Cynical view of happiness.

[paulpablo]

So I would argue that there's a few reasons there why money would make you happy.

You could fly to america, have a better diet, be less anxious and stressed.  

You could even go beyond these things and invest in some kind of recreational hobby.

I agree except with the bolded word. Correction: money would make me even happier

Do you think it's possible your high levels of happiness have decreased your motivation for earning money?
If you're extremely happy being in your situation I imagine there's less motivation for change.
I imagine it would also prevent drug use, if you're already very very happy there'd be no need to chase much of an extreme outside stimulus. Or is it more complicated?

[Foxaèr]

Happiness has always and shall always remain a matter of perception.

Happiness is no more real than religion.

Sad, but true.

Our perceptions allow us to create for ourselves a shield behind which we can hide.

It's all thanks to modern corporatism.

[paulpablo]

Money never made me happy.

In fact, having to work for it makes me very unhappy.

I think it does make you happy that's why you're willing to go through the process of doing something you don't like in order to earn it.

It's rare for someone to put effort into gaining something that they perceive will have no effect on their happiness.

[Foxaèr]

I think it does make you happy that's why you're willing to go through the process of doing something you don't like in order to earn it.

No, that is something someone would state who has never had to work to earn anything.

[paulpablo]

Happiness has always and shall always remain a matter of perception.

Happiness is no more real than religion.

Sad, but true.

Our perceptions allow us to create for ourselves a shield behind which we can hide.

It's all thanks to modern corporatism.

Religion is definitely real.

[paulpablo]

I think it does make you happy that's why you're willing to go through the process of doing something you don't like in order to earn it.

No, that is something someone would state who has never had to work to earn anything.

I made that statement and I've worked to earn money.

[Edwardo Piet]

Do you think it's possible your high levels of happiness have decreased your motivation for earning money?

I think my high levels of happiness have decreased my motivation for lots and lots of things. But happiness is more fun.

If you're extremely happy being in your situation I imagine there's less motivation for change.

There is less motivation for change, indeed.

I imagine it would also prevent drug use, if you're already very very happy there'd be no need to chase much of an extreme outside stimulus. Or is it more complicated?

Very true. I have also stopped drinking anything but tap water, stopped eating so many sugary foods and I don't have the urge to drink either.

Happiness makes me complacent and lazy as fuck but it's worth it.

[Edwardo Piet]

Happiness has always and shall always remain a matter of perception.

Happiness is no more real than religion.

Contradiction:

If Happiness is only a matter of perception, then it becomes real if we feel it is.

God is not a matter of perception. God doesn't become real no matter who feels it is.

Happiness is a feeling, so, if we feel it is there when it isn't, it appears.

No amount of feeling can make God appear. The placebo effect can't make God real but it can make happiness real.

[lisah]

[quote='paulpablo' pid='1325605' dateline='1467850657'

I find that happiness for me is found in moments, not anything long-standing. Sometimes things might make me feel happy, like a new pair of jeans or shoes that are are nice and comfy. But, mostly, it is in what I am doing that I find these moments. Like spending hours in a darkroom attempting to perfect a print. Or, helping other people accomplish things.

How would you interpret this in the way of peaks and troughs?

The trough is when you don't have the perfect print or you fail in achieving it. It's also when you discover people haven't accomplished something they want to accomplish. And when you have some old jeans and shoes.
The peaks are achieving the perfect print, helping others achieve goals, buying new clothes.

If you had someone else or a machine constantly provide a perfect print and there was no challenge it and you were used to this all your life you would just become accustomed to automated unchallenging perfect print without much feeling of joy I imagine.

I imagine it's similar to the experience of being a hunter gatherer vs a constant fast food consumer.
If you constantly have fast food, it's not even a treat for you anymore, you just pay the money and it's there on demand and that's what you're used to then you will be annoyed when your fries are 4 minutes late.
Whereas a hunter will be ecstatic upon finally getting his kill even if it takes hours and they still have to prepare the kill later.
This isn't a scientific universally true example, I'm sure there are hunters who think I wish I didn't have to go through all this and there was a McDonalds around here. But I think the general premis is right, that people generally don't appreciate what they take for granted and happiness is peaks and troughs.
It could also be that you're viewing someone else's perceived trough while you're on a peak which makes you happy and appreciate what you have.

Well, maybe. I had a shitty last couple of days, yet there were moments of happiness that helped push through it. But, it is not like I was struggling to find those moments of happiness. They just happened during those shitty days.

[robvalue]

I'm a little surprised to hear a Christian say happiness is a choice.  Is grace also a choice?

To be gracious or to offer grace? Sure. Why are you surprised?

I'm just messing