility of such a link is worthy of thought.  The culture has been through a few decades of individuals pursuing personal development, with emphasis on "individual" and "personal" .   In general, to my obse... [View Full Comment]
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Noor a.f May 29, 2012

mr Stanford of today's daily was annoyed. ms Tippett, doesn't know even smallest provocation that made Standford behave such uncontrolled behavior. you know, I didn't do anything bad. So why frightening again. The saddest thing is that Ms can't guess why you write that but she can understand you are annoyed. Review the causes please instead using force or strangling an innocent miss. She doesn't know car accidents or anything bad happened to you but she understands that you felt pain which she didn't cause. if it is that small statements "woman spoke up"which she apologized, accept apologies.  If you would like Ms completely truss in you, you have to talk where you believe she doesn't. It is simple and if you continue spinal things, you are forcing a Ms to become Mr. Ms really feels that you have some type of pain but she didn't cause-trust her.

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Noor a.f May 29, 2012

@Jeanine, am listening please. thank you

User avatar
Happiness 1st May 29, 2012

Pursuing happiness is not "BEing happy".

You are doing a disservice to people by this article.

Emotions are a sense, like taste, touch, smell, hearing and seeing.

Emotions come in response to thoughts.

They also provide guidance from your "Higher Self".

Your Higher Self sends you a message that says "that is the right direction" when you think a thought that feels better than the last thought you thought.

When your new thought feels worse the message is "You're going the wrong way now.  Turn around."

It is as simple as this and not listening to the guidance is never the right choice.

User avatar
Noor a.f May 28, 2012

@travelmmn:disqus pursuing happiness doesn't cause the two. I posit there can be relations like my case where happiness is pursued in dread. What do you think, they need to pursue? Some are said need marriage, some doctors, some divine. What do you think, Travelmmn?  

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travelernnn May 28, 2012

The assertion that research suggests that pursuit of happiness is associated with serious mental health problems, such as depression and bipolar disorder implies that pursuing happiness causes these disorders, but I would hope researchers would look into causality. I would posit that people with depression or bipolar disorder are more likely to pursue happiness, as they feel this is what they lack, which would lead to this association, not the other way around.  

User avatar
Noor a.f May 27, 2012

@3f80abfeff1e02b26cdef8954007e98c:disqus it was not wasted time. It was to knowledge and others might benefited it.
Thank you  

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Sundisilver May 27, 2012

As I was reading this, all I could think about was how wasteful is to spend so much time THINKING about why happiness is not good instead of just going out and living your life and stumbling onto little happy moments betwixt and between the others.   And then remembering to appreciate them instead of stopping to ask yourself if this is a happy moment or is this a moment that's not really good for me.   I think too much thinking about it sorta ruins the whole experience. 

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Noor a.f May 26, 2012

today's dailygood got me right. I remember operating a store of scientific research age 17. Mine wasn't nuclear but animals esp insects. My big problem was how I could keep people away from the store of the study. I was exactly like Taylor because the word "can't" I don't believe. Hazmat team and arrest isn't known and  never liked. It is always good to make understandable because one might cleaned family's contaminated for may be another family.what is the other please?catastrophic result? that is scaring and is not known. well, Taylor is with you and feels sorry for your time. Well, Washington can't say 'get this very small to die or to live with it for being honesty and stupid awesome."
 The story interested me I had forehead and eyes pain I thought Computer caused but didn't feel while I was reading today's daily.
Thank you

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Noor a.f May 25, 2012
@Kayee, well, I give my definition to the website of last night. Didn't it publish? I wrote a lot of explanations. And happy people connect people around them. but if happy people are busy on things they don't. it is a meaningful question. @be276523f26ecbd80bf429fabaafa852:disqus  , I followed the link but mbs ended anyway it was interesting how the guy talked. I will update unlimited internet. West striving materials, they are right because I one time tried a woman near her car. she was standing and I was practicing accent I just copied from a movie. So I wanted to greet her yet she saw me before. She just looked very innocent and changed the direction. I was really embarrassed because my intention wasn't to cause inconvenience. I then thought of how such issue could be addressed. I started a work. The work then threatened my well-being and sucked my savings. I then asked myself, do I deserve? I then continued not knowing realities because money lost in good is good. This story is no... [View Full Comment]
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Pat Armitstead May 25, 2012

My belief is that joy is all of it ...the very fact that we can experience all the emotions and can be at choice as to how we respond is joyful empowerment.  I like the whole notion of leading a happy, engaged and meaningful life...irrespective of current circumstances.  My radio program presents a holistic and integrated approach to wellbing, tapping into the sugnature strengths, multiple intelligences and using the art of improv ( acting) to be in the moment.  www.planetaudio.org.nz/radi...

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Rickaung May 25, 2012

The article completely misses the point about happiness. Happiness is never achieved by pursuing it. Achieving goals and material wealth gives a temporary feeling of well being but true happiness comes from within. The West seems obsessed with material gains and success believing when they have been achieved one will be happy but when one reaches the goal we change The goal Suggest listen to TED talk by Shawn Achor VERY FUNNY AND INFORMATIVE Check out this amazing TED Talk:

Shawn Achor: The happy secret to better work
http://www.ted.com/talks/sh...

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Kayce May 24, 2012

I have never met a person who is constantly in a happiness mode.  Most people that I had ever, met seem to have a range of emotions.  This sounds like an article one had to write to get their name on something just to say they have something in print.  What is the writer's definition of happiness?  I would think contentment would be a very nice goal in life and would create a balanced life as well.  This could also be described as happiness.  Can a happy person really be hindered to connect with those around them, Really? 

User avatar
Noor a.f May 24, 2012

@facebook-100002669703787:disqus  we always do many things but we have to balance them. No one can be 100% good. but what I know is that the more we try to be good the more we are.

I posted a comment to http://smartliving365.com/?...
about happiness am not sure if it waits published.

User avatar
Alex Mart May 24, 2012
This article caught my eye because it follows the kind of "too much good is bad" scare tactic of a lot of healthy living articles.I really relate with the part about the pursuit of happiness. I've always been the ambitious type, people-pleaser, cheerful host. Almost my whole life, I've poured my energy into APPEARING happy to make other people around me feel good, to make other people around me feel like I had everything under control and the world on my side.Especially once I began Health Coaching as a career, I wanted people to see that I'd figured it all out and was living the dream life. Behind closed doors, though, I was super stressed, I was binge eating sweets at night, I was feeling like a failure and a fraud, and was deeply UNhappy.It took a lot of work and opening to see how I needed to take time and energy to nourish myself, relax and feed my own soul. I was giving and working way too much - trying to be a happy success - and starving myself of the stuff a happy life is made... [View Full Comment]
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Favik May 24, 2012

what else can i say. it is all a bulk of good writig and composite combination of intellectual make-up. just really likes it.

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fhet May 24, 2012

I believe it is better to BE happy than to PURSUIT happiness. Being happy means for me, being content with my life, appreciating what is around me and experience life every second as a great gift and chance. This also includes changing things that make me angry. Enjoy your lifes, everyone! It is the only one we've got.

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Kathy @ SMART LIving 365.com May 24, 2012

I agree that the blind pursuit of happiness can be problematic--that's because we often have opposing definitions of what it really means.  That's why I wrote a blog post that defines happiness in a way that makes it more sense of well-being than just a giddy emotion...if interested, here is a link to the article....  http://smartliving365.com/?...  

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Noor a.f May 24, 2012
great science. I was one of the people who were know excited all the times. I was and I like to be happy always. Well, I agree to be more happy can make one loose creativity and loose the idea of making development. As I said I overdrive happiness but if am to employ a worker I would prefer one who doesn't overdrive happiness. I understood mine 2005 I then decided to remain middle at schools and workplaces and when free or a lone I like to look what interests me or pleases me. I had 5 face books where I followed events different names. Most of my friends I meet personally and some of them I follow facebook and they don't know am following them. Because they comment and expect me to socialize with them and I can't. So I understood I might open facebook once in a month , they would think am not respecting them. I try what I want to do and if I fail I feel like I need to be nowhere. That is why I decided to live earth as a famous person or a rich. Without the two I I can't say life is wo... [View Full Comment]
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Doreen Platt (Stumblinn) May 24, 2012
This is the first time I have ever seen an absolutely ridiculous article on one of my favorite sites (Daily Good).   Just one of the many things in it that made no sense was "People in this heightened ‘happiness overdrive’ mode engage in riskier behaviors and tend to disregard threats, including excessive alcohol consumption, binge eating, sexual promiscuity, and drug use."People who are happy do not engage in " excessive alcohol consumption, binge eating, sexual promiscuity, and drug use."   That type of behavior is what people who are seeking a way to hide from their unhappiness engage in. I drink no alcoholic beverages, eat a healthy vegetarian diet of 1200 - 1400 calories a day (I'm 4'8"), am celibate and use no recreational drugs.  When I have a day that I am feeling down, I simply examine what I am feeling and what is going on in my life and use a variety of spiritual practices to rebalance myself,  supplemented with a healthy dose of laughter yoga as needed.   No, I ... [View Full Comment]
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Rev Nagi Mato May 24, 2012

I found this article confusing and focusing more on 'mania' then anything else. Happiness is a personal thing and most times cannot be 'measured'. I find studies like this (in my personal opinion) to be a waste of time. Any study can be made to say whatever you wish it to say, depending on the outcome you are looking for.
I do agree that to feel 'too much' happiness takes one out of balance. I am more interested in balance, not just 'happiness'.

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wbblinn May 24, 2012

This is interesting...there is a Russian writer named Vadim Zeland who wrote the "Reality Transurfing" books in which he describes the downside of creating what he calls "excessive potentials"  The book is eaoteric in every way, but so much of what he says makes sense and reading this article made me think of his books.  At Manifesting Greatness we are always walking that fine line of wanting something but always from a place of knowing it is already there (otherwise we are putting out the vibration of lack, which then is matched by the outer factual world).  It is so fascinating how this external outer world is constantly reflecting back to us our inner state of being, the question is are you working to manipulate the outer world by seeking happiness outside yourself, or is the quest one that starts from, and unfolds from, within.  The only way "happiness" could possibly be bad for us is because we've forgotten its ultimate source

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Rosie May 24, 2012

Thanks for the article, I found it really encouraging! It is good to be reminded that the acceptance of the whole of life is where we find balance.  Also, I am reminded of a church seminar I attended a few years ago which was titled 'The Pursuit of Happiness?'  The main lesson I got from that seminar was that happiness is not so much a goal, but more a side effect of a balanced and holistically healthy life, of which conciously treating other people as you would like to be treated (aka kindness!), is an integral part.  I remember thinking as a child that if everybody looked out for everybody else then everybody would be looked after - I find it hard to argue with my ten year old logic, now I just have to remember to keep my end up in the grown up world, where not everyone plays by that rule!

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deborah j barnes May 24, 2012
instead "of pursuing happinessitself"..i find that acknowledging that i am part of the greater whole oflife and at once and the same a unique being (i am) gives  me the courage to believe in my self and myreason to be “here.” This opens the path of seeking  the "genie" the gift we are all bornwith that we are wired to share with the world. This whole vision thinkingcreates a happy that thrives on the risks taken in “true direction” and opensour minds to new possibilities as we grow into our “beingness”   As this resonates with "knowing" - a thoughtemotion convergence zone nestled physically in the core - you know it when youfeel it!! Getting past our cultural boundaries is the hardest part; the oldbeliefs are always ready to pull one under. Acknowledge and look for solutions that are beyond the "down" As you bring your gift forward, your strength and happiness expand, it is so worth it!  Then be grateful…thank the universe for the dance!Just experiment, see what un... [View Full Comment]
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Sharon May 24, 2012

Maybe I'm not seeing what the definition of happiness is in this article?  I consider myself happy, most of the time.  And I equate that with being content with my life.  I trust people until I am proven wrong, I try to see good in everyone, and sometimes that is difficult.  I also try not to judge and criticize, and sometimes that's pretty difficult too!  But all in all, I like my life, and I think I'm pretty happy with it.

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Michael West May 24, 2012

This article is poorly thought out and a real disappointment. If there are different kinds of happiness, why save that for point 3? It would make more sense to identify them at the outset and discuss how they may differ and create different challenges. Really, this reads like an off-the-cuff meandering across the topic, not something to be taken seriously.