Seeking Happiness
by Stanley Bronstein on January 11, 2010Meditation for Monday – January 11, 2010
Seek Your Own Type Of Happiness.
WHAT IS HAPPINESS?
Dictionary.com defines happiness as:
- good fortune; pleasure; contentment; joy
- the state of being happy (delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing)
A CONTINUATION FROM YESTERDAY’S MEDITATION
Today’s meditation is a continuation from yesterday’s post on the subject of Eudaimonia.
For those who may not have read yesterday’s meditation, Eudaimonia is a “Greek concept” arising from the time of Aristotle. Eudaimonia is a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous.
HAPPINESS IS HARD TO DEFINE
One of the interesting things about happiness is that it is subjective.
By that, I mean that my definition of happiness may be quite different from yours.
I’m here to tell you that is not a problem.
It’s quite okay that your definition of happiness may differ from mine.
In short, it’s less important to focus on WHAT makes a particular person happy and more important to focus on whether or not they actually are happy.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DEFINE HAPPINESS FOR YOURSELF
In order to be truly happy, you are going to have to decide for yourself what it is that makes you happy.
While I can make lots of suggestions to you; while I can provide you with guidance; YOU AND ONLY YOU can decide for yourself what it is that makes you happy.
SOME OF MY DEFINITIONS OF HAPPINESS
I’d like to share with you “some” of my definitions of happiness:
- Doing the right thing;
- Being respected by others;
- Helping others;
- Being at peace with myself;
- Being at peace with others around me;
- Taking joy in thinking;
- Taking joy in creating;
- Noticing small things all around me that others may or may not notice.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY?
I’d really like to know. I’d be most grateful if you would care to share some of your thoughts and comments below.
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Until next time, take care.
Stanley F. BronsteinHave you checked out my website that profiles the benefits of walking? iWarriorWalk.com
January 13th, 2010 at 1:35 am
Hi,
Interesting thoughts!
By asking “what is happiness” you ask a very good question.
Recently I had my own shot at defining happiness, which aims to
be more “scientific” and “objective” (as much as this is possible
for a subjective feeling such as happiness):
“A person can be considered to have experienced a “happy”
moment if the person chooses to re-live it as an end in itself if
offered at no cost.”
For the detailed derivation of this conclusion please have a look
at What is happiness? ; What do you think
about this definition?
Thank you,
Nick
January 14th, 2010 at 4:29 am
I think it’s an interesting definition. However, I can think of many moments I would voluntarily choose to relive that did NOT make me happy.
For example, my mother died when I was 8 years old. I would gladly relive the experience of her death just so I could pick up many of the details I missed from the experience since I was so young at the time.
The experience would probably NOT make me happy, but I would voluntarily relive it.
Personally, I believe a subjective definition of happiness is best, but there is nothing wrong with trying to come up with an objective one.
Stanley Bronstein