do you think it is really possible to achieve true unadultered happiness, does true happiness even exist? is there pressure in our society to always be happy/find happiness, yet we don´t know exactly what being happy is supposed to look like and wonder how/if our lives could be happier?
it seems people on pills have a higher state of happiness then regular people, but is this higher state acheiveable without pills? irrelevant or religion or lack thereof, what are your thoughts?

I don't think true happiness does even exist. I used to feel that way but, not anymore.For me taking pills was just a cop out on life. I think it gave me a false high. If I have to take a pill to feel happy, well then that is a false hope so to speak. I guess there is so much pressure from society anymore its hard to find happiness.

True happiness is possible!
But most people never figure out how to attain it.

Of course, it's something that happens within you.
And there are certain things you have to accomplish before you can make that happen:

You have to learn to love yourself - and to like yourself!

You have to get to know yourself.
Sounds easy - but how many of us actually have done it?

You have to realize that the things you like about yourself are good, whether anyone else likes them or not.

You have to try to change the things about yourself that you do not like, so that they are acceptable to yourself.

You have to realize that there are some things about yourself you do not like, but cannot change, and make peace with that fact.

You have to be able to forgive yourself. Realize that nobody is perfect including yourself.

You have to enjoy today and look forward to the future.

You have to make peace with the past and let go of it. Realize that the past is in the past and does not have to be the present or the future.

You have to realize that good things will happen; and when they do, do not be suspicious of them - embrace them! You've already earned them!

You have to recognize what you can and cannot control.

You can influence others, but you cannot control them.

You can be in charge of your own emotions and attitudes.

How you react to something is dependent upon how you look at it -
Ask yourself: "What's the worst that can happen?"
And: "How likely is that to happen?"
Often you'll find it's really not worth the anguish.

Sometimes, however, you will be upset by things. Accept that, but realize that it doesn't have to last forever.
Then let it go.

Eventually, realize that there is a Higher Power.

What we or others cannot control, He can.
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These are some of the lessons I've learned while on my journey through life. I hope to learn a lot more before I reach the end.

I know all of this sounds easy.
I also know it isn't.
I've accomplished some of it; the rest, I'm still working on.

I hope someday to attain true happiness and peace with myself.
Wish me luck and I'll wish you the same!

Godspeed! --Mitzi

I think people that go around happy all the time are on drugs!

I think achieving true happiness is a science. Reading, education, and cultural exposure are some of the things that have help me to feel fulfilled. Of course, there are days when I feel that ignorance is bliss. If only I didn't know what I know about life and the world! I'd be happy as a clam!

A good book on the topic is "The Art of Happiness," by Howard Cutler and the Dalai Lama. It's not exactly an easy read. Cutler is a bit too self-indulgent for my taste, but the message was clear. With practice and self-discipline, you can get there. Just don't expect to do it overnight.

I agree 110% with TexanInExile. Great points you made there! If you don't love yourself, then how can you love another? How can you expect to be loved if you don't even love yourself?

The world is a beautiful place! You have to learn to enjoy it! If you keep seeing the cup half empty then you'll never see the good stuff that life has to offer.

There are so many people ready to give you advice and tell you just what to do to be happy! All that soul searching stuff and all is cool, but sometimes can too insightful and be a downer.
Real happiness for me comes from putting a smile on my face and watch others wonder what I'm up to!
Real Happiness is laughing at the dumb things I tend to do rather than get mad!
Real Happiness is adapting an attitude of go with the flow as long as it's not doing any harm.
Real Happiness for me is believing in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord of my Life!


kar skipping onto another question!

I do not believe any level of happiness is possible. Whether it be mild happiness or ultimate happiness. None of its true... only our imaginataion.

If people who are skinny and beautiful have problems, then we are all bound to dismal for life.

True happiness lies within low numbers...
If you are skinny, then you perhaps can achieve happiness. Otherwise, gloominess will surround us forever.

There is a quote I have written down. I'm not sure who said it but here goes..."You will be happy the moment you decide to be." It's great advice that does work. You can only be happy if you want to be.

quote:

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Originally posted by PerfectPeach:
I do not believe any level of happiness is possible. Whether it be mild happiness or ultimate happiness. None of its true... only our imaginataion.

If people who are skinny and beautiful have problems, then we are all bound to dismal for life.

True happiness lies within low numbers...
If you are skinny, then you perhaps can achieve happiness. Otherwise, gloominess will surround us forever.

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My goodness.. in no way do I agree with this!

I am not model thin and I have had problems in my life, but I love my boys and am truly happy with my family and my life. Of course there are things I'd like to change, but my over-all ability to find satisfaction and happiness isn't limited to "Bliss". How many anorexic girls have I seen starve themselves to death to be "Skinny".

at the risk of sounding rude - your view of how one's happiness is based on one's outward appearance is totally bizzarre!!

I think we have to forget a lot in order to be happy.

We have to forget that only the good or the beautiful are happy, or deserve happiness.

We have to forget that we have to have a monument that someone will read twenty years after we die, and recognize our names, which would mean that we have to achieve something memorable, and rise up above others to do it.

We have to forget that we should be loved and admired by a lot of people, or that we have to 'show' people who did not think well of us that they were wrong.

There are a lot of things we can learn about happy people, but we have to look at happy people before we know what we should expect.

The happy people I have known are interested in the things they see. They are always curious, always asking questions. They take pleasure in little things, and take time to watch a kitten play. They are generous: if someone is in a hurry, they will let him move ahead of them in the lineup; they don't worry that he must think he is more important than they are to want to do so. They are not desperately concerned about their rights.

They don't keep a scorecard. If someone else gets an advantage, they don't think, "Why not me?" They think, "Good for him!"

If they have bad luck, such as illness that limits what they can do, they say, "Okay, now I can do ..." and they think of something they've always wanted to do, but never had time. What you or I would call a limitation, they call an opportunity.

They feel lucky to be able to see and enjoy the natural beauty of the world. Because they look outward for beauty, they do not worry about whether they look beautiful to other people. They do not strive to be admired.

I have never known a happy person who did not love the natural world.

They give their spouse, their children and friends some space to be themselves. They don't have strict requirements about how their loved ones should act.

If you ask them what is their definition of happiness, they look puzzled. They say, "Well, sometimes I feel quite happy. But most of all, I feel contented."