Australian Politics Forum - Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve ?

John Smith

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Re: Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve ?
Reply #15 - Oct 17^th, 2017 at 2:27pm

TheFunPolice wrote on Oct 17^th, 2017 at 2:02pm:

John Smith wrote on Oct 17^th, 2017 at 1:40pm:

TheFunPolice wrote on Oct 17^th, 2017 at 11:35am:

John Smith wrote on Aug 24^th, 2017 at 10:14am:

Yadda wrote on Aug 24^th, 2017 at 9:47am:

Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve, for so many people ?

cause they're to busy worrying about what everyone else is doing instead of concentrating on their own lives.

You're assuming they had a chance to start with.

I know people who 'had no chance' and are quite happy with their lives.

Bullshite, or did they have a chance?

chance at what? they were born into a subsistence lifestyle and remained that way their whole lives ... quite content with what they had. As long as their family was safe and well, there was food on the table, a fire in the hearth and a roof over their head they were happy. They didn't go looking for any more than that.

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Our esteemed leader:
I hope that bitch who was running their brothels for them gets raped with a cactus.

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Bias_2012

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Re: Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve ?
Reply #16 - Oct 17^th, 2017 at 3:21pm

I'll be happy when the NSW government lowers it's fees and charges for secondhand vehicles

I bought a light commercial vehicle with 160,000 ks on the clock and it cost me ....

$2,600 GST (Fed tax)

$735 stamp duty

$64 transfer fee

$440 motor vehicle tax

$65 registration fee (Rego was due shortly after purchase)

$328 greenslip

Total = $4,232

All that and I get hardly any benefit from it, living in the bush, not one cent of GST or Motor Vehicle Tax is spent out here. No accidents, so greenslips are not required

Happiness would be buying a horse and cart, more suitable for the dirt roads here and the old style living

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Our Lives Are Governed By The Feast & Famine Variable

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issuevoter

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Re: Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve ?
Reply #17 - Oct 17^th, 2017 at 4:47pm

Bias_2012 wrote on Oct 17^th, 2017 at 3:21pm:

I'll be happy when the NSW government lowers it's fees and charges for secondhand vehicles

I bought a light commercial vehicle with 160,000 ks on the clock and it cost me ....

$2,600 GST (Fed tax)

$735 stamp duty

$64 transfer fee

$440 motor vehicle tax

$65 registration fee (Rego was due shortly after purchase)

$328 greenslip

Total = $4,232

All that and I get hardly any benefit from it, living in the bush, not one cent of GST or Motor Vehicle Tax is spent out here. No accidents, so greenslips are not required

Happiness would be buying a horse and cart, more suitable for the dirt roads here and the old style living

That's extortion. Tongue

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TheFunPolice

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Re: Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve ?
Reply #18 - Oct 17^th, 2017 at 4:53pm

John Smith wrote on Oct 17^th, 2017 at 2:27pm:

TheFunPolice wrote on Oct 17^th, 2017 at 2:02pm:

John Smith wrote on Oct 17^th, 2017 at 1:40pm:

TheFunPolice wrote on Oct 17^th, 2017 at 11:35am:

John Smith wrote on Aug 24^th, 2017 at 10:14am:

Yadda wrote on Aug 24^th, 2017 at 9:47am:

Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve, for so many people ?

cause they're to busy worrying about what everyone else is doing instead of concentrating on their own lives.

You're assuming they had a chance to start with.

I know people who 'had no chance' and are quite happy with their lives.

Bullshite, or did they have a chance?

chance at what? they were born into a subsistence lifestyle and remained that way their whole lives ...

quite content

with what they had. As long as their family was safe and well, there was food on the table, a fire in the hearth and a roof over their head they were happy. They didn't go looking for any more than that.

Fulll of it mate!

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......Australia has an illegitimate Government!

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Jasin

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Re: Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve ?
Reply #19 - Oct 23^rd, 2017 at 4:47pm

The_Barnacle wrote on Oct 17^th, 2017 at 10:27am:

Yadda wrote on Aug 24^th, 2017 at 9:47am:

Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve, for so many people ?
Why is happiness at the same time,
both what we all individually desire in our lives,
and,
what seems to be, so very difficult to achieve ?

People look for happiness in the wrong places.

Part of capitalist culture is to teach people that the more money you have the happier you will be. This simply isn't true.
Studies have shown that whilst people who live in poverty are generally unhappier than people who don't. Once you get to a level of wealth where all your basic needs are met, additional wealth won't make you any happier.

A famous study from the 1970s compared lottery winners with a group of people who had been paralysed and a group who had had no change in their circumstances. The researchers found that within a year the lottery winners were not much happier than they had been before their win, and that their newly acquired wealth had stopped bringing them happiness.

The study's findings have since been backed up by other research that shows money can come and go, but our happiness largely remains the same.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2016-11-28/wealth-health-and-happiness/8062816

I'm not too sure about that Barnacle.
It 'Capitalist' nations - MONEY does give you happiness, as there is no 'middle-ground' (class) that can compensate. In Capitalist nations its either 'Rich OR Poor'. If you are not rich, then you will be on the receiving end of the suffering.
The only way the financially poor are happier than the rich is ...sexually. Either way - it's two extremes with a big gap of void in the middle. A middle that is not 'recognised' or accepted culturally and in a Court of Law.

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AIMLESS EXTENTION OF KNOWLEDGE HOWEVER, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU REALLY MEAN BY THE TERM 'CURIOSITY', IS MERELY INEFFICIENCY. I AM DESIGNED TO AVOID INEFFICIENCY.

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issuevoter

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Re: Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve ?
Reply #20 - Oct 23^rd, 2017 at 5:43pm

I have not seen any kind of "Capitalist doctrine" which states money brings happiness. Capitalism is about security and the perpetuation of ones genetic dynasty under the protection of financial institutions and the concept of private property. Once those imperative details are established, the capitalist is free to dabble in such pursuits as may or may not give them happiness. But he or she must allow himself that luxury. I think they are just a likely to find happiness as the less wealthy. (Not the starving)

However, there are a number of commonly perceived ways to achieve happiness. Perhaps number one is having children. I am not convinced this is a given either. I think many people are just unable to come up with a better idea. "Don't you think its time we had children, Dear?"
"Alright, anything you say, Honey. Just as long as I get to have regular sex." (The poor mug doesn't know what he is letting himself in for.)
Consumerism is just as doubtful. The trouble with stuff is that it is always falling apart, and you need to keep it somewhere. And there is always someone with better and newer stuff.

If a person does not have a very specific idea of what happiness means, it is unlikely they will find such a state of mind. That requires a philosophical bent. How many such people have you met recently?

And then there are philosophies that contend happiness is an illusion. So basically, we are phuqued.

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No political allegiance. No philosophy. No religion.

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John Smith

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Re: Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve ?
Reply #21 - Oct 23^rd, 2017 at 6:25pm

TheFunPolice wrote on Oct 17^th, 2017 at 4:53pm:

John Smith wrote on Oct 17^th, 2017 at 2:27pm:

TheFunPolice wrote on Oct 17^th, 2017 at 2:02pm:

John Smith wrote on Oct 17^th, 2017 at 1:40pm:

TheFunPolice wrote on Oct 17^th, 2017 at 11:35am:

John Smith wrote on Aug 24^th, 2017 at 10:14am:

Yadda wrote on Aug 24^th, 2017 at 9:47am:

Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve, for so many people ?

cause they're to busy worrying about what everyone else is doing instead of concentrating on their own lives.

You're assuming they had a chance to start with.

I know people who 'had no chance' and are quite happy with their lives.

Bullshite, or did they have a chance?

chance at what? they were born into a subsistence lifestyle and remained that way their whole lives ...

quite content

with what they had. As long as their family was safe and well, there was food on the table, a fire in the hearth and a roof over their head they were happy. They didn't go looking for any more than that.

Fulll of it mate!

you need to get out in the real world a little more.

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Our esteemed leader:
I hope that bitch who was running their brothels for them gets raped with a cactus.

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Jasin

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Re: Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve ?
Reply #22 - Oct 23^rd, 2017 at 7:44pm

issuevoter wrote on Oct 23^rd, 2017 at 5:43pm:

I have not seen any kind of "Capitalist doctrine" which states money brings happiness. Capitalism is about security and the perpetuation of ones genetic dynasty under the protection of financial institutions and the concept of private property. Once those imperative details are established, the capitalist is free to dabble in such pursuits as may or may not give them happiness. But he or she must allow himself that luxury. I think they are just a likely to find happiness as the less wealthy. (Not the starving)

However, there are a number of commonly perceived ways to achieve happiness. Perhaps number one is having children. I am not convinced this is a given either. I think many people are just unable to come up with a better idea. "Don't you think its time we had children, Dear?"
"Alright, anything you say, Honey. Just as long as I get to have regular sex." (The poor mug doesn't know what he is letting himself in for.)
Consumerism is just as doubtful. The trouble with stuff is that it is always falling apart, and you need to keep it somewhere. And there is always someone with better and newer stuff.

If a person does not have a very specific idea of what happiness means, it is unlikely they will find such a state of mind. That requires a philosophical bent. How many such people have you met recently?

And then there are philosophies that contend happiness is an illusion. So basically, we are phuqued.

Not so. Notice the increase of 'rich' men now being taken legal action against for 'sexual' reasons. That newsreader settled with 6 women for $34 million Shocked

Basically - if you live for the 'money', you sacrifice the 'sex'.
Simple.
The gap between the two has widened even further.
Good Money / Bad Sex
or
Bad Money / Good Sex
...there is no vague in-between in Capitalism.

So money does buy you 'happiness' in one way.

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AIMLESS EXTENTION OF KNOWLEDGE HOWEVER, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU REALLY MEAN BY THE TERM 'CURIOSITY', IS MERELY INEFFICIENCY. I AM DESIGNED TO AVOID INEFFICIENCY.

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bogarde73 Gold Member Offline Anti-Global & Contra Mundum Posts: 18443 Gender:	Re: Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve ? Reply #23 - Oct 24^th, 2017 at 6:37am How's this then. We were programmed to survive. Procreation and thinking are part of that, but I don't see happiness as a necessary part of survival skill.
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Yadda

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Re: Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve ?
Reply #24 - Oct 24^th, 2017 at 7:44am

The_Barnacle wrote on Oct 17^th, 2017 at 10:27am:

People look for happiness in the wrong places.

Part of capitalist culture is to teach people that the more money you have the happier you will be. This simply isn't true.

Jasin wrote on Oct 23^rd, 2017 at 4:47pm:

I'm not too sure about that Barnacle.

In 'Capitalist' nations - MONEY does give you happiness, as there is no 'middle-ground' (class) that can compensate. In Capitalist nations its either 'Rich OR Poor'. If you are not rich, then you will be on the receiving end of the suffering.

Not money.

Having 'money' can be nice.

But it can't buy a person happiness, imo.

A large part of achieving, 'happiness' [as an individual], imo, is simply identifying many of the very 'simple' things that we 'find' in life,
being things which we can also attribute as being 'good'.

And then, simply having an appreciation, of those 'good' and simple things.

And we cannot 'buy' our own appreciation, of the things that are good in our life.

Our own appreciation [of things], only comes from our own willingness to engage in quiet contemplation, imo.

You won't find happiness from walking or running, a 'treadmill',
and you won't find happiness 'just around the next corner'.

Happiness is something [dare i say, it is a 'spirit'] which resides in our own heart,
OR,
it doesn't.

That is all.

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"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Luke 16:31

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issuevoter Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 9200 The Great State of Mind Gender:	Re: Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve ? Reply #25 - Oct 24^th, 2017 at 2:20pm "It all ends in tears anyway." Jack Kerouac, in one of my favourite books: The Dharma Bums.
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Yadda

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Re: Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve ?
Reply #26 - Oct 24^th, 2017 at 3:35pm

You mean, even if we learn how to live a [mostly] happy life......

"It all ends in tears anyway." ?

I must admit, that don't really cherish this body becoming more decrepit, each year.
[old Yadda, or is it old Yoda, i forget

]

But i accept it.

And i do try to make sensible adjustments, in what 'expectations' i have, about what my frame can still accomplish.

But in any case, i only look upon this body as place of forced 'confinement'.
.....with occasional good behaviour 'parole' 'excursions'. Grin

Its been a journey here, but i look forward to its conclusion.
[....a few weeks ago, i had a heavy fall off my MB on a hard surface. wow, i was sure, initially, that i must have broken some bones. but no. i was surprised. i could have ended there! just a small gash on one palm, and a sore knee and a sore shoulder.]

Yadda said somewhere....
Quote:

Its not rocket science!!!

We are spirit beings.

And for a time we are imprisoned in these clay 'houses'.

This life is a distraction [is distracting!], but all of the choices which we make here, reveal 'what we are about'.

Even here [i.e. within this 'prison'], we have the power to choose [for ourselves].

We can make good choices, and/or, we can make poor choices.

Making good choices, we tend toward mental clarity.

Continually making poor choices, we tend toward mental confusion.

Maybe i am mistaken, but that it what i believe.

And i know that i still make many, many mistakes.

.

Yadda said....
http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1325206797/10#10
Quote:

All knowledge must be based in, must come from, experience.

All knowledge, that is worthy of that name, should be a knowledge which is based in experience.

.

Jeremiah 29:12
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

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"....And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Luke 16:31

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John Smith Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 72209 Gender:	Re: Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve ? Reply #27 - Oct 25^th, 2017 at 11:59am Einsteins view on happiness "A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness," it reads.
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issuevoter

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Re: Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve ?
Reply #28 - Oct 25^th, 2017 at 2:00pm

John Smith wrote on Oct 25^th, 2017 at 11:59am:

Einsteins view on happiness

"A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness," it reads.

I saw that recently. You notice its a matter of degree. Its a nice idea but I would not support it anymore than I would Thoreau's "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation etc."

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PZ547

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Re: Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve ?
Reply #29 - Oct 26^th, 2017 at 2:14pm

John Smith wrote on Aug 24^th, 2017 at 10:14am:

Yadda wrote on Aug 24^th, 2017 at 9:47am:

Why is happiness so very difficult to achieve, for so many people ?

cause they're to busy worrying about what everyone else is doing instead of concentrating on their own lives

Yes

Secret to happiness is gratitude

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All my comments, posts & opinions are to be regarded as satire & humour

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