Degrees of happiness?

[Freya]

Do you think there are degrees of happiness within a person? I was talking to someone tonight and trying to explain it, somewhat like burns - 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree. There's surface happiness, slightly deeper and true absolute happiness.

While I can take pictures and be happy with them, or even look at myself in the mirror, and be somewhat pleased with what I see, there's never that deep down happiness with myself. Or with life - there's events that are good, certain moments that make you smile, but ultimately, down deep it just all really sucks. I've had moments of 1st and 2nd degree happiness, but I think I'll never attain that true, absolute happiness in anything.


Probably not making sense, but I just wanted to get this out and see what others thought.

 

[Weevil]

No, because the idea of(1st degree, Second Degree) implies that happiness is quantifiable.

There's nothing inherently wrong with the statement "I'm happier now then I was in prison" but to try to chart it is fairly silly.

 

[Jim_Henson]

I'm pretty sure you can have 4th degree burns, it jsut happens to mean over 90%... so pretty much dead.

 

[Weevil]

Speaking of which has anybody seen We Were Soldiers?


I'm usually pretty strong stomached but I'm not afraid to say I threw up after seeing that Japanese guys legs come off.

 

[Zaudika]

I definitely think there are different degrees of happiness.
To me the ultimate happiness has probably come with having a successful birth of my son.
Also, I think a person can find true happiness is they are truely "in love" with a person, but only when that person loves them back in the same way.
Unforunately the two biggest extremes of sorrow base off of the same things.
Being in love with someone, when they don't love you back.
And... losing your child.
It's kind of crappy how that all comes together and works..
-Zaudika

 

[MissVictoria]

I think that measuring happiness severely limits it. We either choose to be happy, or we dont.

 

[Freya]

I think that measuring happiness severely limits it. We either choose to be happy, or we dont.

Sure we do. I choose to be happy even when everything around me stinks - but the fact is, the shit is still there and most likely will always be there - so you can never be truly, totally happy.

 

[A Desert Rose]

In your scale of happiness, Freya, I have had 3rd degree, 2 times in my life. It was the moment I gave birth to my children. Those were feelings I will never, ever forget. It was perfect for those moments.

 

[laszloholyfield]

six degrees of happiness?

.....

 

[onyx11]

Hi Freya2,
I always liked this quote and reading your post made me think of it. I hope it helps

Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you will spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.

Fall in love, stay in love and it will decide everything.


Attributed to Pedro Arrupe, S.J. (1907-1991)
Superior General of the Society of Jesus 1961-1984

Last cigarette 10/02/02 at 11:00pm

 

[Freya]

Hi Freya2,
I always liked this quote and reading your post made me think of it. I hope it helps

Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you will spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.

Fall in love, stay in love and it will decide everything.


Attributed to Pedro Arrupe, S.J. (1907-1991)
Superior General of the Society of Jesus 1961-1984

Last cigarette 10/02/02 at 11:00pm

Ok well, maybe I'm destined to never be truly happy then. I don't believe in love or God. I need something else to get me out of bed in the mornings.

 

[Freya]

In your scale of happiness, Freya, I have had 3rd degree, 2 times in my life. It was the moment I gave birth to my children. Those were feelings I will never, ever forget. It was perfect for those moments.

Yes - I have heard others say that as well. When I had my daughter, I was 17, single and broke so I didn't quite get that - but it was about as close as I've ever come. Thanks Rose.

 

[MissVictoria]

Sure we do. I choose to be happy even when everything around me stinks - but the fact is, the shit is still there and most likely will always be there - so you can never be truly, totally happy.

I would have to respectfully disagree here.

Happiness is, or is not. It will never be the only thing that exists in a life. Therefore experiencing any happiness at all, is to be truly, totally happy. Mixed in, of course, with all the other emotions one feels.

Content is another thing entirely. There are different levels of content... But even then, it is not neccesary for happiness to achieve contentment.

Contentment can be achieved artificially by having many things that causes one to be happy. Or it can be achieved by enlightenment, and understanding the things that do not make one happy.

 

[Cerberus666]

I'm very anit-god my self. I find the beauty in just being alive. I can't imagine not being alive. every time i hold my son i think how lucky i am just to experience his life. There are lots of other reasons besides god to get out of bed. in fact i dont think god should be a reason to get out of bed even if you do believe. find out whats worht living for in your life. thats the hard part.

 

[Freya]

I would have to respectfully disagree here.

Happiness is, or is not. It will never be the only thing that exists in a life. Therefore experiencing any happiness at all, is to be truly, totally happy. Mixed in, of course, with all the other emotions one feels.

Content is another thing entirely. There are different levels of content... But even then, it is not neccesary for happiness to achieve contentment.

Contentment can be achieved artificially by having many things that causes one to be happy. Or it can be achieved by enlightenment, and understanding the things that do not make one happy.

I've been happier doing some things than others, but I've also been happier doing the same thing than I was last time I did it, depending on what's going on in my life. I dont feel simple contentment makes you smile, whereas happiness, in my opinion, does.

Think of making a meal - while you can be pretty happy with how it turned out, you might know it could be better, therefore you're not truly happy with it. I have a pretty good level of happiness with my life - my friends, my sex life, my daughter etc, but I dont' have that feeling of utter and complete happiness - that radiant glow type of happiness.

Maybe it's like Laz said - it's joy rather than happiness. But then, isn't joy just the highest level of happiness?

 

[Freya]

I'm very anit-god my self. I find the beauty in just being alive. I can't imagine not being alive. every time i hold my son i think how lucky i am just to experience his life. There are lots of other reasons besides god to get out of bed. in fact i dont think god should be a reason to get out of bed even if you do believe. find out whats worht living for in your life. thats the hard part.

Yes, that was just a bit of a joke. I have lots of things worth getting out of bed for - they just dont' include god or "True love"

 

[A Desert Rose]

Re: six degrees of happiness?

i do think that there are degrees of happiness... much as mentioned above -- " am happier now than i was before"... what may not be quantifiable, though, is joy...perhaps this is what you are thinking of, freya, in your definition of third-degree?...

Happiness is a relative term, as is joy or contentment or misery. It is what it is to each of us, but none of use experience it the same way. No one can say "this is or is not happiness" to any of us.

 

[MissVictoria]

Contentment is accepting those things which you feel could be better in your life.

Contentment is taking something that you are unhappy or uncomfortable with, understanding why this is, accepting that this is, and deciding not to let it connect negative emotions to you, and learn from it instead. Then to be happy with the learning experience.

Here is my view, wrapped up in a nutshell: The meaning of life is to learn. We find contentment and purpose through learning, through understanding, accepting, and thusly achieving enlightment.

On a side note, this idea reeks spirituality, but one can be spiritual with or without belief in a god.

*hug*

-V

 

[crappie master]

Does anybody think that we need the unhappy times to better appreciate the happy ones?

 

[MissVictoria]

CM,

I would say that most, but not all, do.

 

[A Desert Rose]

Does anybody think that we need the unhappy times to better appreciate the happy ones?

Everyone needs context, a measure or way to make comparisons in our lives.

But it is only relative to the individual and relevant, too.

 

[Freya]

Does anybody think that we need the unhappy times to better appreciate the happy ones?

Oh of course. If we didnt' have rough times, how would we know how good the good times are?

 

[A Desert Rose]

Oh of course. If we didnt' have rough times, how would we know how good the good times are?

I really like you too, and if I could name you as a Lit gem, it would be an opal.... sparky inside and translucent, a thing of beauty.

Good night.....

 

[Freya]

I really like you too, and if I could name you as a Lit gem, it would be an opal.... sparky inside and translucent, a thing of beauty.

Good night.....

Thank you Rose - you just gave me 2nd degree happiness, first time I've had any level of it all night. You're a great lady.

 

[juicylips]

Content is another thing entirely. There are different levels of content... But even then, it is not neccesary for happiness to achieve contentment.

I can sit on my front porch, watch the sunrise with a cup of coffee and feel very contented. Sometimes happiness accompanies that....sometimes not.

I see what you mean, MissV