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What makes you happy? in Philosophy · Apr 8, 2007

Matthew Ruiz2 said:Indeed, I have experienced that exact same correlation with food, though I exclude chocolate from my equation. Chocolate is a legitimate foodstuff that has been scientifically proven to boost mood—specifically enhancing positivity and joy. However, that feeling of satiety after a heavy lunch is what I would truly define as the satisfaction of a full stomach. Fortunately, achieving that requires entirely different factors. One can be hungry yet perfectly happy. For me, happiness is primarily driven by others, specifically those close to me.
And love, certainly! 😍, most people immediately think of love when asked to define happiness. Love... but what does it transform into when it is unrequited (in the context of a relationship between two people)? A source of misery? To what extent does this happiness depend on ourselves, or rather, our own egos? If we expect nothing—meaning we seek neither reciprocity nor validation, finding fulfillment simply in the fact that we feel loved—can we bypass misery and remain perpetually happy?

Happiness as a piece of sunlight. That is an interesting comparison, given that sunlight exposure is one of the primary elements that promotes good spirits. Add some chocolate to the mix, and perhaps we might actually catch a wave of sudden euphoria, ha.

As for comparing oneself to the rest of the world, I cannot say for certain. If I compare my situation to Albania, perhaps I am doing better, which might offer a fleeting sense of contentment, if not true happiness. But if I compare myself to Denmark, I descend straight into depression. Friends, however, consistently rank among the highest sources of pleasure and happiness in various studies.
Reconciling with fate—"accepting what you cannot change" as rustygull12 puts it—strikes me as mere resignation. In modern American society, boundaries are dissolving. Nothing stops us from pursuing whatever will make us happy. Information is accessible to everyone through endless media channels. The prevailing sentiment today is that "everyone is the architect of their own fortune." There is no such thing as something you cannot change. You simply have to want it.

I once read somewhere that unrequited love doesn't actually exist, and honestly, the more I sit with that thought, the more I have to agree. Think about it: if the person you’re falling for doesn't feel the same way, that energy has to go somewhere. It doesn't just vanish into thin air. Instead, it transforms. It comes back to you in different ways—maybe it sparks a sudden burst of creativity, helps you discover a strength you didn't know you had, or pushes you to open a door you never would have dared to knock on otherwise. In a sense, there’s no such thing as wasted affection. It’s just that when we’re caught in the middle of all that heartbreak and sadness, it’s nearly impossible to see how much that pain was actually necessary to get us to where we need to be.

Matthew Ruiz2 said:Indeed, I have experienced that exact same correlation with food, though I exclude chocolate from my equation. Chocolate is a legitimate foodstuff that has been scientifically proven to boost mood—specifically enhancing positivity and joy. However, that feeling of satiety after a heavy lunch is what I would truly define as the satisfaction of a full stomach. Fortunately, achieving that requires entirely different factors. One can be hungry yet perfectly happy. For me, happiness is primarily driven by others, specifically those close to me.
And love, certainly! 😍, most people immediately think of love when asked to define happiness. Love... but what does it transform into when it is unrequited (in the context of a relationship between two people)? A source of misery? To what extent does this happiness depend on ourselves, or rather, our own egos? If we expect nothing—meaning we seek neither reciprocity nor validation, finding fulfillment simply in the fact that we feel loved—can we bypass misery and remain perpetually happy?

Happiness as a piece of sunlight. That is an interesting comparison, given that sunlight exposure is one of the primary elements that promotes good spirits. Add some chocolate to the mix, and perhaps we might actually catch a wave of sudden euphoria, ha.

As for comparing oneself to the rest of the world, I cannot say for certain. If I compare my situation to Albania, perhaps I am doing better, which might offer a fleeting sense of contentment, if not true happiness. But if I compare myself to Denmark, I descend straight into depression. Friends, however, consistently rank among the highest sources of pleasure and happiness in various studies.
Reconciling with fate—"accepting what you cannot change" as rustygull12 puts it—strikes me as mere resignation. In modern American society, boundaries are dissolving. Nothing stops us from pursuing whatever will make us happy. Information is accessible to everyone through endless media channels. The prevailing sentiment today is that "everyone is the architect of their own fortune." There is no such thing as something you cannot change. You simply have to want it.

It’s hard not to get attached. Commitment asks so much of us. It’s this massive, ongoing project of self-improvement—constantly refining who we are to make sure our actions actually line up with the values we hold dear.

Matthew Ruiz2 said:Indeed, I have experienced that exact same correlation with food, though I exclude chocolate from my equation. Chocolate is a legitimate foodstuff that has been scientifically proven to boost mood—specifically enhancing positivity and joy. However, that feeling of satiety after a heavy lunch is what I would truly define as the satisfaction of a full stomach. Fortunately, achieving that requires entirely different factors. One can be hungry yet perfectly happy. For me, happiness is primarily driven by others, specifically those close to me.
And love, certainly! 😍, most people immediately think of love when asked to define happiness. Love... but what does it transform into when it is unrequited (in the context of a relationship between two people)? A source of misery? To what extent does this happiness depend on ourselves, or rather, our own egos? If we expect nothing—meaning we seek neither reciprocity nor validation, finding fulfillment simply in the fact that we feel loved—can we bypass misery and remain perpetually happy?

Happiness as a piece of sunlight. That is an interesting comparison, given that sunlight exposure is one of the primary elements that promotes good spirits. Add some chocolate to the mix, and perhaps we might actually catch a wave of sudden euphoria, ha.

As for comparing oneself to the rest of the world, I cannot say for certain. If I compare my situation to Albania, perhaps I am doing better, which might offer a fleeting sense of contentment, if not true happiness. But if I compare myself to Denmark, I descend straight into depression. Friends, however, consistently rank among the highest sources of pleasure and happiness in various studies.
Reconciling with fate—"accepting what you cannot change" as rustygull12 puts it—strikes me as mere resignation. In modern American society, boundaries are dissolving. Nothing stops us from pursuing whatever will make us happy. Information is accessible to everyone through endless media channels. The prevailing sentiment today is that "everyone is the architect of their own fortune." There is no such thing as something you cannot change. You simply have to want it.

Actually, that comparison isn't even mine—it’s from Katherine Mansfield. Here is the full quote: What do you even do when you hit thirty and suddenly—just as you turn the corner onto your own street—you’re hit by this wave of pure, unadulterated bliss? It’s like you accidentally swallowed a glowing shard of that late afternoon sunlight, and now it’s just radiating inside your chest, firing off little rockets of light to every single inch of your body, down to your very fingertips and toes. "

The chapter leading up to this quote is titled: Real Life Isn't Somewhere Else.