Is 'happiness' attainable?

Seb

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I was recently discussing with a friend the ability to 'attain happiness'. Without a clear definition of 'happiness' it is near-impossible to answer the question.

The literal definition of happiness:

1. Good fortune, success; an instance of this.

2. Pleasant appropriateness, felicity; an instance of this.

3. Deep pleasure in, or contentment with, one's circumstances; an instance of this.


For some reason however, this does not totally satisfy my definition of happiness.

Everybody is different (obviously) and for some, option 1 (Good fortune) may be the attainment of happiness. Although, i cannot think of somebody who would consider success 'happiness' as such.

Option 2 & 3 are a more realistic definition of 'happiness'. 'Felicity' and 'happiness' is a tautlogy, which does nothing for defining happiness in reality. Pleasant appropriateness however is a fraction different. I feel it carries...almost an air of obligation. What is 'appropriate' is not always what we want...and for me, 'happiness' is what i want.

Definition of 'appropriateness'

1. Attached or belonging (to) as an attribute, quality, or right; peculiar (to); inherent, characteristic; specially suitable (for, to); proper, fitting.

2. Annexed or attached (to) as a possession, appropriated; esp. (Ecclesiastical) annexed as a benefice to a monastery.


Should add that the second part of definition 2 is now obsolete.

Going back to the definition of happiness, option 3, sums it up for me.

Deep pleasure in, or contentment with, one's circumstances; an instance of this.

That is definitely my personal definition - or the most accurate when applied literally.

However, is it possible to be totally 'content' with one's situation? It just seems there is always an obstacle of some kind, which prevents one from being truly happy.

I'm not sure, what do you all think?
 

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bunsen burner

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#4
Shaitan said:
Epitome of hypocrisy?
Feel free to quote me on any whingeing. You might find some, but it's few and far between. No hypocrisy at all.

I'm not the one continuously beating my drum about how unfair this world is. I know it's unfair and I'm at ease with it.
 

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bunsen burner said:
Feel free to quote me on any whingeing. You might find some, but it's few and far between. No hypocrisy at all.

I'm not the one continuously beating my drum about how unfair this world is. I know it's unfair and I'm at ease with it.
Fair enough.

I just find the whinging about the 'idealistic left-wing' posters almost as embarrassing and hypocritical as the opinion's of those who are overtly left-wing.
 

sabre_ac

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I am close.
Good social life.
Big circle of friends.
Career heading somwhere (well I am passing uni)
Healthy
I am becoming more good looking every day :)
Probally only thing lacking is a girlfriend...but I am working on that.

Then again I am in the prime of my life so I should be happy shouldnt I ?
 

SaveFeriss

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#9
Ah young Grasshopper.

Firstly, only those who are unhappy or doubt themselves would pose such a conundrum.. Or perhaps someone interested in Mental Health, proffesionally or in a collective spiritual sense.

Secondly, for one to truly appreciate happiness, one must also have healthy experiences with deep levels of pain and sadness.



(The road is not long if it never ends, for it is not a road)
 

Fevola4God

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#10
SaveFeriss said:
Ah young Grasshopper.



Secondly, for one to truly appreciate happiness, one must also have healthy experiences with deep levels of pain and sadness.
Who needs to 'truly appreciate happiness'? Being happy is good enough.

Also, there are no 'healthy levels' of 'deep levels of pain and sadness'.
 

SaveFeriss

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#11
Fevola4God said:
Who needs to 'truly appreciate happiness'? Being happy is good enough.
It's my opinion happiness is so much sweeter, having experienced times of depression, as well as physical pain. Makes ya appreciate it more.

fevolla4god said:
Also, there are no 'healthy levels' of 'deep levels of pain and sadness'.
If you are hurt for some reason, and you learn and can find ways to make yourself a better human, and eventually remember that pain fondly and that it was nessecary, then I'd consider it 'healthy' pain.

Pain is as nessecary and as important for a healthy life as joy.

Just like Yin and Yang.

Just like night & day.

Just like male & female.
 

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Sandola

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#16
The answer is yes. When your club wins the premiership, you get at least a month of serenity and joy that is indeed true happiness. In my experience.
:)
 

Fevola4God

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#18
SaveFeriss said:
It's my opinion happiness is so much sweeter, having experienced times of depression, as well as physical pain. Makes ya appreciate it more.



If you are hurt for some reason, and you learn and can find ways to make yourself a better human, and eventually remember that pain fondly and that it was nessecary, then I'd consider it 'healthy' pain.

Pain is as nessecary and as important for a healthy life as joy.

Just like Yin and Yang.

Just like night & day.

Just like male & female.
Sorry to disagree, but nobody should have an obligation to feel pain in order to be happy. No pain at all is a better option, and that's why over the course of our history we have attempted to minimise pain.

Pain is not good. I'm fortunate enough not to have experienced deep levels of pain (no deaths from family or friends, no serious injuries, no personal problems/demons) [knock on wood!] and I intend to keep it that way with all my strength.

The night compliments the day, as does the female to the male, but pain does not compliment happiness.
 

teams

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#19
Fevola4God said:
The night compliments the day, as does the female to the male, but pain does not compliment happiness.
Reminds me of that Sienfeld episode where Jerry has to be unfunny to make George look witty in front of a girlfriend for some reason or other. The complement of happiness is probably satisfaction.
 

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#20
Shaitan said:
I was recently discussing with a friend the ability to 'attain happiness'. Without a clear definition of 'happiness' it is near-impossible to answer the question.

The literal definition of happiness:

1. Good fortune, success; an instance of this.

2. Pleasant appropriateness, felicity; an instance of this.

3. Deep pleasure in, or contentment with, one's circumstances; an instance of this.

For some reason however, this does not totally satisfy my definition of happiness.

Everybody is different (obviously) and for some, option 1 (Good fortune) may be the attainment of happiness. Although, i cannot think of somebody who would consider success 'happiness' as such.

Option 2 & 3 are a more realistic definition of 'happiness'. 'Felicity' and 'happiness' is a tautlogy, which does nothing for defining happiness in reality. Pleasant appropriateness however is a fraction different. I feel it carries...almost an air of obligation. What is 'appropriate' is not always what we want...and for me, 'happiness' is what i want.

Definition of 'appropriateness'

1. Attached or belonging (to) as an attribute, quality, or right; peculiar (to); inherent, characteristic; specially suitable (for, to); proper, fitting.

2. Annexed or attached (to) as a possession, appropriated; esp. (Ecclesiastical) annexed as a benefice to a monastery.


Should add that the second part of definition 2 is now obsolete.

Going back to the definition of happiness, option 3, sums it up for me.

Deep pleasure in, or contentment with, one's circumstances; an instance of this.

That is definitely my personal definition - or the most accurate when applied literally.

However, is it possible to be totally 'content' with one's situation? It just seems there is always an obstacle of some kind, which prevents one from being truly happy.

I'm not sure, what do you all think?
Happiness to me is contentment as well..and that gets back to your upbringing too...e.g a poverty stricken man thinks money will make him happy when a rich man looks at the poor person and wishes to have the life without (supposed) cares

I am happy and content..I have someone who loves me I have a great job (most of) my bills are paid..or I can afford them .. I live in a great place

If I won lotto I would be happy to be able to help other people out AFTER I made my life comfortable in the sense of been able to pay a bill or go on a holiday at a moments notice.
 

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#21
As far as I'm concerned, it's all relative, and a lot to do with age:

See, when you are 18, you might very well be happy with a '96 commodore, as it is comfortable enough, gets you from A to B, and the novelty of driving is the main thing. Having this car would probably help you achieve happiness.

When you are 30, the Commodore is old, dented, has a stack of problems, and you might want something a bit better, such as a Falcon XR8.

When you are 50, to try and achieve some kind of meaning in your life, and some kind of excitement, you purchase a BMW convertible (meanwhile, all the people driving past are laughing at your unsuitable sunglasses and bald head).

....

When you are 18, winning $100 on the punt is pretty big. It is about what you would earn in a day, and could certainly pay for a few slabs or a night out.

When you are 30, winning $1,000 would be very nice, as you could head off to Queensland on a nice holiday with it.

By the time you are 50, to achieve the same happiness, you have to get $10,000 as that is what you owe on your Visa, and school fees are due soon.

....

When you are 18, you are trying to pick up with a good looking chick who would probably have a mutual attraction. Alternatively you will try and score with a MILF, but that's another thread.

When you are 30, you are most likely searching for a wife, and whilst looks are important, you are probably less shallow.

At 50, what can I say. Three options:

1. Plastic surgery for the wife

2. Try and pick up a much younger woman

3. www.boardroom.com.au

As you can see, demand changes relative to age. Possibly the only way to achieve real happiness when you are middle age (and it pains me to write this) is through a family. Unless you have a stack of money, of course.
 
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