Comments on: What is happiness?

By: SUMIT

SUMIT — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:23:20 +0000

I THINK happiness can be truly achieved by serving others…..the moment we lose our ego but keep self esteem high, we find that we r taking most right judgements to ourselves & others. other importent factor is abolishing the tendency to expect from others….if we rely on a person but hr doesnt turn up , we need not to feel sad or disappointed….but take it as his good intentions that atleat he tried to….
all these things r tough to follow in reality but that is what we call the spirit of service…spirit to come out of sadism & thanking god for the beautiful life he has given…life is not about expecting things but to give thins to it….thats the only path to happiness…

By: SlySkyS

SlySkyS — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:12:51 +0000

I do not know what happiness is.. I haven’t found it yet… I’m unhappy… yes I can “feel” happy for certain moments, yet my path is long and, at times, hard… my life is not mine because I’m here to help and protect others… yes, I am a warrior of the light… I am a tool in God’s hands and I follow the path that He has chosen for me and I do it with a smile on my face most of the time… the times that I do not smile is when I feel sad to know and see how the world is and where it’s headed… yet, I keep on walking the path coz I have faith that God knows best…

I do not care about things that most ppl do: status, appearances of having a better life than my neighbor, work, etc… I go through life obeying God… in that I don’t mean man made religions… I mean God with whom I have a connection and dialog with…

I learn the lessons that I have to learn and teach them to my daughter, for there’s lessons that she can learn without having to end up licking her own wounds… I licked my own wounds with the passing of time, which brought along many battles where my sword had to fall upon others and some swords fell upon me, and hopefully my daughter will learn the lessons without getting as many scratches and scars as I have…

Today, I am not happy… I feel sad… sad coz I see what’s coming for certain of my loved ones… too many ppl fear… fear stops everything… too many ppl do not care about their loved ones and/or neighbors… that! makes me sad…

I love to feel my heart soar, knowing that I will go through another battle and I’ll be ok no matter how many scars and wounds I get…

Right now, it’s an interlude for me… status quo… where I can try to rest a bit… nonetheless, I’m on my guards coz I know the battle’s not over yet…

I follow the signs God puts on my path… I have been physically ill for a month and havent gone to work… and God showed me that I have to move back to my hometown to help my soul-sister who’s been through a lot lately (end of a relationship with her daddy’s baby boy… her brother just died… wondering how she’ll provided financially for her kids and pay the rent alone, etc…)… I have to go there coz God showed me, through signs on the road, that I have to go there…

I was suppose to go in another city to help another of my friends do a healing center… yet, at the last moment, God, showed me by changing things amongst the ppl that were suppose to go help create the healing center, that I had to take a pose from that project and go help my soul-sister… and that when she’ll be ok, I’ll return to my initial path and move to that other city to help create the healing center…

We need to follow the signs on the road… the omens… and not get entangled with the superficialities of life…

At work one day, I was listening to a team lead tell me how he’s always wanted to open a boutique in London (UK)-we’re in Canada-… and I asked him “why dont you?”… and he replied to me that he couldnt anymore coz he was stuck in a government job with good money, a good pension plan and that he was too old to be dreaming about such a thing as a boutique in London… and that, anyway, there was a lot of boutique in London like the one he always dreamed of doing… I said to him “you’re only stuck here if you want to… if you dont wanna be stuck, then there’s no job, no money, no pension plan nor no age that can stop you from following your dream”… I told him to read your book “The Alchemist” which, surprisingly, he had never heard of.. he said that he’d think about it… that was like 2-3 months ago… He’s still working at the government job…

What is happiness? I dont know, but I do know that we cant find it when we feel stuck… We always have a choice… always… We have the choice to choose and we also have to choice to not choose… either way… it’s a choice…

We also have the choice to look within us for God and His voice… He guides us all the time and never falters… We’re the ones who choose to listen or not to Him…

Eventually, one day… when we’ll be near our last breath… God, if he hasnt done it before, will show us true happiness… I just guess that, by that time, it`s gonna be too late to post the answer, of what happiness is, here on this blog lololol… that`s ok lol… coz searching for happiness is like searching for the Holy Grail… you cannot find it… it finds you… and it`s usually already inside of you… all buried deep down… like a diamond surrounded by coal lol…

Beijocas Fofas Paulo… e bom de ver como voce escreve… a paciencia que voce tem… de mesmo que o amor que voce nos tem…

Grando abraco (xi-coracao – em portugues de Portugal lol)…

Sly

P.S.: obrigada pelos links que voce poem sobre a voca fan page no facebook…

By: Jamie

Jamie — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:08:24 +0000

Happiness is being able to share, or rather, give yourself to the world. This is hard to attain, because real happiness entails selflessness.

Happiness is something that calms the soul, gives ourselves inner peace.

Happiness starts in believing in yourself, and that in the end, not everything is only about you. Its about what you do and how you touch other people’s lives.

By: Katerina

Katerina — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:07:44 +0000

I am not able to be happy. The happiness is a harmony, and harmony is a state of mind. I know that it is necessary for me for happiness – faultless health, to love and be favourite, absence of material problems. Once, me have told that I will be never happy, because I will not have not enough something. Indeed. I do not have not enough man, I do not have not enough sex, I do not have not enough money. But I live, sometimes I joke and I smile. Because I the young, clever and beautiful girl. I still trust in love. Also I believe that all the best at me ahead, because to me as early as 20 years…

By: Dhwani Trivedi

Dhwani Trivedi — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:08:06 +0000

Happiness is also a feeling of contentment something which can be avhieved by giving

just help a person in trouble and see how content you feel

All of us know how content we feelwhen we do something for our loved ones

By: Dhwani Trivedi

Dhwani Trivedi — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:50:32 +0000

Well i absolutely agree with it is FAITH that keeps up moving with enthusiam if we believe in god we can never fear anything

and Living without fear is happiness

By: Jakob

Jakob — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:47:47 +0000

People are trying to catch happiness different kind of stimulants, example: new car,house,fine dining,alcohol,sex, ext.
Happiness is founding your inner child in you.

By: GINGER

GINGER — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:57:18 +0000

I agree with Maria. Contentment is the closest thing to happiness. Contentment with who you are and the path you are to travel in your life and accepting with awe your uniqueness. Living by your own standards and understanding and accepting your own power and ability.

By: Jexelin Medina

Jexelin Medina — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:25:01 +0000

La felicidad es satisfaccion, la satifaccion de haber logrado las metas que desde niños nos fueron inculcadas y las que nos trazamos a medida que transcurre nuestra vida…Una mujer catolica es feliz por haberse casado por la iglesia, jaja o al menos dicen que ese es un momento de gran felicidad, sin embargo esto se le fue inculcado, por ciertos valores familiares y religiosos. La meta de lograr una carrera en la universidad…no puedo negar que senti una inmensa satisfaccion cuando logre graduarme y sin embargo no fue lo que esperaba…existen muchas cosas que nos llenan de satisfaccion pero todo necesita su complemento y a pesar de que logremos cumplir todas nuestras metas y sueños siempre quedara algo que no nos dejara ser realmente felices..por eso..no creo que exista la felicidad total..existen satisfacciones!!

By: fera

fera — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:57:18 +0000

Happiness… that is what I always say to someone on their birthday, wedding and other gracious day, that I wish them all the happiness in the world. But, will it be possible to have both happiness and emptiness inside your heart? How to be able to always be happy… sometimes even that everything around me seems like hell, I always try to find the positive side, I am able to feel happy, but inside, I feel empty…

By: Miki

Miki — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:50:17 +0000

What is happiness, it seems to be a simple question. There are millions of happinesses. Everybody has his own happiness . It is cured pain of spirit, fulfilled desires, preces. If those are allright and concern us no more, living soul is happy in this moment. In some way it is still a big living secret for humans like religion. Somebody is decent and somebody is picky.
Miki

By: marianne

marianne — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:57:18 +0000

To me happiness is
- a momentary feeling and not a constant state.
- a moment, a sound or a smell somewhere in nature
- the moment of being a creator (of a text or a painting that
comes from deep inside)
- the moment when I have a new insight about something.
- when I create a wish and the moment this wish comes true. The
wonder, that this wish comes true makes me every time more
happy than the wish itself.
- a deep talk, when something hidden inside me meets something
hidden inside the person I talk with.
- when things flow. It’s a sign that the way is “right”.
- when I feel unconditional love

Happiness belongs to nobody and can happen to everybody who lets it into his life.
Happiness is the intention to experience happiness.

Maybe happiness is also the feeling when we make an effort (have courage, fight for something, learn something, believe in something etc.) and then have success. The moment we have success, we feel happy.

By: patricia

patricia — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:45:32 +0000

la felicidad, es sentir dentro de uno la alegria con solo mirar la naturaleza, el mar, las cosas sencillas de la vida, y dar a quien necesita si es posible un poco de su alegria, todo esta dentro de uno mismo…..

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:20:38 +0000

Right. And the secret of contentment is knowing what you have and be able to lose desire for things beyond your reach. I guess it goes the same with happiness.

By: Avni

Avni — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:48:12 +0000

Maybe happiness is the moments..brief /extended, when we connect either to true selves or to another soul…but then again… life itelf could a complete contemplation..a mirage in the midst of another larger reality.

By: Jennifer Coreas

Jennifer Coreas — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:23:27 +0000

happiness… happiness goes beyond ilusions.. Ilusions dessapear..

Happiness.. Being happy? why on earth would anybody want to feel happy forever? Wouldn´t it be boring?.. Isn´t the gray sky what make us think about the shiny sun that is missing?.. Isnt the fell of leaves that let us heard the sound of the wind and remind us that that even death leaves were alive?

Isnt sadness good enough as happiness..? Isnt it just another feeling.. Or maybe Iam just being kinda blue..

By: Kaisen

Kaisen — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:29:20 +0000

La felicidad es no perder la fe en lo que se quiere y disfrutarlo cuando se tiene…

By: Keidi

Keidi — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:23:30 +0000

why would we define all the feelings we have, what they are or what do they mean. if we define them then they really become just words. love or happiness or what ever .. don’t be afraid that you don’t know what they mean or what they bring, as long as you feel them in your everyday moments .. live in the present, take everything from life. Keidi

By: Francois

Francois — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:18:11 +0000

Why not try this one:
Happiness is an automatic/internal evaluation of the fulfillment of our «values» by the brain.

That would explain why everybody sees happiness in different places: we all have different values.

If you value personnal achievement, than creation/accomplishment is your way to hapiness.
If you value fairness in life, than altruism might be your way to happiness.
If you value small values, be ready to be rewarded with small happiness. ( I scratch your back makes you happy ’till I stop ).
If you value nothing, drugs might be a way to happiness.
And the list goes on….

When you see happy people, check their values. Check the soundness of their values and most important: «their structure of value».

That is, a system of value built like a piramid: with all values thought and integrated, built one upon another is a sure way to happiness.
Unintegrated values, contradicting values, based on nothing ( think like: «I don’t know why but I feel like wanting this…» ) is the acrobatic way to happiness. Way up and way down..
Impossible or contraticting values is the way to a dead-end.
( Non-value of human achievement in a human world is a condradiction: happiness will be hard to find there (if it is a truely important non-value) )

Don’t confuse «value» with «moral», I’m pretty sure that somebody who don’t value human life, but value power over those life could live a pretty happy one killing other people.

So the way to happiness is in your values. And ( that is the hard part ), the way to a solid system of value is to «think».
- Why Am I feeling this ?
- Why does it feel important ?
- Doesn’t this value contradict this previous one ? Why ?
- If I really value this, why ? And why not that one ?…
This thinking should go on and on…
Happiness will reward you effort along the way.

Happy life !

By: Amy

Amy — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:48:29 +0000

happiness is something we haven’t understood, don’t understand. and will never understand. it is somethnig we seek, but not through money, people, anything materialistic. it is something inside us, all around us, it is something that can be seeked through faith, hope, being thankful, giving, sacrifice.

maybe most of us never felt what real happiness is, because love can’t be momentary. it lasts for iternity. it is something that when enters the heart doesnt go away. when it goes away, it is pleasure, not happiness.

Lots of Love, Amy

By: Etel

Etel — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:23:01 +0000

Happyness is liberty, if you have not liberty you can’t be happy, you can’t enjoy the happyness of the life, of love, of truth….
you can’t discover your self so you can’t be happy.

By: elsa

elsa — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:32:27 +0000

La felicidad es decision.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:53:07 +0000

Happiness to me is feeling the wind on my skin, the rain on my face, hearing the birds sing, watching the butterflies dance around the flowers, watching the clouds move across the sky, getting my fingers in the earth and pulling up weeds, smiling at complete strangers who smile back, even banging my leg or arm on the door which reminds me I am alive and makes me smile not curse, just living my life now, and having faith and belief that things will work out one way or another.

By: Germania Paulina

Germania Paulina — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:56:11 +0000

La duda mata la felicidad, en el momento que nos cuestionamos el hecho de “SER FELIZ” y nos ahogamos en la infelicidad de darnos cuenta de que no podemos tener todo lo que queremos consumiendonos en una profunda DEPRESION… Pero, si el hombre es un ser que continuamente esta evolucionando y esto lo obliga a cuestionarse; entonces ¿La Felicidad No Existe? o ¿La Felicidad es un Estado? o quizas ¿Mientras mas evolucionados nos volvemos menos felices?

By: Darshan Chande

Darshan Chande — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:33:20 +0000

Happiness is not really an important thing. Important is to be in contentment with what you have.

Happiness is just a temporary state of mind. It can never last.

By: juan tobar

juan tobar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:06:24 +0000

La felicidad es la sonrisa de un niño.

By: marie-christine

marie-christine — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:49:28 +0000

Disa -

“Aikido is not a technique to fight or defeat an enemy . It is the way to reconcile the world and make human beings one family” O-Sensei
Makes a lot of sense to me.

Love to see children learning it too. in the ACP children’s class.
Thanks for the quote.
Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-L6rEmOrny
Cats Musical – Memory

By: marie-christine

marie-christine — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:41:49 +0000

Disa -

“Aikido is not a technique to fight or defeat an enemy . It is the way to reconcile the world and make human beings one family” O-Sensei
Makes a lot of sense to me.

Love to see children learning it too. in the ACP children’s class.
Thanks for the quote.
Love
Marie-Christine

By: Isa miranda

Isa miranda — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:00:42 +0000

la Felicidad es una invencion humana, que nos quita tiempo ,una necesidad mas inventada para desviar la realidad

By: ESPERANZA

ESPERANZA — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:54:25 +0000

En algún libro leí que la felicidad es la paz del pensamiento.
Particularmente esta definición me convence, cuando consigo librarme de los juicios hacia mí misma y hacia los demás verdaderamente soy feliz.
Leí un comentario anterior que decía que significaba en creer en sí mismo y estoy de acuerdo.
También creo que para sentirla hay que estar en ambientes rodeados de naturaleza pues creo que ella aporta energía purificadora.
un beso muy fuerte para todos.

By: jyoti

jyoti — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:01:35 +0000

an intellectual discussion on happiness is hardly going to fulfil any want of happines exept for giving a satisfaction of having thought about something that mostly remain unthought of.
but the question whether you are happy or not still hangs.

good health,a satisfying career,and loved ones are the source of happiness. but many people spend their whole life time in the want of one or the other of these. are they left with enough to think beyond.

you might feel happy and peaceful in observing the true meaning of life, but if you have a cancer.. you do have a cancer! you may smile but are you really happy??

By: mari..

mari.. — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:08:40 +0000

Casí todas las personas solemos ver la felicidad como una meta, como un propósito por alcanzar y que generalmente es dificil de obtener, lo sucede es que la idealisamos… Con el pasar de los años y con la experiencia del día a día concibo a la felicidad como un estado emocional, como cuando te ríes, como cuando tienes un orgasmo, como cuando lloras, como cuando logras algo, es una sensación que generalmente dura poco y la llegas a sentir por un conjunto de factores que se enlazan entre sí en ese momento justo, como el tiempo, el clima la compañía, puedes sentirte feliz leyendo…hablando con alguien… dando amor… Para mi la felicidad no está ligada al “bienestar social o económico” puedes ser muy rico y sentirte feliz puedes ser un desvalido y sentirte igual o viceversa, la diferencia la haces tú.

By: Nina I.

Nina I. — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:52:15 +0000

Happiness is GOD!!!

By: lu

lu — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 07:14:43 +0000

totalmente de acuerdo…la felicidad a veces es inconciente y cuando te das cuenta, se te va…

By: Veronica Rubio

Veronica Rubio — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 05:56:00 +0000

La verdad no se si reamente usted llegue a leer esto yo por lo menos tengo la esperanza de que asi sea.

Conozco una parte de la felicidad tengo 25 años, 2 hijos una familia muy unida y feliz, soy madre soltera, trato de ser buena madre y sacar adelante a mis hijos, y verlos sonreir es una gran parte de mi felicidad, mas aun hay un hueco en mi vida, posiblemente sea la falta de un pareja, o una persona q me de su mano cuando tropiece, q me de animos y por supuesto q me apapache, es una historia muy larga y nada q ver con lo q lew keria decir jaja pero felicidades sr es ud muy grande, espero algun dia tener a dicha de conocerlo o por lo menos q me firme uno de mis libros (q en realidad son suyos)

By: AlexFire

AlexFire — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:18:47 +0000

I admit right now I’m not completely happy, however, I thank God for being still young and still having the chance of happiness which I’ve been following, I’d rather just live and do what makes me happy than just accept to stay pretending; when one goes for true happiness (and achieves it) I suppose its like an opposite of that unhappiness we see everywhere, for in real happiness there will be pain, sadness, etc; but deep inside we would know we are doing what makes us happy; not pretending while we feel like dying deep inside, no, just living life as we know our heart is happy, and willing to fight against all the obstacles others give to us.

During quite a bit I’ve started looking for that which I dream, it is really hard, but when I start getting out of that path I start feeling all that made me unhappy before, that helps me stay on my path, because I don’t want to return to that pretended happiness most people seem to love or to stop believing that there is so much more to life than we see now.

I normally don’t bother myself asking that question because when we are happy, we will know; Sooooo… happiness to all and don’t stop believing! )

By: Lourdes

Lourdes — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:16:29 +0000

la felicidad es un estado de animo, donde te sientes en equilibrio contigo mismo y el mundo que te rodea, es sinonimo de paz.

By: cristina

cristina — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:43:31 +0000

hpapiness lies inside of you, you don’t have to search for it outside…

By: Gelu

Gelu — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:27:28 +0000

Happiness is not fear.
It is freedom.
It is that feeling of “no boundries”, of “not even the sky is the limit” – if you know what I mean.

Gracias, Senor Coelho!

By: Diki

Diki — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:48:09 +0000

Happiness for me is to be able to get up in the morning and have another wonderful day when deep inside you realized that you do not deserve what you received from God and thank Him. It does’nt happen every day, but when the realization do comes i feel on top of the world for having just to live.

By: Mirna Vilchez

Mirna Vilchez — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:15:07 +0000

La Felicidad es un estado del que solo tu eres responsable,esta en lo mas profundo de ti, solo tu la puedes sentir, la puedes manejar, puede estar pasando la mas terrible tormenta y sin embargo puedes Ser Feliz, es tu decision,cuando aprendes que significa nada ni nadie puede hacerte Infeliz.

By: Ilias

Ilias — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:39:58 +0000

Happiness is the freedom to do things that you like…..

By: Rabea

Rabea — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:39:17 +0000

Happiness is just a feeling that we cannot define,we are aware of it when we miss a change to be happy once that chance is gone.happiness is enjoying life with that none define nice feeling.

By: Carlos De Lilla

Carlos De Lilla — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:58:17 +0000

La felicidad es que cada particula de tu esencia logre que tus pies te lleven a donde quiere tu corazon ,y dejas de rogar para que solo te pasen cosas buenas y aceptas que lo malo forma parte de la vida…

By: lilia

lilia — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:18:08 +0000

le bonheur c’est sentir le mal

By: vsx07

vsx07 — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 14:54:46 +0000

Happiness would always be accompanied by faith. Faith on yourself, on others, on something supernatural. Less planning, more spontaneity. Focusing on simple things rather than the complexities of life.

By: Lee Raymundo

Lee Raymundo — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:56:24 +0000

HAPPINESS IS A PROCESS, NOT A DESTINATION.

By: Marie-Christine

Marie-Christine — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:48:30 +0000

si , esta descripcion habla con mi corazon, gracias.

By: Disa

Disa — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:22:49 +0000

Happiness is a word, like love propagated (sp?) by Walt Disney that has ruined generations ! Without that word ( or those words ) and the ‘images’ we now associate with that word; we could live simply with no expectations. I see my cats, they are happy.
Myself, rarely. So I hang out with my cats more.

By: Surina Dongol

Surina Dongol — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:10:36 +0000

Happiness is within you. Just feel it. Our Body itself is filled with so much energy that we don;t have to find anything beyond. Just Go within and all the answers is inside you.

By: micaela

micaela — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:01:37 +0000

felicidad..
me pregunto si algun día todos podremos llegar hacia ella,o el..
qué es felicidad y como viene envuelta..
creo que felicidad pasa por buscar en nuestro interior eso tan profundo que anciamos y cumplirlo, y creo también que solo unos pocos llegaron conocer de que se trata eso que anciamos..
felicidad en mi caso seria cumplir un sueño que tengo en mente desde años..creo que desde que nací, pero como la mayoría de las personas no tengo el valor suficiente ni la fuerza y confianza en mi misma para lograrlo, ojalá algún día pueda averiguar si ese sueño cumplido forma parte de la felicidad.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:14:21 +0000

Happiness is being,not existing.Happiness is to embrace all that life has to offer,even the fear that comes along sometimes.Happiness is being where you want to be,how you want to be and with whom you want to be with.Happiness is being contented with what you have even when the plate has not been served with everything you wish for.

By: Angeles

Angeles — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 23:48:48 +0000

Es un comulo de libertad, tranquilidad, amor, realización y satisfacción y que sale de dentro de mi, y que me hace sentir más cerca de Dios. Para mí eso es la felicidad.

By: noha rashed

noha rashed — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:16:22 +0000

i think happiness is by doing every thing in our life with a good or kind intention, to be satisfied with our cerciumstans and working to improve it,know god , live the moment , apply positive thinking as u can,live with a purpose,and finally the more u give the more u live.

By: Tony

Tony — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:38:26 +0000

The common thread in all these lovely posts is that happiness is not a function of what we possess or consume, nor of what we do or what happens to us. As such it is far away from what our culture values. What matters is our inner life and the extent to which we can remain peaceful and joyful whatever is happening. Happiness is inner peace.

External events and our own natures clearly affect our inner lives, meaning our thoughts, beliefs, emotions, desires and the rest. So an interesting question is whether we can change the way events affect us. I believe we can, it is a matter of skills we can practice. To live so as to increase such skills is what a spiritual path amounts to, whether it is accompanied by religious belief or not. So there is a close connection between spirituality and happiness, whatever we believe about the supernatural.

By: jaypee

jaypee — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:49:24 +0000

Happiness is happiness

By: omai

omai — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:46:01 +0000

happines sometimes is a matter of choice…whenever i feel sad and alone, i would like to think i must be happy. in that way, the sadness that engulfed me will not really consume me. i think im a lonely person still searching for the true meaning of happiness. it’s not as what we always equate it to…contentment..but anyhow, happiness can be felt i think for some moments but it will not be entirely true for the a long time….i hope i can feel that…soon.

By: Ely

Ely — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:55:20 +0000

Happiness is when you forget about yourself and serve another human being.

By: IVAN

IVAN — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:26:07 +0000

HAPPINESS

IT IS WHAT WE ALL SERCH FOR EVERY SECOND OF OUR LIFE
NOT REALIZING THAT IT IS ALREADY WITHIN US, THIS FEELING WAS GIVEN TO US AT BIRTH.

NOW HOW TO REACH IN AND LET IT BE PART OF US SIMPLE MY DEAR FRIENDS,
JUST ALLOW YOU SELF TO FEEL HAPPY INSTEAD OF SERCHING FOR HAPPINESS.
WE HAVE THE CHOICE TO FEEL HAPPY EVERY MORNING OF OUR LIFE THAT WE ARE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO OPEN OUR EYES AND BE HERE IN THIS WORLD.

SO WHAT TO DO MY FRIEND IT IS ALWAYS UP TO YOU
CHOOSE WISELY

AND KEEP FEELING HAPPY

By: Abhi

Abhi — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:16:45 +0000

Doing what you like is freedom and liking what you do is happiness ….

By: Michael Eisbrener

Michael Eisbrener — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:24:42 +0000

Moments of happy occur, some days more than others, and I am not unhappy… however most of the people in my life pursue happiness with a vengeance and are often disappointed with my indifference and sometimes animosity toward it. When in the moment the experience is what is and as soon as it is ‘noticed’ it disappears. There appears to be a ‘drug’ of choice for most people that covers up the essential sadness we are. Being with the sadness without making it mean anything calms me. I wonder sometimes if sadness and being alone is the essential human condition we are most afraid to discuss/be with. Having the experience of being ‘gotten’ is rare for me. All too often we are assigned a category, an explanation that puts us in our place and we are bound by it. Those who settle or are oblivious to being bound combined with their commitment to being ‘nice’ smother me.

By: Maria

Maria — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:07:38 +0000

I sincerely don’t know what happiness is, as of now I think the closest thing to happiness is contentment.

By: Heidi

Heidi — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 10:04:43 +0000

for me happiness is astonishment and gratitude

By: Maria

Maria — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 19:05:13 +0000

Happiness is to know what you want and having so much faith in yourself that you know you’ll get there.
Happiness is believing in yourself. However, sometimes we let the dark night fall upon us for a moment.

By: lydie levasseur

lydie levasseur — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:07:53 +0000

Happiness is in the moment.

By: aurora

aurora — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:30:29 +0000

Dear Paulo, I am from Croatia and one our famous poet once said;

It’s strange how it’s little necessary to be happy, but it’s more strange how that little is always missing.

maybe I didn’t translate this good as it is, but I know that You will understand the point.

Bye

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:06:38 +0000

I agree that happiness is fluid. It is there when I can look out the window and just think “wow.”

By: Stuat Wilkins

Stuat Wilkins — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:46:41 +0000

Dear Paulo,

I believe in the wise words of the great philosopher Socrates, “Know Yourself”. In order to truly be happy I believe on should first know yourself, otherwise one will always doubt if one is truly happy. If you don’t know yourself, but still have your hearts desires, you will eventually falter. That little emptiness of knowing who you really are will catch up to you and soon you are asking again “Am I Happy?”. Are You.

Best Regards

By: depreks

depreks — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:14:45 +0000

Un proverbe arabe dit « Travail pour ta vie comme si vous allez vivre éternellement, et travailler pour l’au-delà comme si vous deviez mourir demain »

By: Sou

Sou — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:07:09 +0000

hmm…yes i am happy..that is a feeling coming from bottom of our mind..thematerialistic life does not have heart to feel the happiness, that life brings an dramatical feeling which has the span of fraction of a second. Forget your materialistic life..live with heart, in hearts, you will be happy. Loka samastha sughino bhavanthu..

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:17:48 +0000

I believe this is a good question, which I also tried to answer recently (aiming for a more “scientific” definition), have a look at http://www.spreadinghappiness.org/2009/08/what-is-happiness/

Comments are very much welcome!

By: luce

luce — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:31:00 +0000

Dear Paulo,

I do know happiness but I do not know what is happiness.

It comes and it goes, it leaves lovely traces on my mind in my soul.

It gives me wings and when it flies away it lurks just behind next corner awaiting to touch me agai.

I do not know what is happiness
but
I do know happiness.

Love
Luce

By: Leyden Keren

Leyden Keren — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:15:21 +0000

I always find myself thinking about this question?
What make us happy??? soemtimes i think if am i unresponsable or what, because i usually dont stress , believing that those things i cant change are just part of life…

I belive happiness is a state of mind, and no matter the situtation someone goes by , we all humans are call to TRY to be happy… specially since nothing last forever.

I want many things in life, those things we call normal and understand makes life happy , a career, a great job, a family , a good husband nd kids, but since i´ve seen many ppl has that and is nop happy , at least i want peace of mind and feel happy with what life gives me or the dreams i accomplish ….

Having the things we want usually make us happy, but nothing is sure apart from death so according to that i understand our happiness cant depend from something material.

feeling happy and positive about life is an attitude and a choice ! ah also a right .

By: Erich Jao

Erich Jao — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 05:29:14 +0000

There is no continuous state of happiness simply moment by moment. The essence of which causes a rapture beyond the bliss associated with the mundane.

As we are human, we cannot fully obtain the true nature of happiness.

By: sunil balani

sunil balani — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:52:52 +0000

happiness is about containment.it is about fullfillment. It is about the felling of being able to do what you think you were meant to do…
Regards

By: Masha

Masha — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:14:37 +0000

Ik think only moments of happiness exists. if you re lucky you feel satisfied most of the rest of the time. If not, it makes you happy to think that you can try to become more happier.

the art of happiness is to be happy when reached the stade that you feel good and peacefull most of the time. But there s the trigger.. one always thinks there s more.. more more.. more more ..its like we find ourselves reasons to feel the adrenaline of anxiety, worry, fears etc.. I always thought there must be a reason to be happy but sometimes everything is difficult,very painfull and lonely but i can still feel happy .. just like that , even if its only for an hour. …Thats by the way always when i do NOT think;-)

By: Santosh Kalwar

Santosh Kalwar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:46:01 +0000

Dear all,

Happiness is emptiness,a stage where self is awake and total Juvenal, ecstasy and pleasure is felt in heart.

God bless you all !

By: Carolena Sabah

Carolena Sabah — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:07:36 +0000

Happiness is over-rated. I think a person is happy when they are on their path, but this doesn’t mean that they are smiling all the time.

I can be happy and crying for that matter!

But ultimately, I believe, a person is happy when they have the freedom to follow their personal legend, even with all the trials, tribulations, and moments of sadness and what not!!

love
C.

By: Jill

Jill — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:24:23 +0000

Key to happiness: An open heart, becoming like a little child.

Jill

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:11:05 +0000

los hijos no se van.. se mudan.. y no siempre… y quien dijo que el verdadero amor consiste en pasion eterna?

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:09:15 +0000

The secret of happiness is to live in the present… most of the causes of unhappiness are either related to events in the past that only exist in our mind, or thoughts about the future.

By: Dances With Crayons

Dances With Crayons — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:42:38 +0000

I love this question Paulo, thank you!
Happiness is an emotion. I feel it as other emotions, like fluid. Not a thing pursued – like a butterfly chased or hunted for. But prefer Joy (god, love) because that lives inside.

Much Love to All : ) xo

By: loubna

loubna — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:39:03 +0000

Happiness is when we are satisfied with what we’ve got even if it is a little, when we’re satisfied with our efforts to improve.
I know that seeking development comes from unsatisfaction, therefore you can only improve if you not satisfied with what you have. We should all think of the MOMENT that is the secret for hapiness, not living in the past and not worring so much about what hapens in the future.
you never know what tomorrow holds for you, From the words of allah: be cautious to like something bad for you and be cautious to hate something good for you without knowing.
Be the best you can in every moment )

By: Raquel Carbajal Sosa

Raquel Carbajal Sosa — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:41:14 +0000

Para mi:

…Felicidad are those moments that you smile, which radiates through your entire being …

May you all have plenty of these moments

By: NOBIE

NOBIE — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:47:36 +0000

are you really happy? how can one be happy? how can we all be happy?

By: rastasuphi

rastasuphi — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:18:15 +0000

“Money doesn’t bring happiness, Money order to bring it.”

“Dinheiro não traz felicidade, manda buscar”

Can money bring happiness?

By: Marlene Budanec

Marlene Budanec — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 11:11:33 +0000

a state of mind-happiness,
the more we understand things in and around us,
and make the ‘right’choices-we are happy..
we could be happy all the time
-and actually we should be.
‘our mind should be in the house of happiness,
and our heart in the house of sadness’

By: Marie-Christine

Marie-Christine — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:01:24 +0000

happiness is bonheur, alegria, making the most of the day, sharing an orange,watching a child jumping a poodle,a nice smell, beautiful music, touching a tree, watching a sunset, etc

By: mel

mel — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:51:30 +0000

i hope my note will pass modration cz here it a diffirent idea i give .i read all comments so i wanted my article to be read i beleive in deversity and changing ideas.thank you
wish everybody will be happy

By: mel

mel — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:39:47 +0000

I was unhappy and i felt lost and nearly get mad i wanted to die i felt that my heart will stop at any moments but when i read this article I discovred the true happiness and the peace of mind .plz read this article and give me your answer.
How to be successful in life

(In the light of the Glorious Qurân and the Sunnah)

By:
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Question:
How to obtain success and prosperity in this world and hereafter? What kind of success or prosperity that Islam wants the Ummah Islam gain in this world?

Answer:
Praise be to Allah.

Peace of mind, contentment, happiness and freedom from worries and anxiety… these are what everyone wants, and these are the ways in which people can have a good life and find complete happiness and joy.

There are religious means of achieving that, and natural and practical means, but no one can combine all of them except the believers; although other people may achieve some of them, they will miss out on others.

There follows a summary of the means of achieving this aim for which everyone is striving. In some cases, those who achieve many of them will live a joyful life and a good life; in other cases, those who fail to achieve all of them will live a life of misery and hardship. And there are others which are in between, according to what the means he is able to attain. These means include the following:

1 – Faith and righteous deeds:
This is the greatest and most fundamental of means. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
{Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)} [Quran, 16:97].
{مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحاً مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ}
Transliteration: Man `Amila Şāliĥāan Min Dhakarin ‘Aw ‘Unthá Wa Huwa Mu’uminun Falanuĥyiyannahu Ĥayāatan Ţayyibatan Wa Lanajziyannahum ‘Ajrahum Bi’aĥsani Mā Kānū Ya`malūna

Allah tells us and promises us that whoever combines faith with righteous deeds will have a good life and a good reward in this world and in the Hereafter.

The reason for that is clear: those who believe in Allah – with sincere faith that motivates them to do righteous deeds that change hearts and attitudes and guides them to the straight path in this world and the Hereafter – follow principles and guidelines by means of which they deal with everything that happens to them, be it the causes of happiness and excitement or the causes of anxiety, worry and grief.

They deal with the things that they like by accepting them and giving thanks for them, and using them in good ways. When they deal with them in this manner, that creates in them a sense of excitement and the hope that it will continue and that they will be rewarded for their gratitude, which is more important than the good things that happen to them. And they deal with bad things, worries and distress by resisting those that they can resist, alleviating those that they can alleviate, and bearing with goodly patience those that they cannot avoid. Thus as a result of the bad things they gain a lot of benefits, experience, strength, patience and hope of reward, which are more important and which diminish the hardships they have undergone and replace them with happiness and hope for the bounty and reward of Allah.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) expressed this in a saheeh hadeeth in which he said: «How wonderful is the situation of the believer, for all his affairs are good. If something good happens to him, he gives thanks for it and that is good for him; if something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and that is good for him. This does not apply to anyone but the believer» [Narrated by Muslim, no. 2999].

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told us that the believer is always gaining and the reward for his deeds is always multiplying, no matter what happens to him, good or bad.

2 – Being kind to people in word and deed, and all kinds of doing good.
This is one of the means of removing worry, distress and anxiety. By this means Allah wards off worries and distress from righteous and immoral like, but the believer has the greater share of that, and is distinguished by the fact that his kindness to others stems from sincerity and the hope of reward, so Allah makes it easy for him to be kind to others because of the hope that this will bring good things and ward off bad things, by means of his sincerity and hope of reward. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
{لاَّ خَيْرَ فِي كَثِيرٍ مِّن نَّجْوَاهُمْ إِلاَّ مَنْ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوْ مَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ إِصْلاَحٍ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ ابْتَغَاء مَرْضَاتِ اللّهِ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْراً عَظِيماً}
Transliteration: Lā Khayra Fī Kathīrin Min Najwāhum ‘Illā Man ‘Amara Bişadaqatin ‘Aw Ma`rūfin ‘Aw ‘Işlāĥin Bayna An-Nāsi Wa Man Yaf`al Dhālika Abtighā’a Marđāati Allāhi Fasawfa Nu’utīhi ‘Ajrāan `Ažīmāan

{There is no good in most of their secret talks save (in) him who orders Sadaqah (charity in Allah’s Cause), or Ma‘roof (Islamic Monotheism and all the good and righteous deeds which Allah has ordained), or conciliation between mankind; and he who does this, seeking the good Pleasure of Allah, We shall give him a great reward} [Quran, 4:114].
Part of that great reward is relief from worry, distress, troubles, etc.

3 – Another of the means of warding off anxiety that stems from nervous tension and being preoccupied with disturbing thoughts is to occupy oneself with good deeds or seeking beneficial knowledge, for that will distract one from dwelling on the matters that are causing anxiety. In this way a person may forget about the things that are making him worried and distressed, and he may become happy and more energetic. This is another means that believers and others have in common, but the believer is distinguished by his faith, sincerity and hope of reward when he occupies himself with that knowledge which he is learning or teaching, or with the good deeds that he is doing.

The work with which he occupies himself should be something that he likes and enjoys, for that is more likely to produce the desired results. And Allah knows best.

4 – Another thing that may ward off worry and anxiety is focusing all one’s thoughts of the present day, and not worrying about the future or grieving about the past. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sought refuge with Allah from worry and regret, from regret for things in the past which one cannot put right or change, and worry which may come because of fear for the future. So one should focus only on the present day, and focus one’s efforts on getting things right today. For if a person is focused on that, this means that he will do things properly and forget about worry and regret.

When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said a du’aa’ or taught a du’aa’ to his Ummah, as well as urging them to seek the help of Allah and hope for His bounty, he was also urging them to strive to attain the thing they were praying for through their own efforts and to forget about the thing which they were praying would be warded off from them. Because du’aa’ (supplication) must be accompanied by action. So a person must strive to attain that which will benefit him in worldly and spiritual terms, and ask his Lord to make his efforts successful, and he should seek His help in that, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
«Strive for that which will benefit you and seek the help of Allah, and do not be helpless. If anything (bad) happens to you, do not say, ‘If only I had done such-and-such, then such-and-such would have happened.’ Rather you should say, ‘Qaddara Allah wa ma sha’a fa’ala (Allah decrees, and what He wills He does),’ for (the words) ‘If only’ open the door to the Shaytaan» [Narrated by Muslim].

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) connected the matter of striving to achieve good things with the matter of seeking the help of Allah and not giving in to feelings of helplessness which are a harmful kind of laziness, and with the matter of accepting things in the past which are over and done with, and acknowledging that the will and decree of Allah will inevitably come to pass. He described matters as being of two types:
1 – Matters which a person may strive to achieve or to achieve whatever he can of them, or to ward them off or alleviate them. In such cases a person must strive and make the effort, and also seek the help of Allah.

2 – Matters where such is not possible, so he must have peace of mind, accept them and submit to Allah’s will.
Undoubtedly paying attention to this principle will bring happiness and relieve worry and distress.

5 – One of the greatest means of feeling content and relaxed and of acquiring peace of mind is to remember Allah a great deal (dhikr). That has a great effect in bringing contentment and peace of mind, and relieving worry and distress. Allah says:
{الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ}
Transliteration: Al-Ladhīna ‘Āmanū Wa Taţma’innu Qulūbuhum Bidhikri Allāhi ‘Alā Bidhikri Allāhi Taţma’innu Al-Qulūbu
{Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest} [Quran, 13:28].

Remembering Allah (dhikr) has a great effect in achieving this aim because it has a special influence and because of the hope that it brings of reward.

6 – Another of the means of bringing happiness and relieving worry and distress is striving to eliminate the things that cause worry and to achieve the things that bring happiness. That may be done by forgetting about bad things in the past which cannot be changed, and realizing that dwelling on them is a waste of time. So a person must strive to stop himself from thinking of that, and also strive to stop himself from feeling anxious about the future and the things that he may imagine of poverty, fear and other bad things that he thinks may happen to him in the future. He should realize that the future is something unknown, he cannot know what good or bad things are going to happen to him. That is in the hand of the Almighty, the Most Wise, and all that His slaves can do is to strive to attain the good things and to ward off the bad things. A person should realize that if he diverts his thoughts from worrying about his future and puts his trust in his Lord to take care of his situation, and puts his mind at rest concerning that, if he does that, then his heart will be at peace and his situation will improve and he will be relieved of worry and anxiety.

One of the most effective ways of dealing with worries about the future is to recite this du’aa’ which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to recite:
«Allaahumma aslih li deeni alladhi huwa ‘ismatu amri, wa aslih li dunyaaya allati fiha ma’aashi, wa aslih li aakhirati allati ilayha ma’aadi, waj’al al-hayaata ziyaadatan li fi kulli khayr, wa’l-mawta raahatan li min kulli sharr (O Allah, correct my religious commitment which is the foundation of my life, and correct my worldly affairs in which is my livelihood, and grant me good in the Hereafter to which is my return. Make my life a means of accumulating good, and make death a respite for me from all evil)» [Narrated by Muslim, 2720].

And he said: «Allaahumma rahmataka arju fa la takilni ila nafsi tarfata ‘aynin wa aslih li sha’ni kullahu, laa ilaaha illa anta (O Allah, for Your mercy I hope, so do not abandon me to myself even for a moment. And correct all my affairs. There is no god but You)» [Narrated by Abu Dawood with a saheeh isnaad, no. 5090; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Kalim al-Tayyib, p. 49].

If a person utters these du’aa’s, which ask that his spiritual and worldly affairs may be set right or corrected, with proper presence of mind and sincerity of intention, whilst striving to achieve that, Allah will grant him what he has prayed for, hoped for and striven for, and He will turn his worry into joy and happiness.

7 – If a person experiences anxiety and distress because of a disaster, then one of the most effective means of relieving himself of that is to think of the worst scenario to which that may lead, and try to accept that. When he has done that, then he should try to alleviate it as much as possible. By means of this acceptance and these efforts, he will relieve himself of his worries and distress, and instead of worrying he will strive to bring about good things and to deal with whatever he can of the bad things.

If he is faced with things that cause fear or the possibility of sickness or poverty, then he should deal with that by striving to make himself accept that, or something even worse, with contentment, because by making himself accept the worst-case scenario, he lessens the impact of the thing and makes it seem less terrible, especially if he occupies himself with efforts to ward it off as much as he can. Thus as well as striving to achieve something good which will distract him from his worries about calamity, he will also renew his strength to resist bad things, and put his trust and reliance in Allah.

8 – Steadfastness of heart and not being disturbed about the imaginary things that bad thoughts may bring to mind. For when a person gives in to his imagination and lets his mind be disturbed by these thoughts, such as fear of disease and the like, or anger and confusion stirred up by some grievous matter, or the expectation of bad things and the loss of good things, that will fill him with worries, distress, mental and physical illness and nervous breakdowns, which will have a bad effect on him and which causes a great deal of harm, as many people have seen. But when a person depends on Allah and puts his trust in Him, and does not give in to his imagination or let bad thoughts overwhelm him, and he relies on Allah and has hope of His bounty, that wards off his worries and distress, and relieves him of a great deal of mental and physical sickness. It gives indescribable strength, comfort and happiness to the heart. How many hospitals are filled with the mentally sick victims of illusions and harmful imagination; how often have these things had an effect upon the hearts of many strong people, let alone the weak ones; how often have they led to foolishness and insanity.

It should be noted that your life will follow your train of thought. If your thoughts are of things that will bring you benefit in your spiritual or worldly affairs, then your life will be good and happy. Otherwise it will be the opposite.
The person who is safe from all of that is the one who is protected by Allah and helped by Him to strive to achieve that which will benefit and strengthen the heart and ward off anxiety. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
{And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him} [Quran, 65:3]
{وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ}
Transliteration: Wa Man Yatawakkal `Alaá Allāhi Fahuwa Ĥasbuhu

i.e., He will be sufficient for all that is worrying him in his spiritual and worldly affairs. The one who puts his trust in Allah will have strength in his heart and will not be affected by anything he imagines or be disturbed by events, because he knows that these are the result of vulnerable human nature and of weakness and fear that have no basis. He also knows that Allah has guaranteed complete sufficiency to those who put their trust in Him. So he trusts in Allah and finds peace of mind in His promise, and thus his worry and anxiety are dispelled; hardship is turned to ease, sadness is turned to joy, fear is turned to peace. We ask Allah to keep us safe and sound, and to bless us with strength and steadfastness of heart, and complete trust, for Allah has guaranteed all good things to those who put their trust in Him, and has guaranteed to ward off all bad and harmful things from them.

If bad things happen or there is the fear of such, then you should count the many blessings that you are still enjoying, both spiritual and worldly, and compare them with the bad things that have happened, for when you compare them you will see the many blessings that you are enjoying, and this will make the bad things appear less serious.
See al-Wasaa’il al-Mufeedah li’l-Hayaat al-Sa’eedah by Shatkh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Sa’di

Ibn al-Qayyim summed fifteen ways through which Allah may dispel worries and regret. These are as follows:
1- Tawheed al-Ruboobiyyah (belief in the Oneness of Divine Lordship).

2- Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah (belief in the Oneness of the Divine nature).

3- Tawheed of knowledge and belief (i.e., Tawheed al-Asma’ wa’l_Sifaat, belief in the Oneness of the Divine names and attributes).

4- Thinking of Allah as being above doing any injustice to His slaves, and above punishing anyone for no cause on the part of the slave that would require such punishment.

5- The person’s acknowledging that he is the one who has done wrong.

6- Beseeching Allah by means of the things that are most beloved to Him, which are His names and attributes. Two of His names that encompass the meanings of all other names and attributes are al-Hayy (the Ever-Living) and al-Qayyoom (the Eternal).

7- Seeking the help of Allah Alone.

8- Affirming one’s hope in Him.

9- Truly putting one’s trust in Him and leaving matters to Him, acknowledging that one’s forelock is in His hand and that He does as He wills, that His will is forever executed and that He is just in all that He decrees.

10- Letting one’s heart wander in the garden of the Qur’aan, seeking consolation in it from every calamity, seeking healing in it from all diseases of the heart, so that it will bring comfort to his grief and healing for his worries and distress.

11- Seeking forgiveness.

12- Repentance.

13- Jihad.

14- Salah (prayer).

15- Declaring that he has no power and no strength, and leaving matters to the One in Whose hand they are.
We ask Allah to keep us safe and sound from worries and to relieve us of distress and anxiety, for He is the All-Hearing, Ever-Responsive, and He is the Ever-Living, Eternal.
Undoubtedly these matters are of great benefit in attaining happiness and peace of mind, as well as bringing the hope of reward in this world and in the Hereafter. This is something which is well known from the experience of many who have tried it.

By: aisha

aisha — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:31:06 +0000

We tend to tie happiness to certain things. We think we will be happy when we get married or when we have children or when we go to a certain vacation. I beleive that we should be able to achieve happiness no matter what. These are all the external factors that we think will make us happy. But I believe it is something we are supposed to find in ourselves. And thats why we come here, to this life. To find that inner peace or happiness or whatever we may want to call it.

By: aditya

aditya — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:13:43 +0000

good expereimnet (?) paulo !
holding back comments from readers for sometime.

when all od us know so much about happiness ! are we happy ?

love
aditya

By: Rubi2ar

Rubi2ar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:32:33 +0000

Hola: Como he leído en otras respuestas LA FELICIDAD es un estado de ánimo. Es saber vivir, sabar dosificar lo poco o mucho que uno tiene. Y uno puede tener mucho o poco dinero, mucha o poca inteligencia. De igual modo, mientrás haya deseos siempre algo va a faltar. El Yogui nos dice que el único deseos que debemos tener es el de realizar a Dios o sea LA FELICIDAD. Y que debemos ver a Dios en todas las cosas. DIOS ES TODO. ¿ESO ES FELICIDAD?. Ahora bajemos, cómo hace el hombre común, padre de familia para ver todo igual que el que sólo medita en un templo y esta tranquilo sin problemas de alimentación, frío, etc. El hombre común, en un mundo tan lleno de competencias y avaricias, sabe que el mundo esta en perfecto equilibrio que hay abundancia para todos. Que si falta algo en un país es por que otro pais hace acopio. La falta de justicia nos hace INFELICES. Como decía Vivekananda hablar de justicia social es una conversación de niños. A veces pienso que siendo ignorante hay más posibilidades de alcanzar la FELICIDAD. No veo en ésta ERA la manera de alcanzar la tan ansiada felicidad. Por supuesto que tengo momentos de gran felicidad, pero eso momentos, por ejemplo, me hace feliz leer un buen libro, escuchar buena música, oirlo cantar a Sai Baba (traten escuchar los temas de los CD Embodiment in love). Queridos no quiero amargar a nadie pero cómo puedo ser feliz si hay gente en el mundo que muere de inanición y que de momento sólo hay proyectos para tratar de salvar a esa gente. Saludos y como decía Muktananda (creador de SIDDA YOGA) OM NAMA SHIVAIA, saludo tu ser interior.

By: Elaine Stevens

Elaine Stevens — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:14:22 +0000

I don’t know what happiness is. I have felt contentment occasionally. I have felt joy. I have read that all growth comes from lack of contentment. I know I am strong because I have suffered and survived.

I have learned to feel content with myself occasionally. It is my highest goal since I believe all actions toward others is actions toward the self. I have sensed the unity of All. I know my actions cause reactions throughout the universe, but turning that knowledge into wisdom requires an emotional commitment … a surrender… which I am learning how to make.

To me, happiness resides in the surrender, but then it’s still a myth in my life, an unproven. When I surrendered as a child, I was rewarded with pain, so I stopped trusting. Doing is easier than letting go… trusting… which is necessary for that happiness. On the other hand, maybe all goals lead to happiness… as long as they remain unattainable.

By: Oscar Burd

Oscar Burd — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:15:51 +0000

In my point of view happiness is a decision, a mind mood.

By: Christina Nicholas

Christina Nicholas — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:36:20 +0000

I think it is so difficult to define the parameters of happiness. It is true Paulo that it is so much easier to witness unhappiness than it is to define what happiness actually is.

However, several broad ideas come to mind when I think about what happiness means to me:
* Peace of mind
* The nourishment of love: Firstly the positive love of self. Secondly, love given. And thirdly, love received.
* Faith: In self, in loved-ones and in a greater meaning (for each this greater meaning is different).
* Dreams: To allow oneself to dream and have the courage to pursue ones dream.
* Hope: Remaining positive no matter the situations.
* Honesty: self-honesty and honesty to others.

By: shelly(bailyshouse)

shelly(bailyshouse) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:05:25 +0000

I wrote this on July 9. Did it somehow get lost in cyberspace? I thought you erased it. I came upon it only by chance just now- weird…

By: Devi Amanullah

Devi Amanullah — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:44:45 +0000

Since I got sick with Thyroid 3 years ago the question of “What is Happiness” is one of the things that got me thinking. I found myself on a different path than I the one I was walking on. I guess major changes in your life can do that to you.

I have always been very spiritual and I am an eager student. After being “forced” to slow down due to my health, my eyes are widened to what is around me and within myself. I have had to make difficult decisions in order to put my own well being first which is something I still need to get used to. My own Gift that I have embraced since I was 7 years old after my late Grandfather came to say goodbye in my dreams has developed vastly. There were times when through my frustrations and tears I would ask the common question, “Why me? I just want to be happy.” I know that God listens since most of my questions have been answered while the rest I am sure will be revealed to me. I realized that my Faith always get me through the hurricane.

The blog above describes very fluently the daily situations of most people. I can relate to it. I understand and some of the descriptions are sadly true.

Giving energy but not receiving is also one of the things that will affect your happiness, I think. I am a Giver. I find joy in giving and I think it is one of my tasks in life but I have learned to also surround myself with other “Energy Givers” if I were to maintain balance for myself. I am of no use to others when empty.

“What is Happiness?” I believe that it is a feeling and state of mind that cathes you off guard and you spend a life time trying to make it stay. We are humans so this is hard to do since our emotions and logic sometimes get in the way. I think that learning to embrace your destiny, having joy in the simple things and appreciating what you have will make this journey more simple and enoyable thus, happy.

I find that I can be in a state of happiness when I just “let go”. Have faith of what may come and count my blessings. Love myself and others and trust that everything happens for a reason. Love is the key to happiness. Love and all its risks.

Perhaps this poem I wrote for my next book can describe my answer to “What is Happiness”:

HEART AND MIND

The heart wants-
what it can’t have-
and blames the mind-
when all is lost.

The mind longs-
what the heart desires-
but when pain arrives,
it’s an ungraceful host.

When the heart cries,
the mind soothes.
When the mind is broken,
the heart mends it.

When heart and mind-
become one,
Oh what a joy,
what pleasurable fun.

By: Devi Amanullah
Copyright 2009

By: punit

punit — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:26:27 +0000

Happiness is something that does not have an exact definition.Different people have Different take on this.One would be better off not to try and explore it as the more you seek it the more it eludes you.

By: virescentgirl

virescentgirl — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:10:21 +0000

I am not sure happiness can be truly defined – nor can unhappiness, because for each and every person they are defined differently. Perhaps that is what makes it so elusive -the lack of a black and white definition. ‘Happy’ may be only a moment, or it may be a lifetime – and who is to say truly, if the former is any less than the latter. For me, happiness is contentment, the pause in the daily grind of doing… the time between finished and about to start again. Happy is what makes the cracks at the corners of my eyes deepen… even if it is for but a moment or for a lifetime.

By: betty

betty — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:52:17 +0000

Paulo,

I do not believe that Happiness exists…life is a constant rollercoaster of emotions that is always moving, changing, and with each moment we grow and our souls are fed by our experiences. Happiness or joy, sadness or sorrow, fear and strength, none of these states can be continuously sustained. But I believe in contentment and peace and that this comes from acceptance – accepting these emotions, not fighting them, really feeling them and allowing them to touch our souls and the souls of others. Then we can be free, free to express ourselves, touch others and be content. This is my goal.

Lots of love to you,

Betty

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:13:27 +0000

Happiness is whatever we choose.
We can choose to be happy, or we can choose not to be happy, irrespective of the circumstance.

How often do we read of yet another celebrity destroying their life despite what they are fortunate enough to have and how many times do you see an image of a third world village with people laughing, dancing and smiling?

So I wonder to myself why I choose not to be happy so often!
So Paulo, are you happy?

By: MIRTHA

MIRTHA — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:54:03 +0000

FELICIDAD es la capacidad de ser libre para elegir metas teniendo confianza en uno mismo para luchar incasablemente hasta conquistarlas.

By: prathi

prathi — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:07:21 +0000

I feel happiness is there in feeling content. Sometimes for small small petty reasons we become happy, like when we dance with full joy, passion and rhythem that gives a feeling of content, that could be happiness. Sometimes when we eat any delicious food one may feel happiness.

It is so joyful in sharing friends emotions and in understanding them, there we may find happiness. when we pray or sing, be calm and try to maintain peaceful condition in any adverse condition that gives immense blissful condition which i would like to say as happiness.

By: JACOBS

JACOBS — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 07:22:01 +0000

De ce lever le matin et se dire comment ne pas être heureux avec tout se qui nous entoure

By: Zelmare

Zelmare — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:03:05 +0000

When are we happy? When we find ourselves in those moments where we feel everything is going our way, when we are surrounded by people we want to share life with and when we learn something out of life that before didn’t make sense to us. We are happy when we are filled with joy, satisfaction, achievement; when our dreams are realized.
But happiness should be more than this. Happiness should come from appreciation and gratitude. Even when we find ourselves in a stormy patch of life we need to focus one what we have and not what we have lost or not have at the moment.
Even when you are an innocent man put in jail, you have to find joy in your health when others are dying, the chocolate bar you can enjoy when others are starving, the 1 hour phone call you get to talk to your family for while others don’t even know where their family members are.
Finding happiness out of the smallest things in life can change your mindset and make you survive the saddest times in your life.
Only you, yourself, choose to be happy or surrender to fear, sadness and depression. Only you can laugh instead of cry. Only you can smile instead of frown.
Happiness comes from being at peace with what you have in every moment in time.

By: sajjad pervaiz

sajjad pervaiz — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:19:51 +0000

may b i could not get exact words to describe but something is compelling me do so. well sir, happiness is a feeling, a soothing jester and mostly it comes as a current wave that seems to enter from head and leaves,leaving behind a sense of relaxation..
i have defined it as my magical moment and its very much similar to that if one feels, it may come while recalling your CREATOR or while remembering the one you love or the one u desire, by doing any act of kindness that provides you intrinsic motivation keeping in mind that kindness has the same parameters as that of humanity.it matters upon faith also and the extent of strength of beliefs.sometimes the wave is achieved while taking a deep breath after the long hectic day.
that’s all..
if u have ever experienced that wave,the magical current in your body, then do reply me.
regardz

By: Tiadora Anderson

Tiadora Anderson — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:36:01 +0000

Thought provoking article. Happiness means different things to different people. The question to ask is what has always made us happy regardless of age.

By: Rita

Rita — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:15:50 +0000

Lovely thought provoking post. I will walk the Camino de Santiago for the first time in September.
I am trying to shed all my opinions, ideas and believes about myself, others, life, love and religion and spirituality. I want to walk with an open mind to be filled with whatever the Caminohas to offer me.
Maybe I will find some answers to this and other things
Rita

By: Yoshika

Yoshika — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:35:35 +0000

I am happy to have come across this entry today and also really appreciate that you wrote about this subject, because I have been searching for it for all my life. And starting from the conclusion,I still do not really know how to answer it either. But one thing that I can share is this. For last couple of months, I am feeling better than ever in last 10+ years of my life. And the only thing that seems to have changed is the energy in me. It may sound little odd to some people, but maybe, maybe, happiness is just an energy. The innate energy that is within everybody, but could be affected by outer & inner influences, such as outer circumstances, people or beliefs etc….so maybe needs to be trainded to keep it alive within you. Definition about “happiness” could vary depends on people, because not everyone has the same values about life. But, when you meet someone who has a kind of “happy” energy that you want to have, probably you just sense it. A lot of people say happiness is a state of mind. I agree. But, if you ask what it is exactly, then maybe it is just a energy. That’s my answer I have reached so far
Thank you for letting me share this. It was fun!

By: Gion Scott

Gion Scott — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:27:04 +0000

…this topic seems to be a tough one. Zero comments. So what is “happiness”? It is a state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Period. But is this the answer to the wise text above and its deep underlying human significance? Hardly. Therefore we have to reword the question. Is it about the frequently invoked meaning of life? Is there such a thing? Or is it rather about obtaining a state of peace of mind? Are we, human beings, supposed to be “happy”? Is perceived happiness just “Soma” for us people to keep us quiet and functioning? Is life about living our inherent human potential to the fullest and enjoying the feeling of happiness as a consequence? Or can happiness be generated artificially? Without any preceding meaningful action? Can I just sit there and be happy? However, it is complex. It seems to me that we human beings have, on the one hand, some kind of elemental mission to fulfill during our lifetime. A profound nature-inherent mission which we cannot argue about. On the other hand we have the ability to reflect about our doing, as no other creature on this planet can. We are even able to ponder about our thinking and feeling. Actually, this is what we are doing right now. And this is where all the trouble starts. Or is it rather the potential for hope, profound meaning, and true value which goes hand in hand with this unique ability? I believe we have to distinguish between the feelings of superficial short-term happiness and substantial insight-based satisfaction. I am sure we can live a quite happy life by just following our “god-given” mission, without questioning anything. But is this kind of life really saturated with deep inner value? Do we live our lives to the fullest by pursuing the mission blindly? Just being compliant? Or are we supposed to make full use of our abilities, being naughty and egoistic? Daring pure non-compliance? In order to answer these questions we need a useful point of reference. But what could constitute an all-embracing benchmark for our lives? Is there such a thing? Can there be one at all? Or is life too complex and individual to be measured by only one yardstick? Certainly. Nevertheless we all seem to share a common understanding of a fulfilled life. At least concerning the core of it. We just live it in different forms and on different levels, trying to achieve the best we can be. However, on this journey we are advised not to be too considered towards conformity. Instead leading a self-determined life without fearing temporary falls and encompassing resentments, strongly believing in ourselves and our very own individual path where no one else can follow. Certainly in peace with our human nature and society. Otherwise we are doomed to fight a war we cannot win. So in conclusion, without having defined the exact location of the greater transcendent bliss we are all searching for, we can be content with having all our abilities and the consequent possibilities. We just have to make use of them. And happiness will follow…

By: kealan

kealan — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:04:24 +0000

Happiness for me at this moment is living for nothing. To have no expectations, no longings, knowing I will loose my job next week, knowing I have to go to hospital next month (I’m not dieing!), knowing I will have to live off the government until I find a new job. But then I am very lucky, although I have no savings, I know I have a supportive loving family around me (along with the dog, my sisters cat and my own cat), every morning I look out the window and see the Cliffs in the distance across the bay, the air is fresh, I have some new good friends and a clean social circle, we just watched Endeavour flying across the sky like a UFO. I have my books and traditional studies. I have the dream of going on a week’s holiday in the sunshine, when I scrape the money together asap. Everything is as it should be.

By: Millie

Millie — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:54:59 +0000

If anyone was ever able to define happiness, I very much doubt he’d do the mankind, or even himself for that matter, a favour. The concept/notion of happiness has so many manifestations and connotaions that giving it one precise definition would result in the loss of cultural, ethnic and individual uniqueness. Happiness is not meant to be defined, it is meant to be experienced and enjoyed. It is a blessing when you realize, enjoy and apprecite happiness at the very moment of happiness, not as an afterthought.

By: Ana Maria

Ana Maria — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:34:06 +0000

I’ agree with you, is hard to tell what happiness is, in part I think because the way we have been educated. Most people that form part of this process in our life, have a different approach to happiness or give to happiness a different significance, they teach us something that just with time some of us understand isn’t true, not because the were wrong but because, the sense we give to happiness is very personal and unique. I’m very young, but I think I have found my sense of happiness, since March I’ve found that happiness for me is about love, gratitude, help and faith. I ‘m learning to see at everything with positive eyes, to see everything as a gift, and that single fact makes my life so much easy, that regardless everything may be happen, I feel so much peace and harmony. I can assure I’m happy, because all I need is inside me and is provided for my inner hero. Nothing is an obstacle but a lesson.

By: Ariane Golartt

Ariane Golartt — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:32:53 +0000

Muitas vezes achamos que a felicidade está nas coisas materiais, mas esquecemos que ela está dentro de nós, nas coisas pequenas que nos rodeiam… é da natureza humana achar que quanto mais se tem, mais feliz será!

Um grande beijo e sucesso.

By: Adela Milena

Adela Milena — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:49:34 +0000

Caro Paulo,

Obrigado outra vez pela sua escrita maravilhosa e magnifica. Suas palavras na definição da felicidade são tão verdadeiro – parece que prosseguimos sempre a felicidade e é e por causa disto nós não reconhecemos quando chega realmente!

Com os meus respeitosos cumprimentos e votos de muita saúde,

Adela Milena

By: Anahit M.

Anahit M. — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:19:45 +0000

Just like Peter, who asked our Lord to help him walk on the waters. And Jesus said:”Keep staring at me , don’t cut your eyes from mine and you will also walk on the waters”. So did Peter. But the moment when he looked down to his feet to see how its happening , he sunk.

By: Anahit M.

Anahit M. — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:17:49 +0000

Juat like peter, who asked our Lord to make him walk on the waters. And Jesus said:Keep staring at me , don’t cut your eyes from mine and you will also walk on the waters. So did Peter. But the moment when he looked down to his feet to see how its happening , he sunk.

By: RC

RC — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:49:56 +0000

Ahhhh!!! Lately while contemplating happiness myself, I think- yes, there is a sadness enveloping the world. Noone can deny it anymore. It has hit the best of them, the richest of them, the most profiled of them all- everyone in my counrty has finally aknowledged the false happiness which was our “stable land.” The land that gives and gives and gives. When will everyone understand love is a two way street! or three-way or four- LOL

As for the “fakeness” of the industry- it’s always been that way -name o’ the game-o – is what it is! I think it’s funny! – sometimes. But also…so sad…like clown sad…

Where are you anyway??

By: Rita Sharma

Rita Sharma — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:21:44 +0000

I hope my comment will pass the moderation this time unlike before. Haha.

By: Rita Sharma

Rita Sharma — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:20:27 +0000

Greetings Pauolo,

I left a response to the blog entry happiness. It disappeared.
Well happiness is similar if you chase it, you never find it.
Happiness is a state of our mind, it brings you joy, heals your soul, uplift you from your monotonous daily lives. It has got different meaning for different people.

Some find it in simple things like nature others look for it in expensive things and pursuits.

Best Regards

By: costea adian

costea adian — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:06:47 +0000

fericirea este suma tuturor zambetelor,tuturor reusitelor si momentelor fericite traite pe acest pamant..fericirea este minunea universului,deoarece este formata din iubire,vis…fericirea este apusul lacrimilor si rasaritul zambetelor… http://adikady.forumgratuit.ro/forum.htm

By: M@arcoM

M@arcoM — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:43:17 +0000

Dear mr. Coelho,
What is happiness? Well, in fact I don’t know .. I just know I’m looking for it for a long time, but the main problem is that I don’t know how or where to seek it. I have everything that they have always told me that it was necessary for my own realization: attentive family, friends always by my side, a girl that (maybe) loves me, a job that probably it is used to be envy by many people.. but I am not happy. I am just another victim of Zahir, the social conditions that were imposed to us in lost time and that we now accept as an irrefutable axiom. I tried to stop a moment and detach from this reality to understand what I really want. And the answer was “traveling”. Yes, I want to know the world and its mysteries, meet new cultures and new people! But this dream has been dampened. I cannot travel. Fear of flying hinders me. In fact the fear of change, fear of something new, a thousand fears which are grown with me, have always stayed in my full realization. And I go back to being unhappy, unable to rid myself of this part of me. If, therefore, many people are unhappy, I ask to you, is that because they are submissive to their own rationality? Maybe I should, we all should, let be guided by instinct. Return children, naive, happy for the little things that the world offers us. Happy because every morning the sun lights up again every single blade of grass, happy because the sky above us is blue, happy to stand in the rain, happy to take over the reins of our lives everyday. That’s a simple action. But I’m not able to do it.

By: Irina Black

Irina Black — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:19:26 +0000

Happiness-cultivated emotion which lasts.

By: JI

JI — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:27:46 +0000

Am still re-reading your THE VALLEYRIES. Thank you for the untold pleasure. I now , belatedly , know happiness is sharing stories and walk with my husband. To hear his voice again. The hurt, lies and betrayals were all in the past. Pathetic isn’t it? If happiness is not achievable, then at least , let there be positive elements at work. I do pray that there is a second chance.

By: Dee

Dee — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:37:52 +0000

This is a question that has plagued me no end.
No one ever seems to ask the question “are you happy” to someone else as it assumed weird or prying. My mother on the other hand asks this of me every single time I speak to her “Are you happy?” she asks…
What is happiness to me? I have pondered that question time and time again and whilst i know the answer, I can honestly say it i.e happiness only comes to me in short bursts sporadically.
the question is how can i sustain that moment forever?…

By: Irwan Chen

Irwan Chen — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 14:14:57 +0000

there is really happiness in this life, in this world. but, it isn’t last forever. i mean temporary. because happiness is a thing, and a thing is subjected to a change. nothing is forever.

maybe, by realizing this, i can say, is a state of happiness.

regards,
Irwan

By: Mondfalkin

Mondfalkin — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:34:38 +0000

Happiness is for me a way I choose to walk through life- it is my direction, a decisison which I take…..
I can take the things easy and I can feel happy and thankful for what happens and feel and see the life –> to see the positive side within all things- even when the person I love died, even when my mother has deadly cancer… I can be happy for the time I have with her right now and not to think about the future (which does not exist, by the way) ….or
I can choose the other path: to have expectations ,to force things- to want to controll situations, to focus on the material world, with luxus, fame, money and other soul-less things…
The easiest way to become unhappy is to have expectations. Another way is to threat our imaginations (the past, the future, and what we think another person feels) like real… and to forget that they exist only in our head and to forget how beautiful is the moment NOW. More harder is to believe that a car, a house , money, fame can make you happy! Cheers Mondfalkin

By: Mari Ann

Mari Ann — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:50:27 +0000

By the way, I’m threatened again, but I’m getting used to it. I have talked to the police, but they don’t take it seriously. I’ll go anyway.

By: Mari Ann

Mari Ann — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:48:05 +0000

I will leave in a few hours, so it will take some time before I’m back on this blog. Maybe I see you in Trondheim in the end of the month?

By: tata pontimayor

tata pontimayor — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:00:29 +0000

I grew up watching and listening to my grandfather telling stories and anecdotes of his younger days. He’s a great story teller, he laughs, cry and felt sad and hurt at the foolishness of his actions then. He is a great believer that there is a purpose and conclusion of all things in this life. In his last days he talks to himself a lot, one day i heard him speaks in this word’ ” dear God of how i live my life, i am content. If You will i shall live longer”. He died at the age of 93 not knowing he had prostate cancer. The doctor said he had the cancer for years but i never heard him complained of being sick or in pain. I do believed my grandfather died a happy man, coz in every stories and anecdote he tell his last words is always this, “oh! how i live my life then”.

By: Sari Palmroth

Sari Palmroth — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:53:52 +0000

Happiness

For me happiness is a peaceful energy in my mind body and soul.
I think happiness is something that easily can be find in the presence. Just observe the colours u see or listen to the sounds that u hear. Happiness is when you dont listen to your thoughts.
I usually feel that when I paint or write, but its a struggle every day to not fall under your thoughts. I also think that happiness comes more easily when we are thankful. Its like u have to take a decision every minute and choose the happiness.

Write down your dreams on a paper and put it up on a wall.
I remember for 3 years ago a man asked me what my dreams were, I couldnt even say the words that I love to paint, I just start crying, but today I paint and I study at an artschool. That brings me happiness..

follow your dreams/
Sarita

By: walkiria

walkiria — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:52:25 +0000

Happiness is not a big thing at all it is a million little things. God sends us divine gifts all the time but our minds and hearts are too busy to accept and enjoy these gifts. The moment we learn how to live for the moment, we feel part of creation, we feel connected with something more powerful than us and the day to day worries that clutter our minds and hearts become less significant and just tasks that we have to do to survive. The moment we realise how insignificant, vain, flawed our human condition is, we can connect with our higher selves and honour the true divinity within us and others which goes beyond wealth, status, appearances and the material world we live in.

To me happiness is waking in the morning breathing in and out with gratitude for another day to enjoy the sun light coming through the window, the smell of coffee, my kids laughter, my husbands touch. To always be aware of the sound of a beautiful melody, to the words of a poem or a story well told, to be able to comfort those in need even if by tiny gestures, to be comforted by a friend when you heart is troubled. To sing dance and love with passion as if it was your last day on earth.

Yes to me happiness is a million little things :)

By: Kathy Barenskie

Kathy Barenskie — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 10:35:37 +0000

I work for young people who are suicidal. I am a counsellor. Someone asked me one time “when will I be happy?” I could only tell her how I experience happiness.
Most of the time I go along ‘ok’. In between ‘ok’ there are times when I feel stressed and get a feeling of depression. These times are not frequent but sometimes come for no apparent reason. Then there are times when I am happy. Usually a sweeping feeling of connectiveness, belonging and love. But like the feeling of depression, this is not long lasting and I go back to feeling ‘ok’. In between I live my life. Sometimes I need to consciously stop and just ‘be’ in the moment and realise that I’m more than ‘ok’ I’m happy.

By: Joanne Muscat

Joanne Muscat — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 05:51:29 +0000

Happiness can be interpreted through various points of view. One could explain happiness if s/he is healthy, is well financially, has a good job, loving family etc. These are all attributed to happiness. In my case I associate happiness with God’s gifts to me on a daily basis. The fact that I opened my eyes is already Happiness for me that God granted me another day of life in this world. I try to associate everything from a positive perspective no matter how difficult each situation I face, and pray GOD to grant me strength to overcome every moment in my life through trust and faith in Him. This was keeps me happy and I thank God for what I have at all times and trust God for what I need at all times. – In this way I’m never disappointed and am always happy

By: Marija

Marija — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:52:08 +0000

Forwarded this email to all my friends but was shocked with the replies. Almost everyone identified with this and most said they are not truly happy, they just exist….from day to day.

My boyfriend is the exception. He seems to hold the secret to happiness but can’t put his finger on what it is. He lives his life simply, maybe that is it. His possessions mean nothing to him, he doesn’t identify himself by what he owns. He is childlike.

In his words, “live as life lives”

By: Rita

Rita — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:32:21 +0000

Happiness is your state of mind, you can be happy without material possesions and unhappy with all the best material comforts around you. Your enormous happines could mean nothing to me and my little happiness could mean alot to you.

Happiness ligtens our soul. Sometimes we don’t give permission to ourselves to be happy. Is it our ego preventing us to be happy or we have forgotten how it seems to be happy.

By: Mel Gray

Mel Gray — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:20:30 +0000

Hello Paulo,
I am happy, I don’t have a brand new car or own a house or even close to buying one. I have two little boys that drive me crazy on a daily basis and no husband to kiss at the end of the day. However I am happy, I know that my life will lead me in the right direction I know that when there are bad time they never last and the great times always delete the bad out. My life is truely mine to live and it feels incredible, I know society says get a job, car, house, husband, lose that wieght to be honest it never shuts up but it is my choice to listen or not.
I know one day I would love to own a little house to call my own and be doing a job that I truely enjoy doing and when that time comes I will do everything I need to so I can have it. For now I have a nice rental property on acerage which has been a dream for so long, I have my boys happy and healthy most important I have my life to live. I think if we don’t give the negitive in life our time and energy we can’t be drained of our happiness.
I am truely happy.
Thank you for the ways you encourage me to think without even realising it.
Melanie

By: Mari Ann

Mari Ann — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:03:34 +0000

I don’t think we have to be happy all the time. Being content is sufficient, with sparks of happiness every once in a while. If we have too great expectations for life and what it should be, chances are that we will become unhappy. It is like chasing the rainbow. I have been observed at the end of the rainbow three times. But once other people can see you in the end of the rainbow, you know it is an illusion. The end of the rainbow is somewhere else than where you are. This reminds me so much of the smiling people in the glossy magazines. Many people believe they are at the end of the rainbow, but reality might be quite different for these people. I believe good roots, good fruits, and a partner who loves you and you love back is the best guarantee for contentment and happiness. And of course, a safe and stable family economy is important.

One of the biggest successes of our time, Michael Jackson, had “Smile” by Charlie Chaplin as his favourite song. He was one of the most popular and successful entertainers of our time. Still, he must have had a tremendous burden by all his worries. This tells me that an impressive career and fame is no guarantee for happiness.

I could stay in Hollywood long enough to help make a movie about an interesting life story, but I don’t think I could live there for a very long time. My son is very eager to go to Hollywood, and he is on my back all the time to get there.

i will to america, not to pilgrimstour (This one was from my son Rune, 11 years old.)

I don’t loose faith. I still don’t know where I am heading. But after I have endured the long walk, I’m sure I will see everything clearly…

By: Dances With Crayons

Dances With Crayons — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:19:11 +0000

Great topic Paulo, thank you!
I have never sought to be happy, but I know JOY.
Thinking just now that perhaps happiness is a transient emotion, where as joy is the love of god that lives inside of me. This joy must be fed, watered (nurtured), then shared. Just like a wildflower. Simple, yet true. Love, Jane xo : )

By: Boutaina Zakariya

Boutaina Zakariya — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:01:46 +0000

Happiness is fleeing moment we steal to serenity. We only appreciate it when it leaves us.

By: mariessima

mariessima — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:32:45 +0000

Oh, Paulo! You know my heart and mind so well. I was just contemplating this idea yesterday. Thanks again your insight. Much love..Marie

By: Insomniac Soul

Insomniac Soul — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:01:50 +0000

I think there are 2 facets to happiness…one can only be truly happy when one finds equilibrium as that is where peace truly lies and there is no happiness without peace…The other is when one wholly accepts and loves oneself just as one is.

In my life, I have been experienced both my extremes…There have been times when I was beyond despair and times when I was delirious with joy…But in the times in between, I felt nothing or at least was not aware of any feeling cos I was not sure who I was. I was always seeking happiness outside of myself and each of those 2 extremes were as a consequence of gaining/losing things/people I thought were mine…These things/people brought me intense pleasure which I mistook for true happiness…So much so that in the time inbetween these both my extremes, I was too busy looking for the next ‘target’ to make me happy, that I forgot to look within where happiness already resides – MY SOUL!

I was made redundant 8 months ago. In that time, I have known BALANCE and found that only in it lies true happiness…I am no longer defined by my profession or religion (which I abandoned way before I lost my job)…Infact, I no longer try to define myself…I now do what I like, when I like, how I like and IF i like..and in so doing I have discovered the ME within, the child, and HOW I LOVE ME!

I have lost most of the material luxuries I used to have as a result of losing my source of income, BUT my soul has grown..I’m not even sure if I’ll still have a roof over my head by the end of the month but I have never been happier or more generous in my WHOLE life…I now notice the beauty in EVERYTHING -animate n inanimate alike…I see the miracle in every moment especially in the gift of a brand new day!

Of course I remain human, and there are times when my mind takes over and I worry but I’m always happy cos now I have learnt that everything is an illusion and have stopped chasing illusions. The only thing that is real is LOVE and I feel, receive and give it everyday…even the keys of my laptop feel it even as I type now…

Happiness is Real and achievable if only we reach within, give unconditionally and focus on what is REAL…LOVE!

By: Gabriela Abalo

Gabriela Abalo — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:14:02 +0000

Dear Paulo,

There is no perfect formula on “how to be happy” but there is a very simple way to achieve happiness, it all depend on us.
Our attitude towards life determines our level of content and happiness. We choose with our reactions the end result. We can look at it with the negative magnifying glass or we can look at them with the positive one. The one that looks beyond the surface, underneath the apparent.
I’m happy but I have my ups and downs, I accept this with content as I know I will soon be happy again.

There is a song by Alejandro Lerner that I like to sing along when I’m sad: “Today I’m feeling down, today it’s stronger than me. Today I need a hug, hug me until the clouds are gone and the sun is out again…

Happiness is that inner knowledge that the sun will still be there after the storm… we should never forget that.

Love
Gabi

By: El Dormido

El Dormido — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:08:42 +0000

I’ve decided, decoded mayber, that “happiness” is a choice I exercise. I have seen how I create “unhappiness” by how I regard the world I live in, that I am as much a “co-creator” of my world as God is of what is around me.

I noticed one morning as I got out of bed that I was enumerating to myself the things that were wrong, who was to blame and how I was going to deal with them. In that instant I realized what a fiction it all was! These things I was thinking were merely projections of my own judgements, attitudes and, ultimately, self-obsession.

If I could so effortlessly create a shit-hole for myself, why not exercise the same energy, choice, whatever, and be happy?

So I have, or at least try. I need to monitor my thoughts and feelings throughout the day with discernment to assess what and how they are creating my world. I have to look at my progress through the day and realize what I am moving toward, to what am I carrying myself, whether it is something limited only to my self-interest and gratification, or is it something that has a benefit beyond myself.

I try to live by the dictum to take action and leave the results in God’s hands: “…To unite the heart with the Godhead and then to act: that is the secret of non-attached work… perform every action sacramentally, and be free from all attachment to results.” Bhagavad-Gita

You know, whatever action to take that lies before me is not always up to me but whether I am “happy” or not is my choice.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:25:16 +0000

I have come to learn when I stopped chasing everything “out there”, when I no longer was envious of others, when the most important thing was that I felt connected to Source (God), that is when I felt true happiness. When I sit on my patio and look at the beautiful flowers, listening to the birds sing and bathe in the birdbaths, when I “look at the horizon” and see the beautiful blue sky and the huge puffy clouds, that is when I feel happy. When I now accept “what is”, allowing people to be who they want to be and not trying to control people or situations that is when I am happy. I have learned to accept responsibility for where I am in life and not to blame anyone or anything, I have learned to stop with all my excuses and take responsibility to allow my soul to evolve— to take back my power to allow myself all the happiness I deserve. That makes me happy! It’s been a journey, and I am happy I have opened myself up to be who I have become. I have forgiven myself, forgiven others and that has brought me tremendous freedom, that makes me very happy. When I am happy I feel lighter, I smile and say hi to whoever I see. Everything is a thought and I am learning to change my thoughts to make myself as happy as I can be each and every moment. I’m worth it, your worth it.

love and happy thoughts

By: David

David — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:10:39 +0000

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By: aditya

aditya — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:34:56 +0000

ha ha ha paulo !

happiness ! and its pursuit !! the ilusive goal mankind has been hankering after since mankind has been.

remember socrates ( or was it someone else, whoever. ) “call no man happy till he is dead”

jokes apart, happiness is not in pursuit of desires, happiness lives in living a sincere, honest life, earning one’s bread by means which one need not be ahsamed of, happiness lies in living in the present, i feel.

about that ramkrishna tale, but then what happens to “God protect our doubts, for doubts are a way of praying” but then maybe there is a time for doubt and there is a time for faith, or better still doubts and faith can coexist with doubts being on one’s own understanding of things and faith on the overall intelligence which refelcts through us also.

love
aditya

By: marcoa

marcoa — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:55:37 +0000

i really like it.. i think about it everyday… and everyday i test myself if what i’m doing is just to keep me busy or if its really a battle i wanna win, that will lead me to other more diffcult battles that will change me, trasform me into something new. so that i can help myself and the other people better.. so to do good in this world. i battle, i win, i lose, i draw.. i dont wanna stop fightin for what i want

By: Sonny Navaratnam

Sonny Navaratnam — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:03:41 +0000

Dear Mr Coelho,
There is an interesting dialogue in my teachings which talks about the search for happiness. If one were to intensely watch a little baby (even one who is clearly ill), one would notice that through every experience the baby goes through, there is a clear, wordless joy echoing in its eyes. We speak about the formless consciousness that is the baby, whose intrinsic nature is a state of bliss. It would seem that the baby is intrinsically happy even if moment to moment it experiences other states of being, like sadness, misery or pain.
In our frenetic, programmed adult state of being we operate not in the formless consciousness, but in the one we formed. I call it Fear Consciousness. This one has no idea what happiness or love is. It tries to analyse happiness. It tries to figure it out. It rationalises, argues, thinks, plans, plots, discusses, reads, asks etc. It does everything that it thinks it must do to attain this happiness. It fails. Because it is seeking what it already is. It fails because it seeks it outside ourselves.
So what is happiness? I would respectfully submit that it is not describable. It can only be experienced and known. To most of us, it is a very rare experience. To a baby or a little child it is a constant, an always present state of being.
I hope this helps you beautiful and thought provoking discourse..
As always it is an honour to be guided by your presence.
Humbly yours,
Sonny

By: shelly(bailyshouse)

shelly(bailyshouse) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:38:00 +0000

I thought about your question while I was eating my breakfast. I always like to look in a dictionary and see what the basic definition of a word is. According to my dictionary happiness can be defined as being fortunate, having pleasure or joy or something that is fitting or appropriate or when we are unduly enthusiastic or concerned. For me happiness comes under the “something that is fitting” best. That means in essence, the moments in my life without pain, insecurity, loneliness and frustration. I don’t wake up in the morning and say, OK, today I’m going to try and be happy. It comes right along if you let it, without effort. Right now, in this very moment, I’m happy. Yesterday evening I had a few hours where I wasn’t. I was lonely. That’s life! Nobody is always happy. It comes and goes like all of our emotions. A big problem is that so many people are looking outside of themselves trying to find it. They don’t realize that it is already there, wanting to be let out. Due to consumerism we are led to believe that we can buy our happiness. Well, we know this doesn’t work. I think more people could discover this hidden happiness inside of themselves if they could learn how to stop comparing themselves with others and see what is really important in our world. Empathy,kindness, giving, peace, patience, tolerance and good old common sense LOVE! It’s that simple to find happiness.

By: Monika

Monika — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:56:31 +0000

A new wol-letter! That makes me happy!

By: Joanne Muscat

Joanne Muscat — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:14:43 +0000

Recently someone asked me if I was happy or not. It was the first time that this question was posed to me and I did not answer because I was not sure what he meant by the word happiness, whether it was health related, job, degree, family…However I believed that as the bible say: “do not worry about tomorrow” and living with this in mind considering that every second in this world is a mystery makes me happy.

By: Hira Xai

Hira Xai — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:56:15 +0000

very true. i must say!!!!

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:36:23 +0000

Happiness to me is momentary state that comes often but if it stayed would become unappreciated..
Never found in the material things we desire, rather found in the smile of a passing stranger or friend, a shared moment of joy with loved ones, the feel of the sun on your face, watching or joining in with childrens play, a moment during a walk, lying in a field communing with nature and enjoying the solitude, within love, etc..
At least this is my perception of happiness but I would say that it is different for everyone although many will share some of the same reasons that cause the feeling in me..

By: Stephane

Stephane — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:17:56 +0000

From my point of view i think there is no such meaning for this word since it’ s a feeling , something which doesn t need to be define in order to be understood. And sometime i find myself thinking of it as one of those feeling lost by human over the course of theire life the more they are getting caught up by the so -called “responsabilities, obligations,demandes ” of theire society , culture , beliefs and so on .
I remember a Great Master having said once the Kingdom of heaven is own by the children or those like them . I have spend my time observing children and i came to realize that either they are poor or rich , they seem to be always playing without thinking about so much things or having so much worries … maybe they’ve got the answer ….

By: B*Sofie

B*Sofie — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:25:46 +0000

I believe
true happiness
arise from inside of ones heart
despite of the everyday-turmoils

This occurs when one manage to live
the moments of the day
centered in the light of ones soul

Roots & wings of faith
combined with
a great love for simplicity
is my personal way to happines,

a silent happiness – making it easier
to enjoy & laugh when life invites to

Our house, our temple;
The body, soul & mind
wants to be cherished & loved – as one

This is so easy & … so hard sometimes
I fail a lot!
But still, my “map” keeps me on track

world-wide-love*

By: viviana

viviana — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:59:10 +0000

¡Buenos días!…si no te molesto por mucho tiempo, ¿por que? Preocuparte ahora, a mi entender es simplemente una palabra, y creo que muy internamente todos sabemos que es eso y nada mas. Internamente y externamente hay millones de sensaciones y cosas que también están puestas para que las experimentes, “la felicidad es un truco de magia, que hace que pierdas el tiempo, en algo que brilla pero que no ilumina , hace que te sientas un visitante de tu propia vida , pero como toda magia todos queremos saber donde esta el truco” esto no significa que en algún momento determinado en mi vida yo no halla ido en busca de la felicidad , por que seria mentirte, si lo hice, hasta que me di cuenta que era solo un simple truco que me alejaría de mi verdadero yo, y de lo que quiero experimentar , me completa mas pensar en otro tipo de cosas , como por ejemplo en lo que trasmitís vos ; que aparte de ser un excelente escritor , sos, un ser humano ,muy transparente , sensible , y por que no , con un toque de locura , sos tan simple , que cada tema que tocas en tu blog , refleja precisamente tu estado de animo , y tu actitud frente a la vida , vos, logras que las personas viajen con la mente , en un mundo donde nadie tiene tiempo para nada , vos , haces que hagamos un parate y reflexionemos , no sos un ser especial…sos un ser esencial , gracias!

By: Jack

Jack — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:59:03 +0000

Happiness could take decades to fulfill. Can only be achieved with no regret, it is found from within and most of all, by staying true to yourself.

This is my opinion.

By: Neela

Neela — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:37:38 +0000

Salam Mr Coelho,
I think we came from happiness or a happy place in the begining. We became seperated and long after happiness all our life. Someone try to find it in materia, other in ideas, some in action others in inaction. Everyone in his/her way. I dont think we can reach a state where we can be totally happy, part of it because we live in this body. It is not bad to search for happiness and on the way we will hopefully learn that the more you hunt the more it runs away from you. We must stay and let it come to us sometimes.
Personally I love my sorrows. They make me closer to love and love’s eyes are mostley in tears and that is all that matters. I have learned that I have to accept every feeling and share the happy moments, because the virus called happy is so contagious.
Hafez again:
“I caught the happy virus last night
When I was out singing beneath the stars.
It is remarkably contagious -
So kiss me.”

/Love and Love

By: sharon

sharon — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:12:00 +0000

Recently I had the opportunity to witness life a bit ‘differently’. Which aided me to see that I find happiness to be an emotion and not a way of being. Life for me is my happiness, even when it is harsh and stupid For without Life I would never feel this emotion called Happy.

By: Mahmood

Mahmood — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:08:02 +0000

I believe the real purpose of this life is to understand the might and wisdom of God, which could be quite easy and difficult at the same time. Once you are blessed and that curtain before your eyes is removed, you start to see God’s face in everything…suddenly your whole world brightens up and you experience the true lasting happiness. Your sleeping, your eating, your work, your jog in the park, everything becomes a prayer as you start to see the true Force behind everything around and inside you. But sadly, as you said Paulo, we have invented ways to keep us distracted from the real question. An endless pit of inventions, without which human survived and thrived for centuries, probably with more per capita happiness. The whole scientific research is focused to comfort body, but most shy away from the ways of soothing the soul, because that path could hurt the human vanity that there is a Power much greater than him, who gave him this very life S/he is so desperately trying to enjoy.

The true happiness can only be achieved when you accept God. And the best part is, you don’t necessarily have to go to mosques, churches, synagogues or mandir…you just have to look inside you. God is closer to every living soul than most people think. You may have to go through confrontations, just like Elijah went through in The Fifth Mountain, but you should keep searching until you are blessed.

By: michael

michael — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:02:14 +0000

i have wondered about happiness and the its components and exactly whether or not it is an independent concept or one which as a necessity must have some antecedents or even prerequisites that must be tangible or conceptual.

when i was much younger i asked my mother what was the point of life since it seemed to me at the time ( and still does at times) that life apparently entails going to school or engaging in a period of study,securing a profession/finding a vocation,finding a life partner/mate,possibly producing offspring so that they in turn willl have the (mis)fortune of starting the cycle again.

she told me that she didn’t have all the answers but if i made someone’s life better as a result of my existence and if i remember that love is the greatest religion then my purpose will eventually be revealed and that in creating happiness i in turn will experience joy and happiness…..

there is a certain pattern to human life that may generally conform to my basic outline above and of course there are those whose lives seem to break the mould that are the construct of the mass mentality but happiness i think is the fundamental goal of everyone after they have secured a means of survival for themselves.

as a military officer i find that helping people by withholding or applying certain principles bring a deep sense of peace and contentment but it does not last….so it probably may not be as deep or profound as i think.. but in addition to doing something that you deem important and worthy i think this may assist seekers of happiness.

no one will be happy all the time( i am not saying that this was implied by mr coelho’s article) and i believe that the active and constant seeking of approbation and approval increases the transience of happiness but happiness may be more of a lingering companion if the better welfare of others is sought.

thank mr coelho for the honour of your attention

By: michael

michael — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:41:50 +0000

when i was much younger i asked my mother what was the point of life since it seemed to me at the time ( and still does) that life apparently entails going to school or engaging in a period of study,securing a profession/finding a vocation,finding a life partner/mate,possibly producing offspring so that they in turn willl have the (mis)fortune of starting the cycle again.

she told me that she didn’t have all the answers but if i made someone’s life better as a result of our existence and if i remember that love is the greatest religion then my purpose will eventually be revealed and that in creating happiness i in turn will experience joy and happiness…..

there is a certain pattern to human life that may generally conform to my basic outline above and of course the are those whose lives seem to break the mould that are the construct of the mass mentality but happiness i think is the fundamental goal of everyone after they have secured a means of survival for themselves.

thank mr coelho for the honour of your attention

By: Oliver

Oliver — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:35:40 +0000

I really enjoyed the “What is happiness?” article and would like to make reference to the etymological origin of the word Happiness. The ‘Hap’ part of the word relates to luck or chance therefore it is not something we can control or determine…my view (and it is just my view) is that I am ‘happiest’ (or luckiest) when I am content with whatever I have i.e. not seeking more or less just appreciative of what is in front of me at that current time. I fully appreciate that people are in differing situations all over the world and my perspective is somewhat bias to my unique situation, so please take my comments in context as they come from a friendly place.

By: nikamarie

nikamarie — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:33:55 +0000

oh thank you for this WOL issue! I can take down that picture I put on my dresser and look at the reflection in the mirror instead to remind myself to just live and be.

By: nikamarie

nikamarie — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:30:57 +0000

last night as I went through my closet, drawers, suitecases, getting rid of things that reminded me of him that I was holding on to and things that I didnt need, trying to pass the time by so I wouldn’t call. I came across some picturs of me from two years ago ( http://picasaweb.google.com/home ) and I thought to myself as I looked at the pictures that my eyes showed Joy.I realized at that moment during that year I wasn’t searching for happiness I was just living life and enjoying every moment the good and the bad, I was living.

By: Irina

Irina — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:22:27 +0000

All my life I felt that there must be more than just the material world. Many years I did nog realise this but I felt always that there must be something wrong (with me because I did not speak about this and just saw other people behaving normal ?). And now so many years later, I now that I am content and I am happy with my life, but I now too that it can be very difficult en I always hope that there is something more. Althougt I am a person who is very realistic, I can’t let lose that I always hope that one day I’ll understand why we are living and why we are like we are. Because I find the world a very strange thing.

By: Ngiam Lily

Ngiam Lily — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:21:45 +0000

I wish I could define happiness my own way

By: shareen

shareen — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:03:02 +0000

For me, one way to be happy is also to be contented with what we have presently. It doesn’t necessarily mean having everything we ever wanted, but appreciating everything that we have.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:25:52 +0000

happiness for me is an enlightened consciousness of truth, understanding, magic and love…

When these come together and we are conscious of that moment – then i feel happiness.

It is knowing that and, feeling safe in the knowledge that, i am flowing as part of a river towards the sea…

It is knowing that I am loved and known by God, my family and life… that I am alive and have a life, a place on this Earth where I belong.