| Forum Index > General Forum |
|
wajd
240 Posts
What is like to excel at something like SC? Is it worth it? For those who have competed in a live event, I envy you. I want to be that good at this game. I think that will make me happy. It would make me happy. But I doubt it will happen. What is it like to be happy? What do you consider happiness to be? Sorry for asking such repetitive questions... | ||
|
DarkPlasmaBall
United States44303 Posts
Find something that makes you appreciate life, even if you're not the best at it. Find a hobby or a job, or just enjoy the little things. Find a person who respects you and loves you for who you are. Necessary video: | ||
|
Torte de Lini
Germany38463 Posts
| ||
|
wajd
240 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:03 DarkPlasmaBall wrote: Are you absolutely destitute? Dying of hunger? Do you have a terminal disease? Find something that makes you appreciate life, even if you're not the best at it. Find a hobby or a job, or just enjoy the little things. Find a person who respects you and loves you for who you are. Necessary video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk Funny how you chose that clip. I love Louie's show on FX. I think we share the same view on life. | ||
|
Vorgrim
Korea (North)1601 Posts
| ||
|
Jockmcplop
United Kingdom9646 Posts
I know, it sounds corny, but i can' think of any other way to express it. When the happiness is gone, then comes the longing to replicate, or exceed that happiness, thus is the nature of human beings, and of progress. The problem you face is that even if you play in a live event, you wouldn't be happy for long. How far would you get? Lets say you won two games and then got cheesed out of the tournament. What would be going through your mind? Would you be happy, more than you would be angry? You would probably need to come back and do better next time. There are things to be happy about all around you, and it doesn't have to revolve around Starcraft. Lets take DeMuslim (sorry Ben) as an example. When i see him play at tournaments he always looks so unhappy, especially when he gets knocked out. But at home, with his friends in the EG house, he always seems so happy, like a different person. I am not saying he (or you) shouldn't play in tournaments, but what i am saying is that happiness doesn't always appear where you think it is going to. I am an awful starcraft player, but every week, about 3 times, i play in a BSG tournament. I will probably spend half the day looking forward to the tournament, only to be disappointed when i get knocked out int he first or second round. It makes me wonder if my life would be better if i didn't play, because then i would enjoy my life alot more (moment to moment) because i wouldn't be spending it thinking about some future 'thing' that i might not even enjoy. For me personally, happiness comes with philosophy. Having a realisation of the truth of how i see the world is what makes me happy. These realisations can come at the most unexpected of times. Once i was really depressed at work (i used to be a chef and i hated my job), and then i went for cigarette and while i was smoking i just stared at a tree. Without knowing it i started thinking about the biology of the tree, the atoms that make up the tree and so on, and i just sat and thought about how awesome the world is. The rest of my day just seemed so much brighter because of this. Of course this can't really happen if you try and make it happen, but that's human brains for you. Also taking hallucinogenic drugs makes me happy (that's just me though, and if i did it often i doubt it would). I guess i feel kinda cheesy talking about it like this but i don't see how else to approach the subject. | ||
|
Praetorial
United States4241 Posts
But as usual, Torte said something just as good and said it better. | ||
|
ChoDing
United States740 Posts
yep other then that my life is pretty unhappy these days...  | ||
|
Mr Showtime
United States1353 Posts
If you can answer that, I can do my best to give a good answer. | ||
|
iskynebula
United States64 Posts
| ||
|
wajd
240 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:21 Mr Showtime wrote: My answer would differ based on your current situation. Are you in high school? college? graduated from college? in the real world? If you can answer that, I can do my best to give a good answer. In the "real world", with a job that underpays me, I have a degree in something I hate. I have no money with lots of health problems...the list goes on. | ||
|
YouMake
United States262 Posts
| ||
|
Zahir
United States947 Posts
| ||
|
DarkInfinity
121 Posts
| ||
|
Deleted User 3420
24492 Posts
just change your attitude and be happy it's just attitude, view | ||
|
xrapture
United States1644 Posts
| ||
|
wajd
240 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:35 xrapture wrote: Beating Zerg in a macro game. How about beating zerg in any matchup  | ||
|
DuckS
United States845 Posts
After contemplating it for awhile, though, I pretty much end up at the same answer i've always gotten, in my root of thoughts and ideology; It is shit. Life. Delude and distract yourself until death. But really, there's no reason not to give it a go, and see what you can get out of it. | ||
|
Arterial
Australia1039 Posts
| ||
|
Dubz
United States242 Posts
"Happiness was when I was young and we didn't give a damn" | ||
|
neobowman
Canada3324 Posts
| ||
|
CabinEssence
35 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:07 Torte de Lini wrote: Happiness for me is the ability to wake up for one day and have no worries of the past and no concerns about the future. To be able to live the day at its fullest without the reminder that it ends, but to remember how each feeling felt before a new one bloomed. Cheesy. But I like cheese. It's tasty. | ||
|
Dubz
United States242 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:57 neobowman wrote: Living as a Christian =D so.. the space shark is really a Jesus fish incognito ?  | ||
|
Mr Showtime
United States1353 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:26 wajd wrote: In the "real world", with a job that underpays me, I have a degree in something I hate. I have no money with lots of health problems...the list goes on. It's hard to give too much advice without coming off as incredibly pretentious, so I'll keep it brief. I don't know how much of an effort you've really put into your SC2 dream. A lot of people say that they want to be a pro-gamer, but not everybody puts in the time and effort required. If you are within the minority who has put in the time, but it just isn't working out, it may be time to back off of that goal. You seem to be recognizing that it isn't a likely possibility and that's honestly a good thing. Having all of your eggs in one basket can lead to serious tunnel vision. You'll be so fixated on one thing that isn't working and you miss out on many great parts of your life because they have been made out to seem worse. You may feel like you've placed yourself in a situation where you are "failing." You're not. You CAN'T fail at achieving happiness for this amazing reason right here: On September 10 2012 10:34 travis wrote: it's not something you go and get it something you already have just change your attitude and be happy it's just attitude, view Failing would require happiness to be a thing that you find. If you don't find it, you fail, and you're not happy. Well, happiness isn't a thing that you go get. It's something that you find within yourself and your attitude. Fill your life with stuff you like and find enjoyment in those things. My mom gave me some of the best advice about happiness (specifically when it comes to a job/work): Everyone says, "Find a job that you love, and you'll never work a day in your life" Well, the fact is, it's not practical for everyone. Some people can make a living doing what they love for a living, but some (if not most) can't. The problem is: the things that many people love most won't earn you any money. And THAT'S OKAY! You don't have to love your job. Your job isn't your life. Fill your life with things that you love, and your job, suddenly, isn't that important. I know that you didn't state that your job is the main source of your unhappiness. But a feeling of unhappiness from a lack of a dream job seems like a similar issue. I'm neither an expert nor someone even somewhat qualified to be giving advice to someone in your position, but hopefully this helps a little! | ||
|
neobowman
Canada3324 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:58 Dubz wrote: so.. the space shark is really a Jesus fish incognito ? It's a deep metaphor. But yes, Jesusfish. | ||
|
jdseemoreglass
United States3773 Posts
Or maybe that's just depression talking. Cheers. | ||
The_Templar
your Country52797 Posts
| ||
|
fatfail
United States386 Posts
| ||
|
Magic_Mike
United States542 Posts
On September 10 2012 11:09 jdseemoreglass wrote: Happiness is denial. Denial of mortality, denial of the suffering of others, denial of even your own suffering. Denial of the fact that life is work and work sucks. Denial of the fact that we are all just passing our limited time in existence and doing nothing that can justify it's inevitable end. Et cetera. Or maybe that's just depression talking. Cheers. This is why I'm glad I'm not smart. All the smart people I know are depressed. You think to much. For me it's pretty simple. A blowjob, a beer, and a good Lions football game. | ||
|
jdseemoreglass
United States3773 Posts
On September 10 2012 11:14 Magic_Mike wrote: This is why I'm glad I'm not smart. All the smart people I know are depressed. You think to much. For me it's pretty simple. A blowjob, a beer, and a good Lions football game. Denial of that fact that your account name on teamliquid is the same as a gay male strip tease movie... | ||
|
jackalope1234
122 Posts
| ||
|
Mr Showtime
United States1353 Posts
On September 10 2012 11:16 jdseemoreglass wrote: Denial of that fact that your account name on teamliquid is the same as a gay male strip tease movie... What do you mean? All he said was that he likes beer, football, and giving blow jobs. I didn't see any denial. | ||
|
Jojo131
Brazil1631 Posts
Yet ironically I see myself chasing after money until it kills me, because I'm a masochist that wants to keep working  | ||
|
Ryhzuo
New Zealand198 Posts
I think on some level we can all choose to be happy. | ||
|
meegrean
Thailand7699 Posts
| ||
|
Magic_Mike
United States542 Posts
On September 10 2012 11:16 jdseemoreglass wrote: Denial of that fact that your account name on teamliquid is the same as a gay male strip tease movie... Lol, damnit. I've had this name since high school wrestling. I was soo pissed when I saw the name of that movie. I don't know if you can check when my account was created but it was before that stupid movie. On that same note though and still a funny story, I did dance for a bacholorette party once. Me, my brother, and a bunch of his room mates danced for a local bar owners wife. He came back during our dance. Needless to say, we are all barred from life from that bar. Good times. | ||
|
aksfjh
United States4853 Posts
I still try every day to find something like it or better. The only problem is that I don't think I'll recognize it until I lose it again. Such is life. | ||
|
phosphorylation
United States2935 Posts
| ||
|
Djzapz
Canada10681 Posts
I don't know why it is. My life's comfortable, financially stable to say the least, my gf is awesome... I'm just sad. But nobody really knows, because I fake happiness like a motherfucker with everyone I know because I don't need sympathy or help and I don't need to repulse anybody with negativity. Not sure what's wrong with me. You're all strangers though so it's ok | ||
|
Danglars
United States12133 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:57 neobowman wrote: Living as a Christian =D Knowing Jesus loves me! That's the frequent source, for the more temporary ones, playing video games. | ||
|
Severedevil
United States4838 Posts
| ||
|
sM.Zik
Canada2547 Posts
Don't let stress consume you. If you experience stress in your job you should find another one, even if you get less money. Life is just a ride buddy, don't let it consume you. Don't worry and be happy On September 10 2012 11:14 Magic_Mike wrote: This is why I'm glad I'm not smart. All the smart people I know are depressed. You think to much. For me it's pretty simple. A blowjob, a beer, and a good Lions football game. Well if they are depressed because of such things, it might be because they aren't that smart (no offense to anyone). I feel like im a smart man, not a genius by any sort but I see life in a positive way, whatever happen to me. I seriously had a bunch of serious bad lucks the past years and I could very well be angry because life isn't really fair towards me nowadays, but so what? Life is pretty much unfair to the most of us anyway, but whats the point in being sad, mad, angry, etc? It's just a bunch of low vibrations (emotions) that holds you from experiencing happiness. As I said earlier, life is just a ride and whatever happen I enjoy it, I take lessons from it and I look forward what's coming tomorrow. | ||
|
sM.Zik
Canada2547 Posts
| ||
|
Djzapz
Canada10681 Posts
On September 10 2012 12:41 sM.Zik wrote: Well if they are depressed because of such things, it might be because they aren't that smart (no offense to anyone). I feel like im a smart man, not a genius by any sort but I see life in a positive way, whatever happen to me. I seriously had a bunch of serious bad lucks the past years and I could very well be angry because life isn't really fair towards me nowadays, but so what? Life is pretty much unfair to the most of us anyway, but whats the point in being sad, mad, angry, etc? It's just a bunch of low vibrations (emotions) that holds you from experiencing happiness. As I said earlier, life is just a ride and whatever happen I enjoy it, I take lessons from it and I look forward what's coming tomorrow. No offense but when do smart people actually refer to emotions as "low vibration"? Come on. | ||
|
sM.Zik
Canada2547 Posts
On September 10 2012 12:43 Djzapz wrote: No offense but when do smart people actually refer to emotions as "low vibration"? Come on. Sorry if I sound idiot to you because I used a word in a wrong way, english isn't my native language. You got what I meant, c'mon. | ||
|
Djzapz
Canada10681 Posts
On September 10 2012 12:44 sM.Zik wrote: Sorry if I sound idiot to you because I used a word in a wrong way, english isn't my native language. You got what I meant, c'mon. That's not what I meant, English's my second language too. I thought it was some kind of voodoo, eastern medicine kind of shit. | ||
|
sM.Zik
Canada2547 Posts
| ||
|
Magic_Mike
United States542 Posts
On September 10 2012 12:44 sM.Zik wrote: Sorry if I sound idiot to you because I used a word in a wrong way, english isn't my native language. You got what I meant, c'mon. See my point. I'm dumb and didn't notice a grammatical error or a wrongly used term and get angry over it. Yay for being dumb and not understanding enough to get mad.  | ||
|
obesechicken13
United States10467 Posts
I like having something to look forward to. But then around Sunday I feel like I should be doing more, but I can't motivate myself to study when it's the weekends. | ||
|
Djzapz
Canada10681 Posts
On September 10 2012 13:01 obesechicken13 wrote: I don't know if this is happiness, but during the week, the only thing I look forward to nowadays is the weekend when I can play league of legends. On the subway ride to work I think of league. When I'm about to go to bed I think of league. I'm doing math in my head all the time about league. I like having something to look forward to. But then around Sunday I feel like I should be doing more, but I can't motivate myself to study when it's the weekends. Goes to show that what feels like happiness to one can seem like the saddest thing ever to another D: | ||
|
coZy
United States65 Posts
| ||
|
sM.Zik
Canada2547 Posts
On September 10 2012 13:01 obesechicken13 wrote: I don't know if this is happiness, but during the week, the only thing I look forward to nowadays is the weekend when I can play league of legends. On the subway ride to work I think of league. When I'm about to go to bed I think of league. I'm doing math in my head all the time about league. I like having something to look forward to. But then around Sunday I feel like I should be doing more, but I can't motivate myself to study when it's the weekends. No, I don't believe what you describe is happiness, at all. It isn't something you look foward to, it's something you experience during each moment of your existence. We could argue that you are in a state of happiness when you play league, because you enjoy it, you don't look foward anything since you are concentrated doing something you like to. I don't know if I make any sense to the rest of you.. | ||
|
obesechicken13
United States10467 Posts
On September 10 2012 13:07 sM.Zik wrote: No, I don't believe what you describe is happiness, at all. It isn't something you look foward to, it's something you experience during each moment of your existence. We could argue that you are in a state of happiness when you play league, because you enjoy it, you don't look foward anything since you are concentrated doing something you like to. I don't know if I make any sense to the rest of you.. Yeah work is rather saddening. Like I look at my clock to see when I can leave. I do get really nice lunch breaks though that I can take at my local park. These are the brightest parts of my weekdays. I should spend more time with my little brother when he's playing his games, but I often just go on TL or Reddit. I'm not sure if I find those more enjoyable or if it's just habit. I get what you mean though. Happiness is in the moment. | ||
|
Sherbople
Canada158 Posts
| ||
|
KingAce
United States471 Posts
| ||
|
sM.Zik
Canada2547 Posts
On September 10 2012 13:36 KingAce wrote: Happiness is what every body wants and nobody finds unless they look within. Don't confuse pleasure with happiness. Pleasure is momentarily...fleeting.Happiness is a state of mind and once you grasp it, it's yours forever. I totally agree with that post. Pleasure such as gaming, watching a football game, etc, are only distractions. You enjoy it, but it's not happiness, like he said, you have to look within. | ||
|
Soliloquist
Korea (South)89 Posts
what im trying to say is, try find someone, parents, spouse, friends, that can help you out and when you are with them, appreciate them for being there the time you were down, find something you really love. if you dont like your job, maybe find something you enjoy in~! i know its different for everyone but in your case, maybe try finding a friend who can help you out with sc2, and hang out with in real life and will stick by you think and thin | ||
|
n.DieJokes
United States3443 Posts
| ||
|
Lesrah
Portugal110 Posts
I consider myself a very intelligent person, and i think deeply about alot of stuff. My tought on true happiness is this. Happiness comes from acceptance of other people. When you fall in love with someone, you are looking for that other person to accept you and love you back. When you try to be the best at something competitive, you want other people to acknoweldge you and look up to you ( acceptance again ). So, to be trully happy, you need to be who you look up to. That is no easy task. If you like that guy that picks up chicks alot and u say, " omg, that guy is the real shit ", evolve ur picking up skills. If you want to be a starcraft 2 pro put the effort to it. If you win for example, lets say.. GSL. U will feel true happiness because one of your goals for people to acknoweldge you has been fufilled. Happiness at my eyes, is all being accepted by others. That goes to other subject. People have no personality, you are who you want to be. You can be anyone you look up to. We are that flexible. I know i was not a popular guy among girls. I used to look up to those guys that picked up every fucking hot girl. Then i putted enough effort, and guess what. Now im that guy. I feel acomplished and happy, haven't found a girl i like tho :\ So i can obtain even more happiness when i do. English is not my main english so im sorry for any bad grammar. | ||
|
cari-kira
Germany655 Posts
nontheless she is living live to the fullest, she goes out when she can and her illness allows her to (not very often for the last years, she now even needs oxygen and cant walk to the bus station anymore). she has even finished university despite being constantly treated and having to inhale every day for hours, and is working in a lab now researching about cystic fibrosis herself. so.. most of the people are happy but dont get it, because they are too arrogant and self-centered to be able to see the whole picture. there are people dying on this planet, in every fucking second. dying from hunger, from violence, from disease. everyone that lives in a country with a good social care system and has no life-threatening problems should consider himself "happy". if he is not, then thats plain degenerated. and crying over "not being happy" makes me wanna punch that faces.. ps: dont feel threatened by that sentence, my rage comes from me not being able to help her. i know this feeling for a long time now and i got used to people complaining about not being happy when in fact they could be. i would be the same if i had not made this experience, so i cant blame you or anyone else. perhaps life will show you what true sadness is one day and after this you will be happier and thankful for your life in your "normal" time. | ||
|
EchoZ
Japan5041 Posts
| ||
|
Racetrack
Australia16 Posts
| ||
|
DecisionTheory
78 Posts
| ||
|
Kich
United States339 Posts
It's been like, I dunno, 8 or 9 years now and I've been almost universally happy about everything. Happiness is a choice. Find shit that makes you happy and just be like "This is how I need to feel about everything." You know what it was for me? Putting on new socks. I was like "This feeling is how I should feel about doing anything." So I did. And after that it was being good at Counter-strike, and then it was being good at WoW, and then it was being good at Magic, and then it was being good at my major in college, and then it was being good at looking good, and then it was just the general understanding that I'm kind of an awesome dude and I should be ok in life. And now I'm ok in life because I have a lot of self esteem because I made myself have a lot of self esteem. Relevant video: http://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work.html The relevant concept of the video is that happiness is mostly created within. By knowing everything about you as a person it's only possible to predict 10% of your longterm happiness, 90% of it is created from within, it's how you perceive reality. And that's pretty much it at it's core. Don't look for happiness, experience it. If happiness is something you are trying to achieve you're actively doing it wrong. Happiness is a state of mind. You can literally train yourself to be happy and that video goes over a lot of good ways of doing it. For example: write down 3 different things you're grateful for every day without repeating them for 21 days, over the course of time your mind starts actively searching for positive things rather than negative things. It gets harder to dig deep and find something completely new to be happy about as the time goes on but there's always something. Another book that really helped me achieve happiness was The Paradox of Choice. I read this book in my junior year of college and it literally changed my life. I've lived by it's ideas ever since and I've come to a point where decision making for me is near instantaneous and I've never been disappointed about a decision I've made for the past 3 years. To put it very simply, the book explains that a lot of human anxiety and depression can be linked to the sheer number of choices that we have when making decisions. When you want to buy a new watch, you have online stores, local malls, thousands of different watches you can buy. The fact that you can return it if you don't like it makes it even worse, it makes decisions meaningless and stressful. Some people might spend all day browsing only to find three or four different watches that they couldn't decide between. Think about how often that kind of shit happens to you. Any decision in which you have 2 or more choices and you have trouble making that decision. You buy one, but then you know what immediately happens to most people? They start thinking about the things they liked about the other ones and constantly question the choice they made. This causes a ton of stress. You don't want that. This has gone kind of long, but here's my advice to legit teaching yourself to be happy: Step 1: Spend an enormous amount of your time self-analyzing yourself specifically about things that make you happy. If you like a band, really sit down and evaluate exactly what about their music makes you like them. Is it certain riffs or tones or lyrics they use? If you like a color, what it is about that color, where else do you see it? I mean like, dig fucking deep about absurdly minor things. What kind of cups do you like drinking out of, what kind of textures do you like feeling with your hands, what shape of shoes do you like, what breakfast foods do you like, what smells do you like, really examine everything about everything. I ask people around me about stuff like this a lot and I literally lost count of how many people have told me that they only have these kinds of conversations with me. A lot of people (most) don't think about what makes them happy or why it even does. But when you can accurately assess what about certain things makes you happy you've opened up a path. You can definitively say "I really like this because of this." It doesn't even have to be logical, I don't really like pancakes that much because they're too bready--the fuck does that even mean? I know what it means but it's still a sort of undefined term. I should make it clear that step 1 took me about a year, maybe a year and a half. Step 2: Through analyzing what makes you happy you'll find that you realize you don't like a lot of things for no particular reason other than you don't. Which is fine. This is where you should learn to make better choices IE: Read "The Paradox of Choice" and follow that shit to the core. Guess how long it took me to buy my watch that I get constant praise and recognition for? No more than 12 seconds. Walked up to counter, said I wanted a square face with no numbers on it, was presented with like 12 in the case. First one I looked at, bought it. Not every choice is a snap decision, but honest to god most choices just don't fucking matter enough to worry about them. It's a goddamn watch. Learning to make smaller decisions better translates well into making harder bigger decisions easier. It often comes down to simply asking yourself "which one would make me happier"? Which you know what? You'll know after step 1. Step 3: Step 3 happens sort of simultaneously through steps 1 and 2 but it's positive psychology at it's core. Just be ok with who you are and what you like doing and stop having so much nerd shame and shit. Be ok with what you look like, be ok with what you like, be ok with the decisions you make, and be ok with you who are. I would highly recommend reading The Men's Fashion Thread here on team liquid. Learn to look good. It sounds stupid but you do feel better about yourself when you spend time to make yourself look good. And as an added bonus and plug, I'm quoted on their front post about what it actually means to appreciate fashion and how you look: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=306479 It's exactly why I dress well. I spend money on that shit. People noticing makes me feel better and there's actually nothing wrong with it, you know why? Because I notice too. I get up, I get dressed, and I'm like "Fuckin a I look good." and it's stupid shit like that that reinforces that I'm happy about myself. I taught myself to be happy, I taught myself to make decisions that make me happy, I taught myself to be happy with who I am, and I go out of my way to try and teach others the same thing. Happiness in it's entirety is about how you perceive your own reality. | ||
|
cari-kira
Germany655 Posts
On September 10 2012 14:47 Kich wrote: Happiness is pretty fucking simple. There was a time in high school where I was really mopey about shit all the time and then I was like, "This isn't worth it, I'm just going to be happy about shit and do things that make me happy." It's been like, I dunno, 8 or 9 years now and I've been almost universally happy about everything. Happiness is a choice. Find shit that makes you happy and just be like "This is how I need to feel about everything." You know what it was for me? Putting on new socks. I was like "This feeling is how I should feel about doing anything." So I did. And after that it was being good at Counter-strike, and then it was being good at WoW, and then it was being good at Magic, and then it was being good at my major in college, and then it was being good at looking good, and then it was just the general understanding that I'm kind of an awesome dude and I should be ok in life. And now I'm ok in life because I have a lot of self esteem because I made myself have a lot of self esteem. Relevant video: http://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work.html The relevant concept of the video is that happiness is mostly created within. By knowing everything about you as a person it's only possible to predict 10% of your longterm happiness, 90% of it is created from within, it's how you perceive reality. And that's pretty much it at it's core. Don't look for happiness, experience it. If happiness is something you are trying to achieve you're actively doing it wrong. Happiness is a state of mind. You can literally train yourself to be happy and that video goes over a lot of good ways of doing it. For example: write down 3 different things you're grateful for every day without repeating them for 21 days, over the course of time your mind starts actively searching for positive things rather than negative things. It gets harder to dig deep and find something completely new to be happy about as the time goes on but there's always something. Another book that really helped me achieve happiness was The Paradox of Choice. I read this book in my junior year of college and it literally changed my life. I've lived by it's ideas ever since and I've come to a point where decision making for me is near instantaneous and I've never been disappointed about a decision I've made for the past 3 years. To put it very simply, the book explains that a lot of human anxiety and depression can be linked to the sheer number of choices that we have when making decisions. When you want to buy a new watch, you have online stores, local malls, thousands of different watches you can buy. The fact that you can return it if you don't like it makes it even worse, it makes decisions meaningless and stressful. Some people might spend all day browsing only to find three or four different watches that they couldn't decide between. Think about how often that kind of shit happens to you. Any decision in which you have 2 or more choices and you have trouble making that decision. You buy one, but then you know what immediately happens to most people? They start thinking about the things they liked about the other ones and constantly question the choice they made. This causes a ton of stress. You don't want that. This has gone kind of long, but here's my advice to legit teaching yourself to be happy: Step 1: Spend an enormous amount of your time self-analyzing yourself specifically about things that make you happy. If you like a band, really sit down and evaluate exactly what about their music makes you like them. Is it certain riffs or tones or lyrics they use? If you like a color, what it is about that color, where else do you see it? I mean like, dig fucking deep about absurdly minor things. What kind of cups do you like drinking out of, what kind of textures do you like feeling with your hands, what shape of shoes do you like, what breakfast foods do you like, what smells do you like, really examine everything about everything. I ask people around me about stuff like this a lot and I literally lost count of how many people have told me that they only have these kinds of conversations with me. A lot of people (most) don't think about what makes them happy or why it even does. But when you can accurately assess what about certain things makes you happy you've opened up a path. You can definitively say "I really like this because of this." It doesn't even have to be logical, I don't really like pancakes that much because they're too bready--the fuck does that even mean? I know what it means but it's still a sort of undefined term. I should make it clear that step 1 took me about a year, maybe a year and a half. Step 2: Through analyzing what makes you happy you'll find that you realize you don't like a lot of things for no particular reason other than you don't. Which is fine. This is where you should learn to make better choices IE: Read "The Paradox of Choice" and follow that shit to the core. Guess how long it took me to buy my watch that I get constant praise and recognition for? No more than 12 seconds. Walked up to counter, said I wanted a square face with no numbers on it, was presented with like 12 in the case. First one I looked at, bought it. Not every choice is a snap decision, but honest to god most choices just don't fucking matter enough to worry about them. It's a goddamn watch. Learning to make smaller decisions better translates well into making harder bigger decisions easier. It often comes down to simply asking yourself "which one would make me happier"? Which you know what? You'll know after step 1. Step 3: Step 3 happens sort of simultaneously through steps 1 and 2 but it's positive psychology at it's core. Just be ok with who you are and what you like doing and stop having so much nerd shame and shit. Be ok with what you look like, be ok with what you like, be ok with the decisions you make, and be ok with you who are. I would highly recommend reading The Men's Fashion Thread here on team liquid. Learn to look good. It sounds stupid but you do feel better about yourself when you spend time to make yourself look good. And as an added bonus and plug, I'm quoted on their front post about what it actually means to appreciate fashion and how you look: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=306479 It's exactly why I dress well. I spend money on that shit. People noticing makes me feel better and there's actually nothing wrong with it, you know why? Because I notice too. I get up, I get dressed, and I'm like "Fuckin a I look good." and it's stupid shit like that that reinforces that I'm happy about myself. I taught myself to be happy, I taught myself to make decisions that make me happy, I taught myself to be happy with who I am, and I go out of my way to try and teach others the same thing. Happiness in it's entirety is about how you perceive your own reality. reads like a "howto being a proud prig" | ||
|
applejuice
307 Posts
On September 10 2012 14:04 Soliloquist wrote: Happiness to me is when i can see my girlfriend. im in university and its not going too well. i had to give up on my dream of an engineer and pick something i hated doing. i sort of hate computerscience but the only reason why im doing it is to try for nursing next year so i can join my girlfriend in the degree. first half of the year was a real depressing tough time for me, depressed, bad grades, everything was tumbling down. except for my girlfriend. she was the only one who stuck by all my temper,s outbursts, everything. for that i feel the most happiness when i am with her/see her since we dont live together and are dating undercover due to her strict parents. shes my only that i truly love. what im trying to say is, try find someone, parents, spouse, friends, that can help you out and when you are with them, appreciate them for being there the time you were down ...and what happens when she leaves you? Or you have to leave her? DK if trololol or not, but it's a common enough situation that it's worth a bite. Diversify, man. Just like picking stocks. Happy people don't rely on one thing to make them happy. | ||
|
Conut
Canada1026 Posts
| ||
|
svi
405 Posts
the feeling you get after an intense workout that leaves you drained or to finally understand something that you've been working on is amazing. the only lasting happiness for me comes from self improvement. | ||
|
InfusedTT.DaZe
Romania693 Posts
| ||
|
Kich
United States339 Posts
On September 10 2012 14:59 cari-kira wrote: reads like a "howto being a proud prig" That seems to contradict your signature. But you're obviously correct. Knowing what makes you happy, making better decisions, and appreciating yourself for who you are aren't ways to be happy at all. Just find something else that makes yourself happy...that'll work. (That was sarcasm, I legitimately wouldn't advise doing that) | ||
|
tuho12345
4482 Posts
| ||
|
TzaTzers
United States589 Posts
“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” Not sure how relevant it is. | ||
|
Zedromas
Canada112 Posts
Happiness is totally relative and different for every person. But as a few others have mentioned, if you're not dying of some terrible disease, if you dont live in a third world country and dont go hungry every night, then you really dont have much to NOT be happy about! A positive outlook makes all the difference. | ||
|
cari-kira
Germany655 Posts
On September 10 2012 15:09 Kich wrote: That seems to contradict your signature. But you're obviously correct. Knowing what makes you happy, making better decisions, and appreciating yourself for who you are aren't ways to be happy at all. Just find something else that makes yourself happy...that'll work. (That was sarcasm, I legitimately wouldn't advise doing that) well i had a bad conscience writing that, but reading this and him being so scientology-like propagating the true way to happiness step by step i just had to. no happiness comes from that. you just try to ignore your true feelings by "reprogramming" yourself, but after some years it will kick back, when you realize that you are only an empty shell. | ||
|
Zinnwaldite
Norway1567 Posts
On September 10 2012 11:11 fatfail wrote: Happiness is waking up in the morning and being alive. My happiness increases further with ever meal I eat. ahhh,, pizza.. | ||
|
Kamais Ookin
Canada591 Posts
That, and also working out and gaining muscle makes me happy. | ||
|
Rad
United States935 Posts
Depression is there to motivate you to get into a position to be fulfilled. Willpower and patience are tools to help break the depression and get into the position to be fulfilled. The hardest part is building the tools to make it happen. I've personally not been that great at it recently, but it helps to understand why life feels so shitty at times. | ||
|
DDie
Brazil2369 Posts
Was at a friends house, had some beers, on my way home was stopped by the police, someway somehow the breathalyzer showed 0.0, just got home some 40 minutes ago. So yeah, I'm motherfucking happy right now! | ||
|
tangwhat
New Zealand446 Posts
| ||
|
ThaZenith
Canada3116 Posts
For the most part I'm a simple man. | ||
|
Kich
United States339 Posts
On September 10 2012 15:24 cari-kira wrote: well i had a bad conscience writing that, but reading this and him being so scientology-like propagating the true way to happiness step by step i just had to. no happiness comes from that. you just try to ignore your true feelings by "reprogramming" yourself, but after some years it will kick back, when you realize that you are only an empty shell. It's not about reprogramming yourself, you clearly misread it. It's about actively acknowledging what's already there. Do you have any idea how infrequently people actually ask and legitimately answer explicitly what makes them happy or what about something makes them happy? Once you can actually quantify what it is about whatever already makes you happy you're more conscious about what makes you happy to begin with and you can cater your lifestyle towards it. I don't understand what in my post constituted "reprogramming", the entirety of it is saying, in your own words, that you should analyze what your "true feelings" are and why they're like that. What draws you to the cereal you eat in the morning, what radio stations do you like to listen to, what kind of humor do you like, etc. That isn't making these things up you're asking yourself "Why?" when presented with something you already like and are answering it to let yourself learn about yourself. I can't even tell you how many people, that if you were to really dig deep on them, know almost nothing about themselves--you want to talk about being like a robot, look at most people. They listen to music they eat food they dress a certain way and it's all automatic, they have no idea why and they don't even bother to ask themselves. They have trouble making basic life decisions because they have no grip of what it is that actually makes them happy. When you know what makes you happy, truly happy, making decisions towards that end becomes much easier, it tumbles into a lifestyle where for the most part you just like everything because you surround yourself with things you like, people you like, you dress the way you like, and you like yourself. To address the scientology remark, I'm a devout athiest. | ||
|
Kickboxer
Slovenia1308 Posts
The lingering happiness is reading an amazing book or making a sick play. The solid happiness is growing as a person or accomplishing a tiny goal. | ||
|
Ea
United States121 Posts
| ||
|
HomeWorld
Romania903 Posts
From a cynical point of view it's just a chemical process, nothing more, shared by other species and not specific to humans I might dare to add. The purpose of happiness? Hell if I know right now, just woke up and I was quite happy to find the coffee already done (could it be one of the mechanisms that regulates social interaction?) | ||
|
Supamang
United States2298 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:03 DarkPlasmaBall wrote: Are you absolutely destitute? Dying of hunger? Do you have a terminal disease? Find something that makes you appreciate life, even if you're not the best at it. Find a hobby or a job, or just enjoy the little things. Find a person who respects you and loves you for who you are. Necessary video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk I hate it when people try to tell you that you don't have a right to be unhappy because there are people dying in the Middle East, or because of starvation in North Korea, or because of anything happening in Africa in general. Yea, its good to look at those situations to gain some perspective on your life in general, but if someone isn't where they want to be in life why don't they have a right to be unhappy? Oh and next time youre at a funeral, please go ahead and tell the bereaved that they should buck the fuck up because theyre not dying of hunger. I'm sure that'll cheer them right up. Also, your second paragraph is just you describing the problem again... - "Hi DarkPlasmaBall, I'm unhappy. I have nothing and nobody in my life that makes me appreciate life! Can you help me out?" - "Well Supamang, the answer is very simple. Just go find yourself a hobby or a job that makes you appreciate life, or find a person who respects you and loves you for who you are." - "Uhhhh but I just told you that I cant find any of those things...." - "Well then, if all else fails think about Africa!" I just don't like how condescending this post is. You make happiness sound so simple when it really isnt. @OP - As stupid as it sounds, being dissatisfied with your current situation is good for personal growth. For me personally, I find happiness in progress and personal growth. I can say that I'm almost never happy or satisfied with my current situation, but just knowing that I've been given the resources and opportunities (as opposed to being given starvation and terminal disease) to work towards getting myself to where I want to be is enough to give me the drive to keep going. Signs of my own progress are primarily what give me happiness. For others, its signs that other people care for them. I would set aside some time to contemplate your own life and figure out what it is exactly that youre looking for. | ||
|
Jukulmolder
Spain254 Posts
| ||
|
Hider
Denmark9376 Posts
| ||
|
rod-
Norway379 Posts
| ||
|
Hamsterdam
New Zealand59 Posts
| ||
|
Kurumi
Poland6130 Posts
| ||
|
_MagnuM_
Denmark136 Posts
its quite simple actually... but the human mind tends to overcomplicate things.. my advice to you, dont think too much about it... if you follow that train of thought you will just get pulled down deeper into a spiral of misery.. just do whatever you feel like doing and dont worry so much about "life"... | ||
|
CrtBalorda
Slovenia704 Posts
A combination of confidence and well being. | ||
|
bo1b
Australia12814 Posts
| ||
|
HoLe
Canada183 Posts
| ||
|
bo1b
Australia12814 Posts
On September 10 2012 23:28 HoLe wrote: All sadness is an illusion, all happiness is an illusion. I am the apotheosis of world creation. I am the aim of aims, I am the end of ends. I have never understood the purpose of posts like this. | ||
|
TheRPGAddict
United States1403 Posts
| ||
|
sVnteen
Germany2238 Posts
Only I never really realize it until some of that is not the case and I guess now is a time when I would love to just have all of the above but hey.... It's gonna happen at some point cause as we all know live's a jump rope yeah I know it's the chipmunk version but hey... | ||
|
Seldentar
United States888 Posts
I found that before I started playing SC2 I was a very happy person, had a great life, very good grades in school, good social connections, bodybuilding, and improving at tennis constantly. Then I got addicted to SC2 and loved it for at least 6 months, but the addiction caused all these aspects of my life to go down - bad grades, lost social connections, went from 160 pounds 5'11" 8% bodyfat to 120 pounds 7% bodyfat (stopped working out, stopped eating much and lost a lot of muscle and glycogen stores), and my tennis became very bad compared to what it was. I stopped playing and everything including my happiness built up quickly and I'm almost back to where I was :-). I don't regret it though because I learned how detrimental video games can be (I didn't even realize it till it became very obvious that things were worsening) if you don't put a limit on how much you play, at least for me. SC2 was my biggest priority and got me nowhere. I learned a ton from the entire experience and can honestly say I'm a much stronger person mentally after what I went through. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger ^_^ | ||
|
TSBspartacus
England1046 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:10 Vorgrim wrote: Go to the gym and keep going, eat well and find another human where mutual attraction exists and have sex with them a lot. This. I'm happiest when I'm confident, near loved ones and everything is going well. I guess to get to that position you have to do the above, and just get out there, balls to the wall go and have a fucking good time since you only get one shot at life and you have to grab it by the balls and fuck it senseless. If you don't you'll just wallow in self-despair and hate yourself for it the rest of your life. Go get em, champ. | ||
|
kafkaesque
Germany2006 Posts
First, the carnal variety, like having sex, a full stomach after eating, having the first coffee in the morning or the long shower after a hot day or a glass of icy water after sports. Second is the mental variety, which I get from playing or listening to music, from stimulating conversation, from a beautiful landscape or just being in a state in which I can appreciate all the natural and artificial wonders in life. If you ever had somebody to share those forms of happiness with, I think at least for me personally it's impossible to experience them in the same way in a state of solitude, which is a shame, because if even the greatest wonders of life pale in comparison to what you once had, it's hard to ever feel truly content. | ||
|
Cheerio
Ukraine3178 Posts
This is of course a joke, but it also is kind of wise: "What to do if you find yourself stuck with no hope of rescue: Consider yourself lucky that life has been good to you so far. Alternatively, if life hasn't been good to you so far — which, given your present circumstances, seems more likely — consider yourself lucky that it won't be troubling you much longer" | ||
|
solidbebe
Netherlands4921 Posts
| ||
|
Callynn
Netherlands917 Posts
| ||
|
lodeet
United States147 Posts
On September 10 2012 15:37 Kich wrote: It's not about reprogramming yourself, you clearly misread it. It's about actively acknowledging what's already there. Do you have any idea how infrequently people actually ask and legitimately answer explicitly what makes them happy or what about something makes them happy? Once you can actually quantify what it is about whatever already makes you happy you're more conscious about what makes you happy to begin with and you can cater your lifestyle towards it. I don't understand what in my post constituted "reprogramming", the entirety of it is saying, in your own words, that you should analyze what your "true feelings" are and why they're like that. What draws you to the cereal you eat in the morning, what radio stations do you like to listen to, what kind of humor do you like, etc. That isn't making these things up you're asking yourself "Why?" when presented with something you already like and are answering it to let yourself learn about yourself. I can't even tell you how many people, that if you were to really dig deep on them, know almost nothing about themselves--you want to talk about being like a robot, look at most people. They listen to music they eat food they dress a certain way and it's all automatic, they have no idea why and they don't even bother to ask themselves. They have trouble making basic life decisions because they have no grip of what it is that actually makes them happy. When you know what makes you happy, truly happy, making decisions towards that end becomes much easier, it tumbles into a lifestyle where for the most part you just like everything because you surround yourself with things you like, people you like, you dress the way you like, and you like yourself. To address the scientology remark, I'm a devout athiest. That would be the point of reprogramming. Like you said people don't know why they do the things they do it is all automatic. The point of reprogramming is to break away from the current thought patterns. Replacing the negative with positive. It's not so much as just knowing what makes you happy. You have to be able to fully love and accept yourself for who you are first before you can truely become happy. People generally cannot self analyize. It is always easy to see it in other people but to look at yourself is very difficult. I reccomend therapy to help figure that shit out. Also you have to be completely open minded and willing to change if you want to make a difference. The more open minded you are and the higher your willingness to learn and change the faster happiness will find you. | ||
|
Rictusz
Latvia31 Posts
Starcraft for example can bring you a moment of joy when you know you have played well and then later on you'll just get depressed of how bad you are at it and no its not just video games that can be reffered to alot of things i do daily/often. | ||
|
Liman
Serbia681 Posts
Good gaming Good food Good drinking | ||
|
EdenPLusDucky
571 Posts
| ||
|
FallenStar
Spain118 Posts
http://blip.tv/day9tv/day-9-s-musings-being-relentlessly-positive-5837990 The show must go on! | ||
|
MrMotionPicture
United States4327 Posts
| ||
|
lodeet
United States147 Posts
On September 11 2012 00:10 Rictusz wrote: I dont think theres a certain thing that makes me happy. Many of the things that could bring a moment of happiness can also depress me. Starcraft for example can bring you a moment of joy when you know you have played well and then later on you'll just get depressed of how bad you are at it and no its not just video games that can be reffered to alot of things i do daily/often. But if you don't get depressed about it your only happy right? It is possible to change your thought process so you don't get depressed even if you acknowledge how bad you are. You just have to realize it's ok to be bad it doesn't matter. You shouldn't compare yourself to anyone else. | ||
|
Randomaccount#77123
United States5003 Posts
| ||
|
ownyah
146 Posts
| ||
|
PappJoe
Denmark1 Post
It has some good points. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6D7R7nmmsso | ||
|
Lynda
649 Posts
| ||
|
Rictusz
Latvia31 Posts
On September 11 2012 00:25 lodeet wrote: But if you don't get depressed about it your only happy right? It is possible to change your thought process so you don't get depressed even if you acknowledge how bad you are. You just have to realize it's ok to be bad it doesn't matter. You shouldn't compare yourself to anyone else. Nope , just because im not depressed does not mean im happy. There are certain things that trigger happiness/depression at whatever I do and you just sort of get used to them and eventually not feel any change in my emotional state at all so im not sure if im happy/depressed or just "standard" , which is why its hard to pick one thing that makes me happy. | ||
|
bo1b
Australia12814 Posts
On September 11 2012 00:29 ownyah wrote: I have never experienced the feeling "happy", maybe because I am far too realistic. You've never felt content in your life at all? Are you sure that you've never felt happy, or do you think that it makes you more intelligent to take such a cynical point of view? | ||
|
sc14s
United States5052 Posts
| ||
|
aznboi918
United States70 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:00 wajd wrote: I don't have much to be happy about with the current state of my life. In fact I honestly cannot remember the last time I was happy. Or the last time I woke up and was proud to start the day. The only thing that keeps me here is playing SC. My dream is to become good enough to be able to play at an MLG or such events. But I am nowhere close. Been trying to about 2 and a half years now. Nobody wants to help. Nobody cares. What is like to excel at something like SC? Is it worth it? For those who have competed in a live event, I envy you. I want to be that good at this game. I think that will make me happy. It would make me happy. But I doubt it will happen. What is it like to be happy? What do you consider happiness to be? Sorry for asking such repetitive questions... Do you play starcraft because you love it and it's your passion or do you play it as an escape from reality? I kinda went through your situation before but it was with cs 1.6... it got me nowhere. You won't make it pro unless you love playing the game in the first place. Look at your life right now, I'm sure that overall it may seem bad but there are definitely special moments that you are missing . focus on those who care and those who love you and the things you love to do. | ||
|
Cereb
Denmark3388 Posts
There are many many many ways to acheive this feeling. Examples: Being loved Giving love Doing something you care about Doing something fun, joking, silly things Acheive something you've worked for Stopping to appreciate what you have You can get it from feeling you belong somewhere or from going to somewhere else Feeling you are good at something Finding a meaning with the things you do. Dealing with things that holds your happiness back Accepting the bad things to focus on the good things. Being able to do stuff, maybe even effortlessly. Having the energy to do so. These are worded abit abstract. You could also just make alot of concrete examples. Some of these won't trigger your happiness and maybe you feel that none of them will. If you're feeling like that I believe that it's often because the bad things in your life take up so much of you that the good things that you can't find room for them in your life. Still I would recommend focusing as much as possible on things that you feel should make you happy, even if it's just that they should make you happy in theory. Even if I wasn't able to be happy, I'd still fight for the chance to be. The choosing to be happy is not completely wrong either. For instance, it has been proven that even if you put on the most fake smile that you can, and even if you don't mean it at all, it will still make you happier, or less sad atleast. Working out is another thing that has been proven to help and cure depressions. That is something concrete that you can just force yourself to do. Not only is there a chance of feeling accomplished and good about yourself, you also get more dopamin activity to be happier and endorphin to help with possible physical pain. Also remember, even if you do not do anything, life changes and things happen all the time. What is today could not be tomorrow. Feelings come and go. Everything comes and goes. You'll never know when you will wake up and things have changed. But anyway, this is just what I believe. You should definitely seek professional help if you are depressed. | ||
|
Deleted User 101379
4849 Posts
Haven't felt happy since a few years though, so maybe i'm just too bitter. | ||
OneOther
United States10774 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:07 Torte de Lini wrote: Happiness for me is the ability to wake up for one day and have no worries of the past and no concerns about the future. To be able to live the day at its fullest without the reminder that it ends, but to remember how each feeling felt before a new one bloomed. A lot of my happiness comes from being concerned about the future, trying to fulfill my potential and doing my best to achieve my goals. Being worried about falling short does not take away any happiness for me. To know that a day is short and thus attemping to do the most I can in it. You are not living life if you are not reflecting on the mistakes or regrets made in the past, or making projections about the future. Is this really happiness for you? | ||
|
FecalTank
United States70 Posts
| ||
|
jackdavis486
United States19 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:10 Vorgrim wrote: Go to the gym and keep going, eat well and find another human where mutual attraction exists and have sex with them a lot. Well said Vorgrim. Happiness is a matter of chemicals such as endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine. Find ways to trigger those, such as working out and having sex, and you will feel better about your life. Also find other things that can trigger that "reward" in your brain. For me (I'm a nerd) its studying for hours then getting an A on a test. Or working for hours to get an internship. So getting those things trigger the reward and I feel good. Winning a SC game may very well do the same for you. If it doesn't make you happy enough I would try branching out and trying things until you find something. | ||
|
camilocraft
Colombia33 Posts
1. A small one in terms of duration. Normally is strong enough to mantain you happy from few hours to maybe 2 - 3 days. Those are related to small details. Eating an ice cream, reencounter with some old friend, a joke... This feeling of happiness is pretty short (no more than a few minutes) and are important for mantain your level of happiness but are not enough for people to said "I'm a happy person", I see them like filler. These type of happiness is the more volatile, and is pretty different from person to person, and is related with hobbies. You learn those when you are a child (Yes you learn how to be happy) and basically could be anything. 2. The second one is more inhereted to the human being, your feelings when you get it is much more stronger and perdure for much more time, generally until you lost it or just assume will always be there. These happiness are related with cultural values, human needs and personal goals. These are not that different from person to person (but can change dramatically from culture to culture), because is related with human needs, and are divided by categories, the ones that I remember are, love, education, spirituality, family, work, recreation, health.... In this category we have for example, have your own family , have your own house-car, have the money for lived well, be important for some one, be able to do X,. An interest exercise is to qualify in a 1 to 10 scale each one of those categories by answer this question "how close am I to have everything I want, at this age, in the X category", for example, My health is that good as i want it? The process is pretty simple you will have values and you will have some values high and some low, just work in your low values. (This is not that simple but at least you have a view) | ||
|
Uldridge
Belgium4764 Posts
On September 11 2012 01:05 OneOther wrote: A lot of my happiness comes from being concerned about the future, trying to fulfill my potential and doing my best to achieve my goals. Being worried about falling short does not take away any happiness for me. To know that a day is short and thus attemping to do the most I can in it. You are not living life if you are not reflecting on the mistakes or regrets made in the past, or making projections about the future. Is this really happiness for you? I don't agree with you, mainly because of the 2 bolded parts in your reply. Also, I think reflecting and pondering about mistakes and regrets and putting up (way too idealistic) goals will only result in a depressed state rather than a happy one. Patting oneself on the back because one did a great job at something and is proud of said job is more of a pretentious gloating kind of i'm-better-than-happiness than the carefree happiness. They're probably both valid (if one could even argue about validity) yet quite different. | ||
|
jackdavis486
United States19 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:57 neobowman wrote: Living as a Christian =D Also it helps if you have quality imaginary friends that promise you immortality. Like a hot vampire but without the bite. | ||
|
gosuRob
United States319 Posts
| ||
|
Little-Chimp
Canada948 Posts
Of course being realistic, some days are harder to "choose" happiness then others. Lack of sleep, hunger, health, mental health, the end of a relationship can leave one to stew for a while. It's perfectly reasonable to be down for a bit, just remember that eventually you'll have to get back on the horse if you want to be happy again. | ||
|
wajd
240 Posts
On September 11 2012 00:57 aznboi918 wrote: Do you play starcraft because you love it and it's your passion or do you play it as an escape from reality? Both. Look at your life right now, I'm sure that overall it may seem bad but there are definitely special moments that you are missing . focus on those who care and those who love you and the things you love to do. Sometimes it feels like nobody cares about me. But maybe everybody feels that way at some point in life. | ||
|
Nerchio
Poland2633 Posts
| ||
|
shabby
Norway6402 Posts
Several people mention that it is attitude and your view on life, but I disagree. You can "brainwash" yourself to a certain degree, but not everyone can decide to be happy. It is too basic a feeling, and not everyone is happygolucky in everything they do, although I do know some people that are like that. To put things in perspective for you to see how different people are, I would probably be the happiest man in the world if I managed to become an IFBB pro (100kg+) and found a woman to share it with. That's it. I have many friends that will probably not be happy until they land a million dollar job or become a world famous tenor. But it is important to keep in mind, also, that things can change, and very often you don't know what makes you happy until you find it. | ||
|
Ordained
United States779 Posts
| ||
|
Torte de Lini
Germany38463 Posts
On September 11 2012 01:05 OneOther wrote: A lot of my happiness comes from being concerned about the future, trying to fulfill my potential and doing my best to achieve my goals. Being worried about falling short does not take away any happiness for me. To know that a day is short and thus attemping to do the most I can in it. You are not living life if you are not reflecting on the mistakes or regrets made in the past, or making projections about the future. Is this really happiness for you? I think when you contrast those worries and issues with the feeling of now, you can assume the latter is better and thus happiness. But the feeling of blissful life without the requirements or prerequisites of enduring the angst of yesterday and its remains that linger today as well as the the incertainty of the future is happiness, yes. It's the satisfactory feeling that what you are currently doing has your undivided and wanted attention and that you enjoy it. | ||
|
Little-Chimp
Canada948 Posts
On September 11 2012 03:25 shabby wrote: Happiness to me is the periods where success outweighs my worries. Success and happiness are very closely related to me, and it is all about how far away I am from who and where I want to be. If I take a step in the right direction then that is success and it makes me feel good. When things stagnate or something goes wrong the worries of the future or the past might catch up and weigh be down until I get a grip on the situation again. It's a constant battle, really, and I believe it is so for most people until they truly find out what they want. Several people mention that it is attitude and your view on life, but I disagree. You can "brainwash" yourself to a certain degree, but not everyone can decide to be happy. It is too basic a feeling, and not everyone is happygolucky in everything they do, although I do know some people that are like that. To put things in perspective for you to see how different people are, I would probably be the happiest man in the world if I managed to become an IFBB pro (100kg+) and found a woman to share it with. That's it. I have many friends that will probably not be happy until they land a million dollar job or become a world famous tenor. But it is important to keep in mind, also, that things can change, and very often you don't know what makes you happy until you find it. You'd be surprised at how miserable most "successful" people really are. | ||
|
starfries
Canada3508 Posts
On September 11 2012 03:42 Little-Chimp wrote: You'd be surprised at how miserable most "successful" people really are. well, you know what they say. money can't buy happiness, but poverty can't buy anything. | ||
|
wwJd)El_Mojjo
Sweden173 Posts
I think happiness is secondary. There are more important things about life than being happy at all times. I define happiness as a moment of experiencing gratitude for being alive (it's something I just came up with, but it seems more or less accurate to me). Which is great of course. However, sometimes life is hard, but that doesn't mean it loses its value. I believe that our lives are meaningful regardless of happiness because of the inherent value given to us as human beings. I believe we are created with the capacity to love and to be loved. I believe that is a reason for us to be happy, but sometimes it is difficult to feel grateful for it because of the temporary circumstances. But that doesn't make it any less true in my opinion; you are precious and have a reason to live. | ||
|
FlilFlam
Canada109 Posts
Wajd, though you brought up some specific points about your life which I do not have information about, here is some general advice my formal logic professor gave to the class: "If your desires are irrational or unrealistic or unachievable, then change your desires". | ||
|
_fool
Netherlands677 Posts
Small things. You can't look for them, but you sure can find them. To OP: I think it's a pitfall thinking you'll be happy once you get to a major SC2 tournament. Getting to that big tournament won't really change anything, except the way you view yourself. And why wait for MLG to start viewing yourself in a different light? The time is now. | ||
|
Kiichol
Sweden182 Posts
| ||
|
ANoise
United States67 Posts
Even when I've been sick or in pain, enjoying something small has been comforting enough to persist. Sometimes it is only an idea or a memory, but it applies to anything that allows me to enjoy existence. My reasons for continuing to exist are a relatively consistent string of Purposes that I have chosen for myself, and "depression" is the gaps in my (probably arbitrary) commitment to these goals. I enjoy a lot of the responses here. | ||
|
M4nkind
Lithuania178 Posts
| ||
|
marttorn
Norway5211 Posts
On September 11 2012 04:43 M4nkind wrote: happiness is to be alone in my room and not listen to that stupid carp of others. I know the truth I, too, would be frustrated were I forced to listen to the ramblings of carps. Happiness to me is being grateful that I live where I live, as well as reading Orwell books and feeling superior whenever speaking to someone who's only read 1984 and Animal Farm. On September 10 2012 11:09 jdseemoreglass wrote: Happiness is denial. Denial of mortality, denial of the suffering of others, denial of even your own suffering. Denial of the fact that life is work and work sucks. Denial of the fact that we are all just passing our limited time in existence and doing nothing that can justify it's inevitable end. Et cetera. Or maybe that's just depression talking. Cheers. Why would one brood over (and ultimately lose what fun one might have had on earth) things that are entirely out of ones control? This seems counterproductive. Accepting that your existence is limited is important, but depressing over the inevitability of this isn't smart in the slightest. One does not need to 'deny' the tragedy and suffering of the world; one needs merely to accept that it is not in our control (speaking here of universal suffering, not ones own suffering) ultimately, and try to live as well as we can in our time. | ||
|
shabby
Norway6402 Posts
On September 11 2012 03:42 Little-Chimp wrote: You'd be surprised at how miserable most "successful" people really are. Depends on your definition of success. When you use the word I assume you talk about social status or a good job. That's not success to me. Success is being able to do what you love and be who you want to be. | ||
|
Pulimuli
Sweden2766 Posts
| ||
|
Ettick
United States2434 Posts
| ||
|
Cinquedea
Canada144 Posts
| ||
|
HowardRoark
1146 Posts
| ||
|
patronage
Iraq123 Posts
What I would give for good health. | ||
|
xsnac
Barbados1365 Posts
| ||
|
Kingsky
Singapore298 Posts
| ||
|
iusmar
Romania2 Posts
So why our life should depend on something that we know is not going to last? Why should we all pursuit happiness, a future (very distant, most of the time) and temporary feeling, as long as we know that when we get it, we are actually going to lose it? What i'm saying is we should search only for something that lasts. And, be looking at yourself, you realize that the only thing that doesn't leave you is this moment, the moment when you read these words, which streches forever. The true happiness is only now, experiencing life with its good and bad moments. You can call it peace, acceptance or don't call it anything at all and just listen to it. The future, desired and successful sc2 player is just an illusion, a mind trick (just as in the movie/book Fight Club) but in reality is still you. So wanting to become something (anything) is not going to help you, as your future self is a mind state and therefore illusory, shadowing your true self. What is going to help you is BEING. Realizing that is what gives you power. First you must be and then have. This is how things work. If you're interested for more, read a book by Tolle (to begin with) or the dialogues of Nisargadatta. Posting this message here means you are prepared to make a step closer. Don't lose it. GL HF | ||
|
Flip9
Germany151 Posts
Thats an awesome foundation to get happy. | ||
|
wajd
240 Posts
On September 11 2012 03:56 _fool wrote: To OP: I think it's a pitfall thinking you'll be happy once you get to a major SC2 tournament. Getting to that big tournament won't really change anything, except the way you view yourself. And why wait for MLG to start viewing yourself in a different light? The time is now. It's just a goal for me. I'm not expecting it to change my life or make my life better or more meaningful. | ||
|
Flip9
Germany151 Posts
On September 11 2012 07:28 wajd wrote: It's just a goal for me. I'm not expecting it to change my life or make my life better or more meaningful. It's ok if you don't answer me, but answer this for yourself: -Is trying to get something that won't make your life better a good idea? -What do you really want? -What are you doing to get what you want? We learn a lot of stuff in schools and from media, but most of us know very little about oneself and about whats really important in life. This few questions will take some time to answer. They should encourage you to learn about you and life, so that you can make good decisions and get more out of your life. | ||
|
Apples8u
Canada46 Posts
For me, the things that makes me happy are both a person and my future job. I look forward to; waking up next to my soon-to-be fiance, getting ready for work, saying "I will see you tonight love." Going to work, doing research for my chosen job in the world of biology and chemistry, possibly making a difference, and living out my life to the end of my days. I want to regret nothing and feel nothing but happiness. As cheesy as it all sounds, its where I am looking to be! ...And gentlemen/women, true happiness can happen. (: EDIT; And this guy: On September 11 2012 06:34 iusmar wrote: As we all figured out by now, happiness means different things to different people. Also, we all know that happiness, as any other feeling, is tranzitory. So why our life should depend on something that we know is not going to last? Why should we all pursuit happiness, a future (very distant, most of the time) and temporary feeling, as long as we know that when we get it, we are actually going to lose it? What i'm saying is we should search only for something that lasts. And, be looking at yourself, you realize that the only thing that doesn't leave you is this moment, the moment when you read these words, which streches forever. The true happiness is only now, experiencing life with its good and bad moments. You can call it peace, acceptance or don't call it anything at all and just listen to it. The future, desired and successful sc2 player is just an illusion, a mind trick (just as in the movie/book Fight Club) but in reality is still you. So wanting to become something (anything) is not going to help you, as your future self is a mind state and therefore illusory, shadowing your true self. What is going to help you is BEING. Realizing that is what gives you power. First you must be and then have. This is how things work. If you're interested for more, read a book by Tolle (to begin with) or the dialogues of Nisargadatta. Posting this message here means you are prepared to make a step closer. Don't lose it. GL HF | ||
|
Dagan159
United States203 Posts
| ||
|
apples347
4 Posts
| ||
|
Yorbon
Netherlands4272 Posts
Was this too cliché? ): It is true, though.. | ||
|
ReaperStackS
Netherlands41 Posts
But your train of thoughts would most likely be what opening to use, not to get nervous and how the hell you think you'd beat the veteran pros. and if you had respect for them earlier you sure as hell would fear playing them. After you get eliminated you would constantly think about how you got beat, over-think the whole game and beat yourself up for every mistake. or you could walk away knowing you just did a X build and it got countered, no big deal. anyway this is getting a bit to long so i make my point now and maybe it might help you. Its good to set your goals high but the way to find happiness is contentment. competing with the worlds best players is a cool story to tell but to rly enjoy it you got to be content with yourself. just competing at a big tournament doesnt seem that good of a goal, whats the point of reaching that level of play and not winning. thats my view on your problem GL hf | ||
|
~ava
Canada378 Posts
has anyone else said this yet? That's what it means to me. The memory of having shared a moment with someone else. Good, bad, sad... remembering stuff could make me cry, but I'm happy that I cry and feel and whatever. I recently read that most of your memories are fluid and open to manipulation by others. Over the years, your memories get clouded and mixed up so you're no longer certain of whether you were even present at things you could swear you recalled first-hand. I don't know what to think of all that. | ||
|
aCePikNik
United States69 Posts
| ||
|
J.E.G.
United States389 Posts
| ||
|
Legion710
Canada423 Posts
| ||
|
ishyishy
United States826 Posts
| ||
|
ChiknAdobo
United States208 Posts
| ||
|
LazerApe
Sweden206 Posts
| ||
|
LittLeD
Sweden7973 Posts
| ||
|
Souljah
United States423 Posts
| ||
|
Voltaire
United States1485 Posts
On September 11 2012 14:22 aCePikNik wrote: I am usually very happy about a second or two after sparking my lighter, bringing it real close to my bowl, and burning some kush. | ||
|
2011
United States10 Posts
Humankind will end within a few generations. Don't worry about being all depressed. We're all poised to go. | ||
|
JieXian
Malaysia4677 Posts
bang bang shoot shoot | ||
|
Young Terran
United Kingdom265 Posts
| ||
|
AcesAnoka
Belgium262 Posts
and money | ||
|
_fool
Netherlands677 Posts
On September 13 2012 01:28 JieXian wrote: a warm gun bang bang shoot shoot Silly us! The answer was there all along! Nice reference | ||
|
thrawn2112
United States6918 Posts
| ||
lichter
1001 YEARS KESPAJAIL22272 Posts
| ||
|
Suc
Australia1569 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:34 travis wrote: it's not something you go and get it something you already have just change your attitude and be happy it's just attitude, view I was going to post something useless along the lines of 'just be happy' or 'YOLO!@!#!!', but travis has summed up what I currently feel, it's just a place that your mind gets to, and once you're there, you're ballin'. Pretty shit help, but I can't really explain how I have gotten here other than improved confidence, being who I truly am and overall not giving a crap about what most irrelevant people think. | ||
|
belldandy
United Kingdom12 Posts
He's always there for me. Even if you're down, dogs are happy to see you and turn your mood Unconditional love, forgiveness without a thought they're amazing~ | ||
|
googolplex
United States280 Posts
| ||
|
Blacktion
United Kingdom1148 Posts
On September 13 2012 01:28 JieXian wrote: a warm gun bang bang shoot shoot The smell of powder residue in a spent cartridge. Sitting in front of the fire after a hunt with a whisky and smelling that smell. Smells like heaven. Seriously, if youve never tried it go to a range/clay shoot and do it, best smell ever. | ||
|
linuxfan
Denmark55 Posts
I find new music that gives me the chills. I watch a game of SC2 that gives me nerd chills. When I understand something new which widens my perspective (e.g. learning general relativity thus improving understanding of (newtonian) gravity.) Getting intoxicated with my friends. Getting intimate with a ladyfriend. ...list goes on. I am a simple man. As long as I keep improving myself, to be the best that I can be, I am content. | ||
|
Orek
1665 Posts
| ||
|
Nizaris
Belgium2230 Posts
| ||
|
sabreace
United States27 Posts
Trying your best to prove something to yourself, just to achieve your own goals. This can be anything, SC2, rock climbing (in my case), or finding the calm it takes to really enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. From another view, I can't be happy if I feel like I'm not being true to the person I want to be. This kind of goes along with learning new things, without stopping to evaluate yourself you'll never grow, and continuing to be a better person, a better citizen, or a better friend should always be a goal. Happiness comes with knowing you've made a positive impact on your universe. | ||
|
MasterMonkey
United States96 Posts
You've got plenty to be happy about my friend, and if there's sadness around you, distance yourself from it. Protect yourself with a pair of headphones, some good music and a fun game of SCII where you're not trying to be the best but rather enjoying it. The sun is shining, the tunes are rocking and the world is waiting. Don't waste it. | ||
|
scDeluX
Canada1341 Posts
On September 10 2012 11:21 Jojo131 wrote: Financial freedom, to be able to pursue whatever it is that I want without having to pick up another phone call again if I dont want to. Yet ironically I see myself chasing after money until it kills me, because I'm a masochist that wants to keep working Pretty much this. I often think how different would be my life if I had 1m or even 100k in my bank account. I'd hop in a plane and to go see friends, attend events, visit places all over the world. I have a good life. Bought a condo this year, I have a good job, great family, tons of friends but I can't seem to find happiness. I can't stop to think how different I would do things, talk to people and live everyday life If I could really do what I want and what I love. | ||
|
Chiller274
Germany59 Posts
Happiness never last. You can be happy with another person but life is often a biatch. When you are one of the people who always get dragged down it sucks. That said for me is happiness when you don't fell the pain and you are far away from the worst pain you eher encountered in your life. So never try to be more and more happy but be always far away from your worst state | ||
|
HeeroFX
United States2704 Posts
| ||
|
Kasu
United Kingdom345 Posts
| ||
|
Nizaris
Belgium2230 Posts
| ||
|
peacenl
550 Posts
Happiness never lasts, but so does sorrow. There are always two forces at work, anywhere you look. What people don't realise is that these two forces don't have to be balanced or always on one side. The concept of past, and future, and a distorted perception of the present keeps people running for the greener grass on the other side of the fence. What some don't realize is that their perfect present is already there, it doesn't require any thought, it's just an imperfect mind that can mess it up. This is where drugs can't but meditation can help. - This contains some segments from universal truth (http://www.truthcontest.com/entries/the-present-universal-truth/) Even if you had anything (materialistic) you wished for in the world, if you didn't find peace with yourself you would still never find hapiness, distraction at best. - This is something that I've heard elderly say a couple of times. | ||
|
beachbeachy
United States509 Posts
| ||
|
MostGroce
United States104 Posts
This is a good video for a lot of reasons. I've watched a few times. The first part I think will help you. | ||
|
blug
Australia623 Posts
| ||
|
EffervescentAureola
United States410 Posts
Happiness is doing what you love every day for the rest of your life. | ||
|
inimenesc
Estonia374 Posts
| ||
|
Biff The Understudy
France7888 Posts
In 1986 Fredrich Nietzsche wrote: Mankind does not strive for happiness; only the Englishman does that. | ||
|
belldandy
United Kingdom12 Posts
On October 06 2012 01:09 blug wrote: I think seeing my mother again would spark something in me that would spark true happiness. I couldn't think of anything better. aww T_T | ||
|
SmokeMonster
Canada72 Posts
| ||
|
Emnjay808
United States10655 Posts
Everything else to me I consider a luxury. | ||
|
Starshaped
Sweden575 Posts
| ||
|
Silidons
United States2813 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:03 DarkPlasmaBall wrote: Are you absolutely destitute? Dying of hunger? Do you have a terminal disease? Find something that makes you appreciate life, even if you're not the best at it. Find a hobby or a job, or just enjoy the little things. Find a person who respects you and loves you for who you are. Necessary video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk I highly disagree with that clip as much as I like Louis. If everyone was happy with technology, there would be no reason to advance the technology. If everyone loved riding horse buggies, cars would have never been made. You have to be unhappy with certain technologies in order to advance them. | ||
|
BadgKat
United States156 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:10 Vorgrim wrote: Go to the gym and keep going, eat well and find another human where mutual attraction exists and have sex with them a lot. It's a good idea. As one who has done this I say this is a good plan. Nothing else but health and love seem to really matter in the long term. | ||
|
Biff The Understudy
France7888 Posts
On September 10 2012 10:10 Vorgrim wrote: Go to the gym and keep going, eat well and find another human where mutual attraction exists and have sex with them a lot. Sounds like a philosophy my dog would probably share. I guess it's an ego thing but I always thought I could strive for something superior that my dog does. Someone I already quoted invented a good concept to describe what I mostly read in that thread: nihilism. Or when life doesn't have anymore a superior value than the satisfaction of your appetites. | ||
|
Animzor
Sweden2154 Posts
On October 08 2012 01:49 Biff The Understudy wrote: Sounds like a philosophy my dog would probably share. I guess it's an ego thing but I always thought I could strive for something superior that my dog does. Someone I already quoted invented a good concept to describe what I mostly read in that thread: nihilism. Or when life doesn't have anymore a superior value than the satisfaction of your appetites. You sound like an unhappy person. | ||
|
gTank
Austria2561 Posts
Happiness (at least to me) is to be healthy, to have a inner balance on all things in life and at least one place/person/thing where you are feeling perfectly safe, warm, comfortable. Be proud of yourself and, despite things you might want to change about yourself, like yourself the way you are. Like looking in the mirror and be fine with what you see there. If something of that is missing you easily notice what made you happy before the loss. :/ | ||
|
Biff The Understudy
France7888 Posts
If happy means being healthy, having a alot of sex and believe that there is no more to life than that, I guess you are right. In this case, I would also say that I do not strive for happiness. | ||
|
kratzeis
Germany10 Posts
1. good tea 2. tasty food (as long as it isn't too unhealthy) 3. my little pony friendship is magic 4. plenty of sleep per day 5. my good friend to hang around | ||
|
Mortal
2943 Posts
| ||
| ||
[ Submit Event ] |
|
|
|
OSC
CranKy Ducklings
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
CSO Cup
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
Bonyth vs Sziky
Dewalt vs Hawk
Hawk vs QiaoGege
Sziky vs Dewalt
Mihu vs Bonyth
Zhanhun vs QiaoGege
QiaoGege vs Fengzi
FEL
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
Bonyth vs Zhanhun
Dewalt vs Mihu
Hawk vs Sziky
Sziky vs QiaoGege
Mihu vs Hawk
Zhanhun vs Dewalt
Fengzi vs Bonyth
Sparkling Tuna Cup
Online Event
[ Show More ] |
|
|
EPT
