Happiness :)

Thought-provoking video.

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

I wanted to get the quote right, so I Googled it...
I first read it in a book by Mark Twain, probably "Life on the Mississippi," but the google search attributes it to Abraham Lincoln.

"We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves." - Buddha

Cheryl, that's quite amazing, as I was just reading that exact quote about 8 hours ago!

Here's the definition of "happiness" according to Dr.John A. Schindler:

"A state of mind in which our thinking is pleasant a good deal of time." (The New Psycho-Cybernetics - Prentice Hall Press)

Bill Tomsa

http://billtomsa.blogspot.com/

I don't want more, I just want meaningful.

Man, THAT guy is irritating. He is what "confused" looks and sounds like. Each of us has to learn about happiness, satisfaction, desire and unhappiness for ourselves. Some people's ambition levels are completely wrong for others. Each of us must find our own balance.


Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."


Cheryl,

That maybe one of the few great truths about the individual. That and the capacity to love.

The video is done in one of the new video software packages. The packages set up faster more dynamic, perhaps Dan would see it as frantic,
concept pieces. I just saw a totally different use of one of these new software packages for a music video that took the performer to a new
height, but not frantic.

Dave

Dan, I agree with your point about finding individual balance.
But you can't deny that there are societal expectations and competitive pressures playing upon our psyches, moreso than ever in this hyper-connected society.
"Keeping up with the Joneses" seems to have become a measurement of self-worth.

King David, have you succeeded in finding more meaning?

What a sweeping generalization. What was it advertising - Intel?

I would posit that most people in the Western world are happy (or at least "contented") for most of the time. Now in the third world it may well be very different...

- Richard Reeve
ReevePhotos.com

Joe, not in my job, less of it every year in fact.

Richard, comfortable does not equal happy or content. Based on the rampant consumerism in the modern industrial world I don't believe many are content. I'll admit it's an issue I need to work on myself.

OK, well I'm happy for the vast majority of the time. Maybe I'm an outlier...

- Richard Reeve
ReevePhotos.com

Overall I am happy, not psychotically so. There are times and things that occur that cause me pain and sadness but I always know I will bounce back. I am well fed, have a loving family , am financially secure very little to complain about. I am very lucky and as I said for the most part happy.

I have far more up time than down time. I bounce back from down time rather quickly.

I enjoy the heck out making art and I am finding trying to sell art.

Dave

Dan: "He is what "confused" looks and sounds like."

I thought he was acting confused on purpose.... to emphasize the point that our culture is confused, our chronic dissatisfaction with the embarrassment of riches we have at our fingertips is a form of confusion.

Cheryl,

I agree. He was the quintessential crazy artist.

A mode he can have by himself.

Dave

O.K. I am a big fan of the original book titled "Psycho-Cybernetics" (don't let the title scare you) by Dr.Maxwell Maltz writtten in 1960 and the updated version "The New Psycho-Cybernetics" written in 2001.

I have probably read both books a dozen times between the two of them.

Talk about timely, I am currently reading the chapter titled "You Can Acquire the Habit of Happiness". See my above quote from Dr. Schindler. It's from this chapter.

I won't even try to condense what this chapter,or book overall, says about the subject of happiness other than to highly recommend it to anyone seriously interested in this subject.

BTW The reason for reading the book so many times is that it is more of a manual than just another self-help book that you read and forget.

Bill Tomsa

http://billtomsa.blogspot.com/

As mentioned, I think that anyone who ponders the idea of happiness, eventually understands that it comes from inside.
It's a state of mind. A point of view. The ability to find contentment in your present situation. An attitude of gratitude. Etc.

However, I would argue that much of the modern day to day is an incessant assault on our ability to recognize or exist in that state of mind.
We are constantly being pummeled with the latest and greatest. A perpetual cycle of not having enough, or not being enough, or not trying hard enough.

Expectation v2.0, now with 10% more self-esteem.

I'm not suggesting that humanity crawls back into the caves looking for solace and refuge.
I am suggesting that this insatiable ego-thing that has haunted our species throughout time is now contending with forces designed and curated to leave it feeling unsatisfied.

We're making chocolate chip cookies tonight.

You can totally buy happiness with warm chocolate chip cookies.

And paint. You can buy happiness with paint.

Don't paint your chocolate chip cookies though, that ruins both the paint and the chocolate chip cookies.

Awesome Cheryl.
And I would argue that the act of making those chocolate chip cookies has far more positive impact on your psyche than simply buying and devouring a box of Chunky-Doughs.

Who's in charge of your happiness? Say this with me: I AM. If you feel you're getting pummeled by the media (or anything else), then it's up to you to switch it off or dial it back. Replace it with good stuff. Chocolate chip cookies could be on the list. But then, who's in charge of your weight? Say this with me: I AM.


Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

Agreed, Dan. That has always been the case.

My argument is what I've stated earlier; that the pressures and noise we are being subjected to are far greater than ever and increasing exponentially.
To recognize that the problem is actually the very thing being marketed as the solution, requires a huge paradigm shift, especially to those who have been raised within that environment.

I'm not trying to discuss personal happiness so much as the happiness of the general population, and the larger effect those results may have or be having over the long term.

The science is in, and people want their Chunky-Doughs served with a side of anti-depressants.

Generally speaking...

The more free time you save (with said conveniences), the more time you have to do more things. The more things you're involved in, the more stress you pick up. The stress of trying to get everything done and keep everything going is not healthy for the long haul. People were more healthy when they were just as busy but had fewer things to worry about.

In other words, even though we used to have less conveniences, it meant that we were just as busy but life was simpler and more grounded which equals less stress.

Stress, IMHO, is the most overlooked, and under-rated ailment we possess. Stress used to come in intermittent and shorter duration. Today, it's an ongoing situation for many... not just every so often. The mind was not meant to endure continuous, long term stress and this eventually affects the body and much quicker than you may imagine.

~ Dr. Wallace

The start of happiness is learning to be grateful :-)

Joe: Yes, playing with cookie dough is totally theraputic!

Dan: "Who's in charge of your weight? Say this with me: I AM." You are? Good luck with that ...! (ducking, running, and throwing chocolate chip cookies at you).

Seriously, I do have the self discipline to stay out of the cookie jar when I need to. Not advocating 24 / 7 chocolate chip cookie face-stuffing as a recipe for happiness, in case anyone was confused about that.

Heh...Chocolate chip cookies are my favorite. I take full responsibility for these love handles!


Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

This thread did not go where I'd hoped.
I think that's partly because there's some truth in the idea that we are only responsible for our own frame of mind, and partly because I think people are hesitant to suggest that there's any potential problem with our extremely comfortable way of life.

Thank you Dr. Wallace for your observations. That was a very reasonable explanation of the condition I was hoping to address.

Best of luck to you all in your personal search for happiness, and may you ever work to extend it beyond your own experience...