[onlooker]

“Our culture has bred consumers and addicts. We eat too much, buy too much, and want too much. We set ourselves on the fruitless mission of filling the gaping hole within us with material things. Blindly, we consume more and more, believing we are hungry for more food, status, or money, yet really we are hungry for connection.” I got this quote from Facebook. I wonder what others think about it? It seems to me to be spot on. We are searching for connection or meaning and are not finding it in our modern consumers world. We are musing on the terrible fate awaiting mankind but in the meantime we have to live our lives as best as possible. So maybe, this is wise advice about not focusing on the material and having a more relaxed and contemplative outlook on life. To understand our meaning and connection is with the Universe or God and we came from there and to there we go back once we die. So, maybe a peaceful psyche is truly what enriches our life and makes us happy. Thoughts?

[SeaGypsy]

Happiness as a state of mind is as fleeting as any other, at best. Happiness as a state of being, that takes time, discipline, self study & awareness. This is why "youth is wasted on the young", the most beautiful & depressed generation, while those in their 70s report highest levels of life satisfaction.

[sparky]

.
Happiness is not a state , it's a change of state
if you are in incredible hardship , a bit of luck seems to be heaven
if you are very comfortable and satisfied , a great good news barely make you notice it

the rich Romans stoics would have a hovel in the back of their palaces
where they could shiver on an hard pallet , eating a bit of dry bread for a month ,
just to experience the cold and hunger
then enjoy their harem and parties even better .

if you want to be happy you must be unhappy first ,

[AgentR11]

It is not elusive at all.

One need do only one thing.

Choose to be happy.

[slackercruster]

In our high priced world money sometimes help with happiness...as in it is easier to be happy if your not homeless and lying in a ditch. Our world is also very stressful nowadays and that chips away at our happiness and inner peace. But when push comes to shove, the formula for happiness is very basic and does not require millionaire status.

1 Someone to love
2 Someone to love us
3 Something to do
4 Something to look forward to

Some may require less, but that is what is on my list.

[Newfie]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('sparky', '.')
Happiness is not a state , it's a change of state
if you are in incredible hardship , a bit of luck seems to be heaven
if you are very comfortable and satisfied , a great good news barely make you notice it

the rich Romans stoics would have a hovel in the back of their palaces
where they could shiver on an hard pallet , eating a bit of dry bread for a month ,
just to experience the cold and hunger
then enjoy their harem and parties even better .

if you want to be happy you must be unhappy first ,

[Cog]

LOL Newfie and well done.

[sparky]

.
Newfie has a harem !!!!

[SeaGypsy]

Na, he's got one missus & she sounds like a great lady from what I've heard.

[Newfie]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('sparky', '.')
Newfie has a harem !!!!

[Newfie]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SeaGypsy', 'N')a, he's got one missus & she sounds like a great lady from what I've heard.