What things can make you happy or feel fulfilled?

[Lovelybird]

At the very bottom of your heart, no lie, no pretending, what make you happy? Did you achieve it and keep it? or do you think "happiness" just a impossible dream for everyone, a pretending game?

[audrey_1]

When I was slugging it out in a 3-hour tennis match yesterday afternoon, and I could feel my body being worked so hard, and my mind was clear from all the disjointed thoughts that can flash through any given moment, I felt happy. Body and mind were in sync and calm. Ahhh. Wish it happened more often.

[quankanne]

the kids in my family, because they're little nuggets of pure love and joy, how can someone NOT be happy in the presence of that?

 

then little kids in general, because they're so innocent in their outlook ...

[donnamaybe]

Over the weekend, my teenage son and I had a moment where he REALLY hugged me hard. You know how they get as teens. Too cool for mom and dad? That hug was wonderful!

[a4a]

Setting goals and seeing them come to fruition. No matter how large or how small.

[Eve]

At the very bottom of your heart, no lie, no pretending, what make you happy? Did you achieve it and keep it? or do you think "happiness" just a impossible dream for everyone, a pretending game?

 

Mostly I like talking to people, feeling a good connection and I laugh all the time. These things mainly make me happy. Underlying everything I value the sense of peace which has come about from my faith. This means everything to me.

 

I do like to think that everyone has the propensity to also be happy ...

[Trialbyfire]

I'm like a4a. Goals which are achieved make me happy, especially when they're for a good cause.

 

One of my fave things to do is to pick up the toys for kids at Christmas time, for our local Food Bank. People can be very generous to children so it's heartwarming to see the piles of really nice gifts they've personally selected and donated, so some small child can have a happy Christmas. I know this is frivolous, trivial and not the real spirit of Christmas, but it still makes me happy that people care.

[Riley Freeman]

Rapping....right now im working on an album....its the only thing keeping me from snappin and killin someone

 

and no i havent fully accomplished it....beacuse im not signed to a deal

[quankanne]

I know this is frivolous, trivial and not the real spirit of Christmas, but it still makes me happy that people care

 

au contraire – this is EXACTLY what the spirit of Christmas is about, caring about someone more than you care for yourself. Because in giving to those children in need, you're giving something of yourself. You know?

[Enema]

Achieving goals as others have said. I get happy (albeit briefly) by something so small as getting a sweet new piece of gear in the online game I play

 

Endorphines also make me happy. Usually get those from exercise.

 

I suspect however, that lovelybird is using a different definition of "happy" than we are.

[Lovelybird]

hehe, everybody has different definition for happiness. Outside goals are good, definitely I get joy by achieving goals if I know Lord approves and with me. There were times I wanted to achieve some goals but that were not God's plan for me. So gradually I was dragged by them, didn't feel joy but upset. The joy of temporary goals are temporary. If you don't achieve them, will you be upset? or during pursuing, have you ever felt emptiness and wondering "why am I doing this"?

[Lovelybird]

The other day I heard a tv program said if put Noah's ancestors' name together and translate into Hebrew, that formed an amazing meaning, basically is this: human is appointed to suffer, and God would rescue them from suffering.

 

Ancient people described their joy in the Bible, what are secrets of their joy? why do so many modern people cannot have joy in their lives?

 

Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous [you who are upright and in right standing with HIm]; shout for joy, all you upright in heart !

 

Psalm 16:11 You (God) will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

 

Roman 5:11 Not only so, but we also rejoice and exultingly glory in God [in His love and perfection] through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received and enjoy [our] reconciliation.

 

John 15:10-11 If you keep My (Jesus) commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father's commandments and live on in His love. I (Jesus) have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.

 

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Holy Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

 

 

Ancient people's (and many modern people) secrets to joy are mainly "in presence of God", when they entered presence of God, they felt great joy. can a person has long term joy, if he has

 

1) bitterness toward God

2) guilty conscience

3) not knowing where he stands with God (wondering if God is for him or against him)

4) not knowing why he was born

5) feel only self is right, all others are wrong, including God ?

[disgracian]

My conscience is clear. I have no guilt and no inbuilt sense of shame, a few lingering regrets about things I could have done differently, but that is normal for anyone. I am content 9/10ths of the time, and want for very little beyond what I already have. I know and am at ease with myself.

 

You could call that happiness of a sort.

 

Cheers,

D.

[marlena]

Happiness.

 

A much abused word, I think. Happiness is never a permanent state of affairs. It comes and goes.

 

Fulfillment?

 

Yes, that's more like it. I am fulfilled when I have a purpose in life. When my life matters.

[SoundTribe]

The only true satisfaction one can have, is to be in a state where they are completely content with the way things are, and don't desire more.

[Lovelybird]

My conscience is clear. I have no guilt and no inbuilt sense of shame, a few lingering regrets about things I could have done differently, but that is normal for anyone. I am content 9/10ths of the time, and want for very little beyond what I already have. I know and am at ease with myself.

 

You could call that happiness of a sort.

 

Cheers,

D.

If you are content and happy, you won't treat others harshly, right? or do anything to hurt their feelings, because what is in your heart, you act out. If in your heart full of content and love, these will overflow out of you to others. But if you don't have content and love that much, even not enough for youself, then probably you will hurt others, even don't consider if your action hurt them or not. If a person hurt others, then he/she violated the law of LOVE. If he/she violates the law of LOVE, the guilt will be there

 

No condemnation is a huge part of joy, and it has to be based on TRUTH, not on self-denying. If I did something wrong, and I simply brushed it off, it would be still there deep in heart and later will rise its ugly head, this is self-denying, self-denying can cause many self-destructive behaviours. But if I admitted my wrong doing to God, and feel sorry for it and ask God to forgive me, then I am not condemned by God, but knowing God lovingly wants to help me get better and myself is trying to get better. This is the source my joy comes from.

 

The only true satisfaction one can have, is to be in a state where they are completely content with the way things are, and don't desire more.

Do you?

 

Human heart is made craving for infinite. Addiction is one form shows this. If a human is not searching something in food, porn, money, he/she will search it in relationships, career, marriage. The need of human heart is bottomless, that's why the relationship between man and woman sometimes become difficult, they search the infinite in one another

 

The only one we can desire bottomlessly and be greedy, is God. This is the only greed won't harm ourselves

[disgracian]

Are you trying to imply that I hurt people, LovelyBird?

 

Cheers,

D.

[ed-205]

I know this is frivolous, trivial and not the real spirit of Christmas, but it still makes me happy that people care

 

au contraire – this is EXACTLY what the spirit of Christmas is about, caring about someone more than you care for yourself. Because in giving to those children in need, you're giving something of yourself. You know?

 

One year, I was able to make a pretty nice contribution to the local center for abused and neglected children. I worked hard for that money, but I can't think of anything else I could have spent it on that would have given me the satisfaction that made it worth the effort.

[Lovelybird]

Are you trying to imply that I hurt people, LovelyBird?

 

Cheers,

D.

I am not implying that, it is a self check, when I mistreat people, then I know there is a problem inside

 

Please keep up your decent discussions

 

By the way I have not met a person who never hurt others feelings, except of Lord. No one no human being's love can overpass Lord's love for us

[disgracian]

Okay. It just seemed that you were taking a very specitic line there. Yes, everybody has hurt somebody at some stage, deliberately or otherwise. As children we don't have much of a concept of other peoples' feelings. The second we're out of the womb it's all about us and what we want or need. That doesn't tend to chance without a few hard-earned lessons along the way.

 

Cheers,

D.

[Geishawhelk]

"Nothing is felt so keenly by a child, as Injustice."

 

I think children have a high sensitivity to what is fair and unfair, but from a very selfish angle. they feel if something has gone against them, but often fail to understand that sometimes, there are logical and valid reasons for this.

All they know is "s'not fair!!"

 

This problem is compounded by the fact that a child is entirely dependent on adults to put things right for them. so their perception of injustice is compounded by helplessness....

 

Unless a child has guidance, and adults whom are prepared, willing and able to take the time, make the effort and show the understanding to teach and guide said child in 'the ways of the world', it's possible that the child will grow into the kind of person who will harbour selfish attitudes and an uncaring demeanour.

 

Maybe.....