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Happiness?
If we could accumulate happiness like TEDcred points or other credentials what would you do to ensure your happiness?
Please share all your ideas for accumulating happiness?
What puts a smile on your dial?
Whether large or small please share every little thing you can think of so others, especially those who struggle with darker thoughts, can keep a check list of new ideas to spread happiness in our own and others lives!
Closing Statement from Kate Blake
Here is a really broad eclectic collection of ideas for happiness, I would strongly urge everyone to read this?
From baking with Mom, appreciating joyful moments, to setting a daily intention to be happy, to understanding that it is our own perception, that nobody but ourselves are responsible for our happiness - in that it comes from our own internal attitude, not others or external objects. That appreciation and gratitude are paramount to stimulating our healthy happiness!
Much thanks to TED and all who participated! This was definitely a very joyful and inspiring conversation to have.
May many others benefit from reading your contributions for many years to come!
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Mark Meijer 100+
I don't think happiness is anything you can accumulate, it's only what remains when you're no longer compelled to accumulate anything.
It's interesting that the U.S. constitution lists your "unalienable rights" to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But it does not list happiness. Somehow that always remains a pursuit and is never actually arrived at. Might be a hint.
W. Ying 10+
What we can accumulate is merely the result (most important data) of happiness.
Not the experience (feeling) of happiness.
(For details, see https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=d24d89ae8b1e2e0d#!/view.aspx?cid=D24D89AE8B1E2E0D&resid=D24D89AE8B1E2E0D%21367&app=Word')
Kate Blake 50+
Can you share any tools or techniques that you use? Below are some very practical examples.
Mark Meijer 100+
Kate Blake 50+
I can only agree that chasing, or addiction, to fleeting pleasures is not true happiness. Having said that why not enjoy them as they arise? Eg. Not pursuing them but as they do occur in our life from time to time why not enjoy that brief pleasure?
Am most grateful for all the insightful suggestions posted here!
Have a good day Mark, our world is a better place when we are more positive and kind to others.
Mark Meijer 100+
I do enjoy things as they arise, like I said, I like fleeting pleasures as much as the next guy. I didn't mean to say anything against them. Only against addiction to them, and even then only with regards to my own preference for myself. I wasn't lecturing. I really do wish you well no matter what happiness means for you.
I think everyone has to find their own way, I genuinely hope they do, and whatever way I find for myself is simply the way that happens to suit me. Nothing more and nothing less. This wasn't my argument against your conversation, it was my contribution to it, for whatever it may be worth to whomever reads it.
It would seem that I say a lot of things that a lot of people don't like. I don't say them because they don't like them, I say them because they ask, and they just don't like my answers. But those honestly are my answers nonetheless. I don't mean anything by it. Maybe I should just stop answering. But then, why do they ask? Only to hear what they want to hear? Don't they want something to take home and consider? Isn't that what we're all trying to do here? I don't know man. It may seem so, but only as long as you stay on the reservation, where it's safe and familiar.
Whatever. Sorry for rant. It's not at you. Just, off my chest. All the best.
Kate Blake 50+
I'm always glad for any input positive or constructive, certainly made me think how I worded the topic, and I didn't do it well. So it's even more amazing that most people have understood where I was coming from.
And happiness is a very different thing for everyone, that's why I wanted to brainstorm various ideas so that when someone was having a dark day they could read those possibilities and maybe one might be of benefit ...
Much thanks for all you do for us at TED!
Mark Meijer 100+