Meaning of Life

[malganis]

I disagree. There was a study or more like a poll when they asked people who became millionares if they are happier now than before and noone said they are. I would like to post a link but i cannot find it. Happiness is a state of being not something that's dependant on outer circumstances.

[Sharpe]

Please post the link, I don't trust you on that.

[Awakened_Mind]

"are you sure that you want to just hear the truth, or is that a cover up for you actually WANT to be superior?" Nothing about superiority. You're going around in circles.

I don't think saying whether money or anything materialistic helps or not is completely helpful. To me it may answer one question but it simply leads on to another: "If not all people are happy when they have ideal possessions, then what is it that invites happiness?" Why stop at material possessions when it doesn't answer the question posed in the first place?

Do you understand what I'm getting at?

-AM

[malganis]

I have found some other articles. The first one is about a link between income and happiness and in the second there are interesting articles on happiness.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060724110130.htm

http://www.dimaggio.org/Eye-Openers/happiness.htm

Sri Atmananda pointed out that the pleasure one experiences on achieving a goal or acquiring an object of desire is wrongly ascribed to such an achievement or acquisition. The joy does not come from fulfilling the desire, but causeless joy, which is our true nature, shines unobstructed when we are momentarily without desire.

Here is a good article on why people suffer.

http://www.centerpointe.com/newsletter/mindchatter_06_10.pdf

[Awakened_Mind]

Cheers malganis. THAT to me is closer to the truth.

-AM

[Stookie]

Because you can have a wife, house/car, loadsa money and not be happy, but why wouldn't you be happy? You have everything which would make an average person in your culture happy. I think it's quite rare if you're not happy if you have all the materialistic things. Money doesn't make you happy, but it sure as hell helps a lot, don't you agree?

Lot's of people have these things and think they need them to be happy. But why is the divorce rate so high? Why are more people in bigger debt than ever before? Probably because they feel they need these things to be happy, when all it really does in the end is create problems. Physical "things" & money don't last and neither do the feelings associated with them.

To truly be happy you have to find something philosophical or spiritual that you can actually apply to your life. Having a lot of stuff & money isn't necessarily bad, but finding your main source of happiness in them is empty.

& Read "Walden"

[Sharpe]

I dont get it? "respondents who earned less than $20,000 a year reported spending only 12 percent more of their time in a bad mood than those who earned more than $100,000.", there you have it black and white. Poor people may have more free time, but what does that matter if they are in a bad mood. Having more money, nice car/house and a beatifull wife is always better then the opposite. This to me, is the truth.

Edit: I read the other article too, here I found: "Scientists reviewed 225 studies involving 275,000 people and found that chronically happy people are in general more successful in their personal and professional lives."- That pretty much makes sense to me... I mean this is some funny way to look at it: if you're rich, you're happy. But it could also be the opposite: If you're happy, you become rich!

[Sharpe]

Lot's of people have these things and think they need them to be happy. But why is the divorce rate so high? Why are more people in bigger debt than ever before? Probably because they feel they need these things to be happy, when all it really does in the end is create problems. Physical "things" & money don't last and neither do the feelings associated with them.

To truly be happy you have to find something philosophical or spiritual that you can actually apply to your life. Having a lot of stuff & money isn't necessarily bad, but finding your main source of happiness in them is empty.

& Read "Walden"

Ok ok lemme tell this in a different matter, and just take it to the extreme ok?
We have a guy that found something philosophical or spiritual that he can actually apply to his life, and he's a bum.
And we have another guy that has a beautifull wife, a nice car/house and earns up to 500k a year.
But lets see, could the bum be happy? HE COULD, but only if he grew up somewhere in a place where noone has anything, where everyone is a bum. But if he grew up in, lets say: Holland. He couldn't be happy, because he saw the things that make him secure. And when you miss that secure feeling... when you miss that, you can't be happy... that's impossible.

[malganis]

this is from the last link in my previous post

In the first method, your internal feeling state, your
happiness, your inner peace, are dependent on the
outcome turning out a certain way. When you let
whatever happens be okay, however, your internal state,
your happiness and inner peace, are independent of the
outcome, even though you may be taking action in order
to create the outcome you want.
One key to letting whatever happens be okay, then, is
the decision that your state be inner-directed versus outerdirected,
that you be in charge of whether or not your
happiness and inner peace are tied to outer circumstances,
or you decide to remain solidly peaceful and happy,
regardless of what happens.

[CFTraveler]

No, listen, i'm not asking about a how question, just the why question, don't bring up anything else then why, so no what, who, where, how.
You want to be yourself, that's wonderfull. Do know that you already are yourself, and if this is what you want as the meaning of life, you should already be happy. Though let me add: When you've tasted happiness, you know that it isn't enough, happiness can always be more, unlike other feelings. And it isn't an instant feeling like ecstasy it's a long term feeling, you can lose it any moment, you can gain it any moment. Because of my culture here in Holland and the people around me, the only way to achieve happiness is by having a beatifull and smart wife, that's #1, and having a above-average job #2, having a nice car and a nice house #3. I can't fully say that I really want this but, it's not my decision to make, this is the way happiness is printed on my head, I can't change it because this has been tought to me since i was a little baby. When I achieve this, my brain is going to signal the presym... something, which is gonna release the neurotransmitters: Serotonin and norepinephrine in to my neuroreceivers, that will make me feel like I took an overdosis XTC. Actually, I don't care, if this is the way to achieve happiness, i'm willing to go for it. I don't even have the choise to say if I want it or don't want it, cuz i have been tought to want it. Like I said before, we are just another piece of biological dump and we really have no meaning, just a road given to us suggesting we should release serotonin and norepinephrine in our brains, because that's the best feeling you can have. If you want to get out of this scene and go for a road yourself doing new-agy things like: channeling, talking to ghosts and doing telepathy, go right ahead, just let me suggest you that these things are all in your brain, the brain makes anything real, the only thing you need is to believe it. But my opinion is to choose the way that everyone does, just with "knowing" better then them, gives you an advantage, study neuroscience and psychology, then you'll know everything, and you wouldn't be blind and believe everything you see, just a suggestion...
Ask yourself this question: Do I want to live

You and this 'dreamland' person would have an interesting conversation. 
http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/index.php?topic=25210.0

[riddled_skies]

... this might be a little off topic

right now i aint doin too good.yes, at this moment i am depressed. but this is a differnt kind of depression. its not the kind of depression where you you overreact to something that happened to you and later on end up getting over it and dealing/livng with it. its the kind that hides inside of you, trying to be forgotten. and you're okay... until something you see or hear drags you back into it. like an anchor. just a few words, that may have the force of a puddle to other people, but because of your problem,  the power of those words feels like a tidal wave crashing you down into instant hell bringing with it endless negetive emotions and sadness. and you can go on feeling like this for many hours, or even, multiple days on end, until, you forget. and thats because the depression got so bad that you're body and mind just couldn't emotionally take it any more. and then you go carefree mood, keeping yourself busy and ignorant. (thats my happiness) . now some people might call that denial, but where else am i to go? going back to hell isn't helping me any and i know i wouldn't make it through no matter how hard i try. But anyway, that's the mood i am in for awhile until eventually another anchor comes and drags me away.

to put it lightly, that's the way my life has been rolling along for the past 8 months.

does anybody know of/think it's possible to quick  n' dirty happiness? i mean, it'd be nice if there was some kind of drive-thru i can go to, and you know, order up... it'd make things a whole lot easier      .   all jokes aside, i need help in finding happiness. i can't go on living with this bipolar like disease eating at my life. my only life may i remind you.

help? anybody?

[Awakened_Mind]

I dont get it? "respondents who earned less than $20,000 a year reported spending only 12 percent more of their time in a bad mood than those who earned more than $100,000.", there you have it black and white. Poor people may have more free time, but what does that matter if they are in a bad mood. Having more money, nice car/house and a beatifull wife is always better then the opposite. This to me, is the truth.

I'm not talking about what's 'better' or more ideal. I'm simply saying that those things you are listing are NOT imperative to happiness. They influence but ultimately do not determine.

Your environmental factors such as where you are raised and in what style, influence but don't determine.

I am discussing what determines happiness, you seem to be listing things that are associated with it.

-AM

-AM

[malganis]

riddled_skies, I dont know how is it in your case but depression was also linked to lack of sunlight, exercise and omega 3 fats. So starting to exercise and taking fish oil could help. You also cannot just jump from depression to hapiness. It's better to climb that ladder gradually. The entire proces is written in The Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Or you may want to watch The Secret. (www.thesecret.tv)

A scale of your emotions would look something like this:
1. Joy/Knowledge/Empowerment/Freedom/Love/Appreciation
2. Passion
3. Enthusiasm/Eagerness/Happiness
4. Positive Expectation/Belief
5. Optimism
6. Hopefulness
7. Contentment
8. Boredom
9. Pessimism
10. Frustration/Irritation/Impatience
11. "Overwhelment"
12. Disappointment
13. Doubt
14. Worry
15. Blame
16. Discouragement
17. Anger
18. Revenge
19. Hatred/Rage
20. Jealousy
21. Insecurity/Guilt/Unworthiness
22. Fear/Grief/Depression/Despair/Powerlessness

[Sam]

Riddled Skies, I strongly suggest watching "the secret", reading books like Chicken Soup for the Soul, etc etc...  Unfortunately theres no instant cure for depression (that I know of).

If I could encapsulate the things that I've learned over the last 5 or 6 years;  You are strong and capable, full of infinite potential.  To realise the potential you need to let go of the past and stop trying to control the future.  Live in the Now.  You can't change the past, or control the future, NOW is the only time you ever exist in this lifetime, so get in touch with the now and just do what feels right.

Have a dream, its ok to dream, dreams give us something to live for.  People who don't dream seem content to cycle through the daily routine - something I can't personally do - but; whatever blows your hair back.  Spend every living and breathing moment of now visualising and speaking about and working towards your dream.

It keeps me out of trouble, and the visualisation stuff is very, very effective.  If I could explain it quickly, your thoughts attract whatever you're thinking about towards you.  You think you're depressed, you feel depressed.  You think you're happy, you feel happy.  Its a basic system, and with a bit of practice its easy to control how you feel by changing the way you think.

I hope that helps.

[malganis]

step-by-step frequency raising system
A strategy for coming back into alignment when you're feeling disconnected

http://www.recreating-eden.com/weblog/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=233&blogId=1

[Sharpe]

this is from the last link in my previous post

In the first method, your internal feeling state, your
happiness, your inner peace, are dependent on the
outcome turning out a certain way. When you let
whatever happens be okay, however, your internal state,
your happiness and inner peace, are independent of the
outcome, even though you may be taking action in order
to create the outcome you want.
One key to letting whatever happens be okay, then, is
the decision that your state be inner-directed versus outerdirected,
that you be in charge of whether or not your
happiness and inner peace are tied to outer circumstances,
or you decide to remain solidly peaceful and happy,
regardless of what happens.

That's some hardcore text man lol, but perhaps it could be possible if you are "inner-directed" that you would be easily happier then the opposite. But I don't think it's that easy, first of all, we adapt to where we were first born, you can't change your way of thinking easily after the age of 12. When you're a baby you pick things up and your mind builds up this thing.. this this personality, or a way of thinking according to your experiences 1-12 years. So if I was born in tibet ammongst those monks, I would be inner-directed
like you say, because that would be my reality, i would LEARN that beeing happy needs, this and this and this (the things that monks tell you how you could be happy). Now I know that wouldn't make me happy because i'm already 17 years and I have a differend "map" a different reality then those monks. My happiness is something else then theirs. But I don't think it's as easy as "inner-directed or outer-directed) there are far more different cultures and ways of life. So I still think that for me, beeing happy is with the experiences I have picked up, so I'm not saying that you all would be happy too if you had a beatifull wife, nice house/car etc. But I also don't think so you guys are inside searchers for happiness either, why? Because if that was true, you wouldn't waste your time on forums like these .

[riddled_skies]

thanks for all the help.

sam: yeah, it's like sometimes i realize the things you said(living in the here and now), and i feel good and seem to be better off... but only for awhile until like i said before, something reminds and anchors me back and bad thought patterns form in my head, like demons. to me, it's confusing. i think my brain is just messed up, i'm so hard-wired into my own life, setting standards for myself to live to based on what i've learned so far in living. idk, makes sense

i'll watch The Secret as soon as i can find the time.

[Awakened_Mind]

I find internal rewards in helping people.

-AM

[WANDERLEI]

So scientificly speaking  looking at reaserch the richer are happier??

[Awakened_Mind]

It will never be 'scientifically' spoken that richer are happier than poorer. To be scientific, something must be repeatable an infinite number of times, meaning every rich man or woman would in no doubt be happy and every poor man, unhappy.

Perhaps one is happier than the other, but where does that leave us?

I'm still more concerned with what determines happiness, not correlations of social status and happiness. The answer to this question has more explanatory power than "rich are more happy than poor". Which is ultimatey our goal.

-AM

[gzaod]

Happiness is in the persuit of happiness, because it promotes goal-reaching and action for a positive outcome. Read Samuel Johnsons "Rasselas".

And anyway, surely the meaning of life is to make meaning?
why, 50 000 years, did our ancestors draw cave paintings of hunts and things like that? As humans, it is a natural drive to try and make sense of the world, to find out of all this chaos of the universe a purpose, a purpose given, and its our imperative to follow it.
Why did Prometheus steal the fire from the Gods? To bring back a new level of understanding and bring it to humans.
We boldly go with our minds, telescopes and religions to the farthest reaches of space, to the big bang itself, and to the inmost peace that 
resides inside.
Psychology helps, but let me assure you it is not the ego which carries our desires and thoughts for happiness, it just translates them from our subconscious or indeed Self, on an individual and a collective level.

If you ask me, we're all searching for something, we're looking for the reasons to live, whether they are in the context of the grand plan,
family, success, love, the will to live it permeates through all things. To bring illumination to the darkness of unknowing. Is it possible to know everything? Of course. One day.

[Stookie]

That's a great way to put it, gzaod. The meaning of life is the search for meaning.

If you ask me, we're all searching for something, we're looking for the reasons to live,...

It's sad that the reason to live for some people is found in houses, vehicles, etc...

[andonitxo]

As above, so below.

If our physical bodies have evolved in this planet, so our minds and our other bodies must evolve accordingly.

The meaning of life is evolution so when can unite heaven and earth in one, and happiness is not always the best mean to achieve so.

[Awakened_Mind]

The meaning of life is change. Plain and simple.

-AM

[malganis]

The meaning of life is life itself.