A happy man is a Hollow man

[Cliche]

So everybody is searching for happiness. (this is a given) However, a certain amount of misery is necessary to provide impetus to get to a sustainable version of happiness, eg, contentment. However, being too happy can lead to lower lows than usual, so it's important to temper expectations. Anyways, the great search for happiness may be as unhealthy as an extended depression. Newsweek posts an article on the downside of being too happy, and not enough moderation.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/107569

[Locke]

All of a sudden I'm filled with unbridled optimism.

[SarichFan]

The pursuit of happiness is often the source of unhappiness.

This is true.

[Prototype]

Kevin Bacon was great in Hollow Man... Christian Slater, not so much in Hollow Man 2.

Happiness needs misery as a measuring stick. How do you know how happy you are if you don't have pain or sadness to rebound from?

[Ford Prefect]

I was having a rather bad year once ... in May of that year my first wife and I separated, in June I found out she had been screwing around with my so-called best friend, in September I had to have my cat put to sleep, and in October I rolled and totalled a car I'd only owned for two weeks, breaking my neck in three places during the process. It was at that moment, when I woke up in the ditch after rolling my car, that I felt a great sense of relief and happiness. I knew that my life has just bottomed out and things could only improve from that point. And sure enough, they did. During the two months I spent in hospital in traction recovering from my neck injuries, I met an RN who became my second wife. We've been happily married for over 20 years now. Had I not discovered how miserable life could be before meeting her, I probably wouldn't appreciate her as much as I do or be as happy as I am. So ya, a little misery is good for lending perspective. Everything is relative.

[Cliche]

Also interesting that the article points out that individuals are most productive when slightly depressed, and that when in contentment they let things slide.

One hint that too much euphoria can be detrimental comes from studies finding that among people with late-stage illnesses, those with the greatest sense of well-being were more likely to die in any given period of time than the mildly content were. Being "up" all the time can cause you to play down very real threats.

praises melancholia for generating "a turbulence of heart that results in an active questioning of the status quo, a perpetual longing to create new ways of being and seeing." This is not romantic claptrap. Studies show that when you are in a negative mood, says Diener, "you become more analytical, more critical and more innovative. You need negative emotions, including sadness, to direct your thinking."

Of course, the trick is to not let the depression slide into apathy.

[KevanGuy]

Originally Posted by Locke

All of a sudden I'm filled with unbridled optimism.

Maybe you have been reading too many Billy Mumphrey stories.

[Salt Water Cowboy #10]

Can't remember where I heard this but it fits the topic:

"the sweet doesn't taste so sweet, if you haven't tasted the bitter"

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Salt Water Cowboy #10

Can't remember where I heard this but it fits the topic:

"the sweet doesn't taste so sweet, if you haven't tasted the bitter"

I think that's a quote from Jason Lee's character in Vanilla Sky.

[SarichFan]

Originally Posted by Salt Water Cowboy #10

Can't remember where I heard this but it fits the topic:

"the sweet doesn't taste so sweet, if you haven't tasted the bitter"

That's a good quote as well.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

I was having a rather bad year once ... in May of that year my first wife and I separated, in June I found out she had been screwing around with my so-called best friend, in September I had to have my cat put to sleep, and in October I rolled and totalled a car I'd only owned for two weeks, breaking my neck in three places during the process. It was at that moment, when I woke up in the ditch after rolling my car, that I felt a great sense of relief and happiness. I knew that my life has just bottomed out and things could only improve from that point. And sure enough, they did. During the two months I spent in hospital in traction recovering from my neck injuries, I met an RN who became my second wife. We've been happily married for over 20 years now. Had I not discovered how miserable life could be before meeting her, I probably wouldn't appreciate her as much as I do or be as happy as I am. So ya, a little misery is good for lending perspective. Everything is relative.

Wow, I'm in a bad place right now. Coming upon a execrable anniversary, I liked reading this. Thank you.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Originally Posted by SarichFan

That's a good quote as well.

NM

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by GreatWhiteEbola

Wow, I'm in a bad place right now. Coming upon a execrable anniversary, I liked reading this. Thank you.

No charge man ... just remember, it's always darkest just before the dawn.

[troutman]

Alcohol is a depressant.

Too happy? Have a drink.

http://www.agingincanada.ca/alcohol_and_depression.htm

People are frequently told that alcohol is a “depressant” and may erroneously think that alcohol causes depression (makes a person become emotionally depressed). This is a bit of a misconception.

[flamesdyehard]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

I was having a rather bad year once ... in May of that year my first wife and I separated, in June I found out she had been screwing around with my so-called best friend, in September I had to have my cat put to sleep, and in October I rolled and totalled a car I'd only owned for two weeks, breaking my neck in three places during the process. It was at that moment, when I woke up in the ditch after rolling my car, that I felt a great sense of relief and happiness. I knew that my life has just bottomed out and things could only improve from that point. And sure enough, they did. During the two months I spent in hospital in traction recovering from my neck injuries, I met an RN who became my second wife. We've been happily married for over 20 years now. Had I not discovered how miserable life could be before meeting her, I probably wouldn't appreciate her as much as I do or be as happy as I am. So ya, a little misery is good for lending perspective. Everything is relative.

This is an amazing story, I am glad to hear how things have turned out and I applaud you for your tougness.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

I was having a rather bad year once ... in May of that year my first wife and I separated, in June I found out she had been screwing around with my so-called best friend, in September I had to have my cat put to sleep, and in October I rolled and totalled a car I'd only owned for two weeks, breaking my neck in three places during the process. It was at that moment, when I woke up in the ditch after rolling my car, that I felt a great sense of relief and happiness. I knew that my life has just bottomed out and things could only improve from that point. And sure enough, they did. During the two months I spent in hospital in traction recovering from my neck injuries, I met an RN who became my second wife. We've been happily married for over 20 years now. Had I not discovered how miserable life could be before meeting her, I probably wouldn't appreciate her as much as I do or be as happy as I am. So ya, a little misery is good for lending perspective. Everything is relative.

It's amazing when ones life bottoms out that we tend to appreciate life a lot more. I'm sure that after that rollover you considered yourself lucky to be alive and maybe felt you were given a new lease on life.

Myself i've been through some very dark times in my life. In fact i consider myself lucky to still be alive today. The silver lining in all this is that i can experience joy in things most people can't. I don't look for happiness in material things or money for that matter. I live each day to it's fullest and have no regrets about the past.

[Vulcan]

What I think is that too many people equate happiness with success or failure. To me true happiness is something that comes from inside and can be experienced even while suffering a loss. A strange duality I admit, but a beautiful feeling and way to spend this moment.

[flamesdyehard]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

What I think is that too many people equate happiness with success or failure. To me true happiness is something that comes from inside and can be experienced even while suffering a loss. A strange duality I admit, but a beautiful feeling and way to spend this moment.

I find that people who equate happiness with success are actually never happy, because they always want more. Vulcan, you truly have your prioroties in the right place.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Originally Posted by flamesdyehard

I find that people who equate happiness with success are actually never happy, because they always want more. Vulcan, you truly have your prioroties in the right place.

I am a product of my environment, my perception has, indeed, created my reality. I am never happy, I think it's a chemical imbalance.

I'm going out to get drunk!

[Dion]

“Because, most of us all walk around as if we’re sleepwalking. We really don’t experience the world fully, because we’re half-asleep, doing things we automatically think we have to do.”“Well, the truth is, if you really listen to that bird on your shoulder, if you accept that you can die at any time–then you might not be as ambitious as you are.”

~ Morrie Schwartz