rangrz
Bluelighter
I think the biggest reason WHY people don't choose happiness is because they simply don't realize they can.
I think you answered it.
I think the biggest reason WHY people don't choose happiness is because they simply don't realize they can.
That's it!I think the biggest reason WHY people don't choose happiness is because they simply don't realize they can.
I'm still going to point at that for some people, even if they are aware that they have the choice between happiness or sadness, it may not be as easy to actually be happy as it is for other people(excluding blockages of the mind of course). I don't mean for this is to turn into the whole 'free will vs. determinism argument'... I think maintaining a 'real as possible' view of the world is just as important as maintaining a positive view. Looking at things through an emotional screen of happiness does not always provide the clearest and most suitable outside information for personal judgement for those in rougher conditions of living.
I wish I could help everyone with this. I'm not sure the best way to go about doing it.
When I share my story, I'm met with a lot of "Well not everyone can do that" sorta remarks (Or my favorite, the much more bitter "Not everyone is as PERFECT as you.")
I am not sure how to share what I've learned in a way that doesn't come across as me being high and mighty or a know it all, and have it come across in a way that makes sense to the individual person. I want a way to SHOW people their potential.
The only way is, if you are ready to go through a lot of bushing, and persist, if it is someone close to you, or you possess a lot of compassion besides empathy.
The hardest thing is, to bypass their deffences, and to take alot of the punches and not give up on them.
I think the biggest reason WHY people don't choose happiness is because they simply don't realize they can.
You can maintain a real view of the world and still be happy.
Happiness exists outside of the boundaries of "positive" and "negative".
I realize that's just how I see it.. but yeah.
But here then is the question: is it someone's fault if no one has ever taught them how to channel their negative energies, see the bright side of things, or look inside themselves, in the face of adversity? What if "my people" (whomever/however I define this), to whom I belong and from whom I draw a sense of grounding and security, are people who've taught me solidly destructive and negativity-creating coping mechanisms? Does that make me a lesser person, who deserves being rejected as 'negative' or 'angry'? I'm not speaking from experience, I'm just conducting a thought experiment.
Suppose there are three cavemen. One is so happy he just wants to enjoy what is around him, not needing to improve much. One is so depressed he just doesen't care and won't do much to change his plight. The other finds joy from his accomplishments but learns to become upset when certain things go wrong, thus he tries to improve himself to attain the feeling of being happy. Which do you think would do better in the world?
Source?Evolution has dictated that we aren't too happy all the time so we can be productive.
Source?Dopamine in the limbic system is meant to be a reward for a task accomplished, thus furthering a species.
Source? (And another source for "in evolutionary terms", please?)Too much elation is counter productive in evolutionary terms. Too little is also counter productive.
Just an example, the last time I lost someone close to me, I lay in bed crying my eyes out. It hurt so much. BUT, I was still happy. I was still happy, because having love in my heart is beautiful. Life, love, death, it's all beautiful. So while I was sad, I was still happy because my appreciation for life never stops.
I want to jump in and say that happiness is not as simple as choosing happiness. If it was we'd all be stupidly ecstatic. Suffering is necessary to living a mortal life. In fact you must suffer to feel joy.