Happiness: Enough Already

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http://www.newswI have to make up a case here. While happiness must not be a ending in itself, likely money, it is highly desirable and even vital to human being. A certain level of happiness, must be said. If you, sadness defendant, give yourself the work to review the books out there you'll find that you are generalizing. I've lost my father four year ago, since there I met hell. I was wondering if I was condemned to spend the rest of my life as a dull boy, without any joy or meaning, that is what I felt. With that I lost relationships (because people don't wanna live with sad others), money (in binge action), jobs (I felt so discontent that I was extremely non-productive) and gain lots of fat (I would go binge eating to try to feel some relief). So I discovered the studies behind Positive Psychology and it literally give me the tools to build strength and a holly new perception of the world and of the problems, including the wrong way I was dealing with grief. My father died from severe major depression. I had it following his death. From this point of view I can assure: to understand depression you MUST firs have the experience to live near to someone who has and after you must experience it yourself. This way you can understand what depression really is. I used to think my father was weak and things like that, and I thank that way until he died. So, just now, I know what to be really depressive feel like. I've read: Authentic Happiness, Learned Optimism (both from M. Seligman), Women who Think So Much (from Nolen-Hoeksema) and Flow (from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi). Further I read lots of master and doctorate thesis I found on the internet, things regarding learned helplessness, flow, rumination (specially a piece from Nolen-Hoeksema with Barbara Fredrickson called "Rethinking Rumination"). Neither of this literature suggested me to be a 90 or 100% happy person. I found so much suggestions to use pessimism, or realism, wherever necessary. Even there are suggestions on how to evaluate each situation so oneself can decide. I also suggest the reading of Daniel Gilbert's as a counter-balance and food for tough. I'm 30, from Brazil, almost lost my life to sadness and I'm here to assure: Happiness, with moderation and responsibility, have the power to change one's life!

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Posted By: dcezar @ 06/12/2009 9:01:57 PM

http://www.newswI have to make up a case here. While happiness must not be a ending in itself, likely money, it is highly desirable and even vital to human being. A certain level of happiness, must be said. If you, sadness defendant, give yourself the work to review the books out there you'll find that you are generalizing. I've lost my father four year ago, since there I met hell. I was wondering if I was condemned to spend the rest of my life as a dull boy, without any joy or meaning, that is what I felt. With that I lost relationships (because people don't wanna live with sad others), money (in binge action), jobs (I felt so discontent that I was extremely non-productive) and gain lots of fat (I would go binge eating to try to feel some relief). So I discovered the studies behind Positive Psychology and it literally give me the tools to build strength and a holly new perception of the world and of the problems, including the wrong way I was dealing with grief. My father died from severe major depression. I had it following his death. From this point of view I can assure: to understand depression you MUST firs have the experience to live near to someone who has and after you must experience it yourself. This way you can understand what depression really is. I used to think my father was weak and things like that, and I thank that way until he died. So, just now, I know what to be really depressive feel like. I've read: Authentic Happiness, Learned Optimism (both from M. Seligman), Women who Think So Much (from Nolen-Hoeksema) and Flow (from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi). Further I read lots of master and doctorate thesis I found on the internet, things regarding learned helplessness, flow, rumination (specially a piece from Nolen-Hoeksema with Barbara Fredrickson called "Rethinking Rumination"). Neither of this literature suggested me to be a 90 or 100% happy person. I found so much suggestions to use pessimism, or realism, wherever necessary. Even there are suggestions on how to evaluate each situation so oneself can decide. I also suggest the reading of Daniel Gilbert's as a counter-balance and food for tough. I'm 30, from Brazil, almost lost my life to sadness and I'm here to assure: Happiness, with moderation and responsibility, have the power to change one's life!
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Posted By: MichaelX @ 03/06/2009 11:59:17 AM

Hey, Slacker Gen XYZ, get off yourself, you aint such a much. In fact, you are the sole responsible reason for todays malady's. You're a whiney, little-minded jerk. Oh, woe,,,,alas and alack. You don't need therapy, you need to get a spine.
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Posted By: chester1234 @ 05/28/2008 8:54:05 PM

I have found that focusing too much on happiness can actually cause us to be less happy, because we spend less time in self-evaluation and more time actually living. Here is an article that sums this up:
http://spiritualinquiry.com/articles/the-dangers-of-a-happiness-obsession/