Happiness

[mik3cap]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately - I'm going to get some of my thoughts down in words so I can try and sort it out. What I'm trying to do is determine for myself what I think it means to be happy... none of this may apply to anyone else in any way.

Happiness is not:
It is not the absence of suffering. It is not contentment. It is not satisfaction or fulfillment. I am convinced that these things do not translate into happiness, because I can be in these states and still not be happy.

Happiness is:
Complete joy of life, unfettered by concern. It is more intense and more fleeting than other "good" feelings.

Times when I am happy:
(Many of these times in one way or another involve me forgetting about most of my life and being completely "in" the moment.) Playing games with my friends (any kind of game). Laughing and making jokes with my friends. Sitting out in nature, like in a park or forest, or in my car during a rainstorm, and absorbing all the wonder with all my senses. Getting caught up in a really good movie or book. I am happy when other people around me are happy, especially if I have done something that has made them happy (cooking for them, giving backrubs, hosting parties).

More later.

Comments

[shogunhb.livejournal.com]

Hence my insistence that largely, I am happy, but dissatisfied and un-fulfilled.

[arachne8x.livejournal.com]

I think you hit the nail on the head.