Comments on: Debunking the Happiness Myth http://meditationsonmeaning.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/ Provocations, Disruptions, and Creations... Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:13:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Jim http://meditationsonmeaning.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-19943 Jim Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:06:03 +0000 http://avanoo.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-19943 I'm sure it's true, but I'd still like an F250! I’m sure it’s true, but I’d still like an F250!

]]> By: Smoky http://meditationsonmeaning.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-2509 Smoky Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:36:22 +0000 http://avanoo.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-2509 Maybe I am outside of myself, because I am happy. Hmm, think? Thanks, Smoky Maybe I am outside of myself, because I am happy. Hmm, think?

Thanks,

Smoky

]]> By: fat lip, sum41 « the tough sleep http://meditationsonmeaning.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-586 fat lip, sum41 « the tough sleep Sun, 21 Jan 2007 20:03:36 +0000 http://avanoo.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-586 [...] fat lip, sum41 happiness [...] [...] fat lip, sum41 happiness [...]

]]> By: InnerJoy http://meditationsonmeaning.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-392 InnerJoy Wed, 17 Jan 2007 20:21:59 +0000 http://avanoo.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-392 I love this post, and many of the replies. A great quote (and one that's on my business card) is "Joy is not in things. It is in us." To reconnect to happiness, we need to look within ourselves. Theoretically strip everything away - the people, the house, the car, the job - and when it's down to just you, how do you feel? If you feel ok, your level of inner joy is probably pretty healthy. If you're devastated and don't know how you'd go on, you may have some work to do. Joy is absolutely about taking in every moment of life - smell the roses, love everyone and everything unconditionally and completely, and yes, do your best to have copious amounts of sex (laughed out loud when I read Chris Yeh's comment, I have to admit)! I love this post, and many of the replies. A great quote (and one that’s on my business card) is “Joy is not in things. It is in us.” To reconnect to happiness, we need to look within ourselves. Theoretically strip everything away - the people, the house, the car, the job - and when it’s down to just you, how do you feel? If you feel ok, your level of inner joy is probably pretty healthy. If you’re devastated and don’t know how you’d go on, you may have some work to do.
Joy is absolutely about taking in every moment of life - smell the roses, love everyone and everything unconditionally and completely, and yes, do your best to have copious amounts of sex (laughed out loud when I read Chris Yeh’s comment, I have to admit)!

]]> By: Cletus Cassiday Claybourne http://meditationsonmeaning.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-364 Cletus Cassiday Claybourne Wed, 17 Jan 2007 07:44:50 +0000 http://avanoo.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-364 "suffering is inevitable, but misery is a choice" I like that a lot. Sushi Yadev I see good things in your words too. My father always taught happiness through simplicities: fire, food, warmth, natural phenonmena and experience: frozen lake, skiing, sunset, good food. I am curious, Mr. Yadev, about the emotional gap circuit and the loss of feeling and machining of man, your words. what is good work? what of artists, poets, dancers and singers? is time speeding UP? the real science of happiness: honesty, fearlessness, humility? je ne sais pas “suffering is inevitable, but misery is a choice”
I like that a lot.

Sushi Yadev I see good things in your words too. My father always taught happiness through simplicities: fire, food, warmth, natural phenonmena and experience: frozen lake, skiing, sunset, good food.

I am curious, Mr. Yadev, about the emotional gap circuit and the loss of feeling and machining of man, your words.

what is good work?

what of artists, poets, dancers and singers?

is time speeding UP?

the real science of happiness: honesty, fearlessness, humility?

je ne sais pas

]]> By: Chris Yeh http://meditationsonmeaning.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-358 Chris Yeh Wed, 17 Jan 2007 06:31:49 +0000 http://avanoo.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-358 There are tons of good research on happiness now. For starters, I'd recommend "Authentic Happiness" and "The Happiness Hypothesis". You're absolutely right that possessions don't bring happiness. True happiness comes from loving relationships, a sense of control over your life, the right level of challenge, and, of course, copious amounts of sex. There are tons of good research on happiness now. For starters, I’d recommend “Authentic Happiness” and “The Happiness Hypothesis”. You’re absolutely right that possessions don’t bring happiness. True happiness comes from loving relationships, a sense of control over your life, the right level of challenge, and, of course, copious amounts of sex.

]]> By: Bedouin http://meditationsonmeaning.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-351 Bedouin Wed, 17 Jan 2007 01:14:20 +0000 http://avanoo.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-351 I am a happy being and have been so for the past 20 years. Believe me it's not in the genes, it's the choices or like you phrased it, rethinking priorities. Suffering is inevitable but misery is a choice. I am a happy being and have been so for the past 20 years. Believe me it’s not in the genes, it’s the choices or like you phrased it, rethinking priorities. Suffering is inevitable but misery is a choice.

]]> By: Nneka http://meditationsonmeaning.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-297 Nneka Tue, 16 Jan 2007 05:41:35 +0000 http://avanoo.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-297 "Happiness, according to the World Database of Happiness (a compilation of all relevant scientific studies on the subject), is largely determined by our genes and marginally influenced by romantic, social, and personal patterns that, with effort, we set for ourselves." I wonder if researchers ever consider that things seem genetic because people within families and communities are acculturized the same way. In other words, it may seem that happiness is genetic if everyone in the family values the same things which bring them happiness. I don't think those things are external either. Families where elders grow to over 100 years old value family and community which brings lasting happiness. Now if a researcher finds that people in that family are happy, is it really genetics? “Happiness, according to the World Database of Happiness (a compilation of all relevant scientific studies on the subject), is largely determined by our genes and marginally influenced by romantic, social, and personal patterns that, with effort, we set for ourselves.”

I wonder if researchers ever consider that things seem genetic because people within families and communities are acculturized the same way. In other words, it may seem that happiness is genetic if everyone in the family values the same things which bring them happiness. I don’t think those things are external either. Families where elders grow to over 100 years old value family and community which brings lasting happiness. Now if a researcher finds that people in that family are happy, is it really genetics?

]]> By: The Happiness Myth « From Within http://meditationsonmeaning.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-288 The Happiness Myth « From Within Tue, 16 Jan 2007 02:22:18 +0000 http://avanoo.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-288 [...] Happiness Myth Meditations on Meaning reports that more stuff does not lead to more long-term happiness. Any gains are short lived. I [...] [...] Happiness Myth Meditations on Meaning reports that more stuff does not lead to more long-term happiness. Any gains are short lived. I [...]

]]> By: Some Links for the Week of Jan 8th 2007 | steve-olson.com http://meditationsonmeaning.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-282 Some Links for the Week of Jan 8th 2007 | steve-olson.com Mon, 15 Jan 2007 03:58:28 +0000 http://avanoo.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-282 [...] Debunking the Happiness Myth « Meditations on Meaning – I really like where this blog is going. [...] [...] Debunking the Happiness Myth « Meditations on Meaning – I really like where this blog is going. [...]

]]> By: sushil http://meditationsonmeaning.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-274 sushil Sat, 13 Jan 2007 13:24:32 +0000 http://avanoo.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-274 <b>The link between Mind and Social / Environmental-Issues.</b> The fast-paced, consumerist lifestyle of Industrial Society is causing exponential rise in psychological problems besides destroying the environment. All issues are interlinked. Our Minds cannot be peaceful when attention-spans are down to nanoseconds, microseconds and milliseconds. Our Minds cannot be peaceful if we destroy Nature. <b>Industrial Society Destroys Mind and Environment.</b> Subject : In a fast society slow emotions become extinct. Subject : A thinking mind cannot feel. Subject : Scientific/ Industrial/ Financial thinking destroys the planet. Subject : Environment can never be saved as long as cities exist. Emotion is what we experience during gaps in our thinking. If there are no gaps there is no emotion. Today people are thinking all the time and are mistaking thought (words/ language) for emotion. When society switches-over from physical work (agriculture) to mental work (scientific/ industrial/ financial/ fast visuals/ fast words ) the speed of thinking keeps on accelerating and the gaps between thinking go on decreasing. There comes a time when there are almost no gaps. People become incapable of experiencing/ tolerating gaps. Emotion ends. Man becomes machine. A society that speeds up mentally experiences every mental slowing-down as Depression / Anxiety. A ( travelling )society that speeds up physically experiences every physical slowing-down as Depression / Anxiety. A society that entertains itself daily experiences every non-entertaining moment as Depression / Anxiety. FAST VISUALS /WORDS MAKE SLOW EMOTIONS EXTINCT. SCIENTIFIC /INDUSTRIAL /FINANCIAL THINKING DESTROYS EMOTIONAL CIRCUITS. A FAST (LARGE) SOCIETY CANNOT FEEL PAIN / REMORSE / EMPATHY. A FAST (LARGE) SOCIETY WILL ALWAYS BE CRUEL TO ANIMALS/ TREES/ AIR/ WATER/ LAND AND TO ITSELF. -Sushi Yadev The link between Mind and Social / Environmental-Issues.

The fast-paced, consumerist lifestyle of Industrial Society is causing exponential rise in psychological problems besides destroying the environment. All issues are interlinked. Our Minds cannot be peaceful when attention-spans are down to nanoseconds, microseconds and milliseconds. Our Minds cannot be peaceful if we destroy Nature.

Industrial Society Destroys Mind and Environment.

Subject : In a fast society slow emotions become extinct.
Subject : A thinking mind cannot feel.
Subject : Scientific/ Industrial/ Financial thinking destroys the planet.
Subject : Environment can never be saved as long as cities exist.

Emotion is what we experience during gaps in our thinking.

If there are no gaps there is no emotion.

Today people are thinking all the time and are mistaking thought (words/ language) for emotion.

When society switches-over from physical work (agriculture) to mental work (scientific/ industrial/ financial/ fast visuals/ fast words ) the speed of thinking keeps on accelerating and the gaps between thinking go on decreasing.

There comes a time when there are almost no gaps.

People become incapable of experiencing/ tolerating gaps.

Emotion ends.

Man becomes machine.

A society that speeds up mentally experiences every mental slowing-down as Depression / Anxiety.

A ( travelling )society that speeds up physically experiences every physical slowing-down as Depression / Anxiety.

A society that entertains itself daily experiences every non-entertaining moment as Depression / Anxiety.

FAST VISUALS /WORDS MAKE SLOW EMOTIONS EXTINCT.

SCIENTIFIC /INDUSTRIAL /FINANCIAL THINKING DESTROYS EMOTIONAL CIRCUITS.

A FAST (LARGE) SOCIETY CANNOT FEEL PAIN / REMORSE / EMPATHY.

A FAST (LARGE) SOCIETY WILL ALWAYS BE CRUEL TO ANIMALS/ TREES/ AIR/ WATER/ LAND AND TO ITSELF.

-Sushi Yadev

]]> By: Pj Germain http://meditationsonmeaning.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-263 Pj Germain Fri, 12 Jan 2007 01:10:40 +0000 http://avanoo.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-263 Indeed! This is a fast-food society. Stop and smell the roses and you will be a happier person. Indeed! This is a fast-food society. Stop and smell the roses and you will be a happier person.

]]> By: Jeanne http://meditationsonmeaning.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-238 Jeanne Mon, 08 Jan 2007 16:48:03 +0000 http://avanoo.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-238 What I hear you saying is that happiness is fleeting. So, it sounds like the solution to having more total happiness is doing more stuff that makes you happy and that does not incur future sacrifice; i.e., go to the free concerts, walk on the beach, enjoy a picnic in the country or other single things that make you happy. What I hear you saying is that happiness is fleeting. So, it sounds like the solution to having more total happiness is doing more stuff that makes you happy and that does not incur future sacrifice; i.e., go to the free concerts, walk on the beach, enjoy a picnic in the country or other single things that make you happy.

]]> By: Steve Olson http://meditationsonmeaning.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-236 Steve Olson Mon, 08 Jan 2007 13:03:11 +0000 http://avanoo.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/debunking-the-happiness-myth/#comment-236 That is great! Nothing outside of yourself can make you happy. I love this post. Keep it up! That is great! Nothing outside of yourself can make you happy. I love this post.

Keep it up!

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