Define happiness

[susangail]

Happiness is a warm gun.

(Nobody said that already? Really?)

[hismikeness]

This song has always defined happiness for me. Besides, when you can't say something yourself, let someone else do it for you, right?

Blue October
Independently Happy

I feel that it's hard enough to say goodbye.
I feel there's the water. Should I sink or dive?
An empty plate, fill up my sentimental morning star.
I steal the art of putting truth in a lie.
I still want the girl that really caught my eye.
But, she lives in Oklahoma City, far away from me.
An empty hope chest.
I quit the dope quest,
And remain independently happy.

I'm finally happy, happy, independently happy.

I deal with the fact that I've forgotten the worst.
I feel that my social behavior may seem somewhat unrehearsed.
Another page.
A sullen rage.
And I'll be back to my normal self.

I'm finally happy, happy, independently happy.

I drive to the edge of my considerate plain.
I apologize to the people I hurt on the way.
I wipe the slate clean.
I kick the daydream,
And remain independently happy.

I'm finally happy, happy, independently happy.

[Renegnicat]

Song lyrics are no good unless you can put some stress and tonal information in there.

Anyway, I think it's important to keep this happiness jizz in perspective. As much as we may want to be happy for the rest of our lives, there's no denying that the natural course of evolution did not have this in mind. Nature gave us happiness as a way of motivation, to get us to keep going, keep moving, keep striving. It makes sense to me that as soon as we reach our goals, that temporary feeling of happiness simply vanishes up the road, to the next stopping point.

That kind of happiness is an illusion, because it was never meant to be possessed. It's the proverbial carrot on the stick, and it's nature's way of tricking us into achievement. This doesn't mean, however, that true happiness can not be achieved. One just has to realize that true happiness really can not be "achieved", it can only be experienced. What's more, if you "strive" to achieve happiness, you will fail, because your falling back into that same carrot-stick mentality.

Happiness is here, now, in the present. Well, It's everwhere, really. I've always felt that happiness rests wherever you are, at the base of your feet, it's simply a matter of "waking up", clearing the fog from your eyes, and recognizing it.

Be warned, however. True happiness comes at a price. Satiety will always reduce your drive to achieve, to get moving, to go do stuff. It's worry, anxiety that causes achievement. It's our problems that drive us to excell. Find true happiness, and your problems will fall from your shoulders to the ground. So will your ambition.

Now, in answer to your question: Definition of happiness? The best definition I can give of true happiness is that it is still. It is here. It is now.

[LoneMateria]

This song has always defined happiness for me....

The one that reminds me of happiness is from Ren and Stimpy.

Happy happy joy joy
happy happy joy joy
happy happy joy joy
happy happy joy joy joy

^_^

[nikkmichalski]

And my unnecessarily large library came through for me again!
Here's what Nietzsche said in The Anti-Christ:

What is good? â€" All that heightens the feeling of power, the will to power, power itself in man.
What is bad? â€" All that proceeds from weakness.
What is happiness? â€" The feeling that power increases â€" that a resistance is overcome.

(Aphorism 2)

The only problem with this is that raping or killing someone is now "good", which has been quite the conundrum for me for a while now. I think Nietzsche got pretty close with his definition of happiness, but something about his "Will to Power" just doesn't rub me the right way.

[Renegnicat]

That's because nietzche was a megalomaniac.  

[nikkmichalski]

This is officially the most awesome thread ever.

Nietzsche, the Beatles? Can it get any better?

Which, for some reason, made me remember when Charlton Heston died and Bill Maher (I think) said: "Well, we can take their guns now!"