What does happiness mean to you? Is it important to be happy? Is it enough to find joy(s)?

[Saiisha]

I find happiness to be a long-distance dream for the future, whereas joy - joy can be had anytime I want it :) So I stopped looking for happiness and started going after joy instead. Does this resonate with any of you?

Care to share your thoughts on what you look for in your everyday?

[Jim]

Happiness is not something one looks for, it's a byproduct of living a full life.

[Saiisha]

Jim wrote: "Happiness is not something one looks for, it's a byproduct of living a full life."

That's great insight Jim! What do you look for in your everyday? Or on your spiritual path?

[Jim]

Saiisha, for me, it's all about mindfulness. It's not so much what I look for, it has more to do with how I except conditions and circumstances that bother me.

Let me backtrack for a moment, I'm not sure I'm addressing your question. Please clarify.

[Saiisha]

Jim wrote: "Saiisha, for me, it's all about mindfulness. It's not so much what I look for, it has more to do with how I except conditions and circumstances that bother me.

Let me backtrack for a moment, I'm ..."

That answers my question Jim - mindfulness is your daily practice, and I agree, it's harder to practice mindfulness with things that bother us!

[Raghavy]

I think this article explains the difference between happiness and joy really well. You guys should check it out :)

http://www.daniellelaporte.com/defini...

[Saiisha]

Robert wrote: "Happiness is on the same thread as being sad, just opposite, so they are both far too temporary to really take seriously.
Joy on the other hand comes from a resonating magic usually coming from my ..."

That's funny Robert, to not even want to take happiness seriously :) But I like what you said about joy coming from a place of selflessness - maybe that's why it feels good inside!

[Saiisha]

Raghavy wrote: "I think this article explains the difference between happiness and joy really well. You guys should check it out :)

http://www.daniellelaporte.com/defini......"

Thanks Raghavy - I can attest to what Danielle said: "You can get... pulled through the eye of a needle, and still feel held by the container of joy" - there have been times when I was miserable in my outer circumstances, and yet those were my most joyful moments too, spiritually speaking!

[Barbara]

Someone once said (or I'm paraphrasing) Happiness sneaks in on little cat feet - if I don't focus on happiness - it's there. I seek many things - fulfillment, growth, knowledge, relationships, and I find happiness in each of these.

[Saiisha]

Barbara wrote: "Someone once said (or I'm paraphrasing) Happiness sneaks in on little cat feet - if I don't focus on happiness - it's there. I seek many things - fulfillment, growth, knowledge, relationships, and ..."

Happiness sneaking on little cat feet - made me smile Barbara :) And thanks for sharing your list of things you seek to find happiness in!

[Dmorri]

Barbara wrote: "Someone once said (or I'm paraphrasing) Happiness sneaks in on little cat feet - if I don't focus on happiness - it's there. I seek many things - fulfillment, growth, knowledge, relationships, and ..."

That is a great way to look at happiness.

[Dmorri]

Happiness to me, is being content.
"a harvest of peace is produced from a seed of contentment."
I choose to tackle what ever life throws at me. The past three years I have had many hurdles in life, but nothing that I cant handle, and nothing that should affect my over all attitude. So to be content, is happiness.

[Saiisha]

Debbie wrote: "Happiness to me, is being content.
"a harvest of peace is produced from a seed of contentment."
I choose to tackle what ever life throws at me. The past three years I have had many hurdles in life,..."

"A harvest of peace is produced from a seed of contentment" - I had never heard that - it's powerful! And I like that parallel of contentment = happiness :)

[Saiisha]

I love your Daoist point of view on how when we notice that we're looking for happiness, there's a recognition that we don't have it; and on the flip side, when we feel happiness, we're no longer acknowledging the lack! That's a very astute perception!!