are people different? or are they the same?

[guy 1]

i'm from africa. black african. have interacted with all sorts of people. from simple semi literate village africans, sophisticated highly educated europeans, damn rich dumb asians in africa, greedy african politician types, etc..., i know i may not sound genuine. in all that, i never met anybody who was genuinely happy with life..., me included. they all seem to be searching for something which they will never have. i have my sn.., it expires in 2025..., hopefully by then, i'll have made up my mind.....,, but then you get drunk...., and reality takes on a different meaning. like now listening to nova...shine your light on me....., then you think maybe you want to live tomorrow n listen to this music? shit. life is ....., strange....., you listen to nova n like you want to keep listening to it forever. whatever..., i'm rabbling.

 

[dreadpirateroberts69]

I feel you. I think there are a handful of people who are genuinely happy, and of course there are others who will probably never be happy. Overall I do think this world is a shitty place to be, those who feel they have all they need to be truly happy and fulfilled are the lucky ones. I believe life is more or less dependant on dumb luck, from who you are as a person to your circumstances. I have my N and am still in the process of making up my mind myself. Now I'm rambling lol

 

[Sherri]

I believe each individual is the same the only difference is the blood inside of me it's the same blood inside of you.

 

[random_observer]

Yea, I've also noticed that few people seem truly content, and most, regardless of background, seem to be distracting themselves constantly.

 

[motel rooms]

Our brains aren't wired for happiness, they take things for granted & they're perpetually greedy for more. More food, more sex, more everything.

 

[Snake of Eden]

In the bigger picture we are all different and seem to want and desire different things and have different paths in life to achieve them but on a very deep level we all are the same and want the same thing. We all desire to be in a certain state. Happiness is the most elusive thing out there. Almost not real. Happiness is being able to transcend the mundanity and futility of our existence

 

[Feeding Pigeons]

No I feel you. I start listening to music and I feel like its worth sticking around for one more day to hear the tunes again. Its frustrating.

 

[motel rooms]

In the bigger picture we are all different and seem to want and desire different things and have different paths in life to achieve them but on a very deep level we all are the same and want the same thing. We all desire to be in a certain state. Happiness is the most elusive thing out there. Almost not real. Happiness is being able to transcend the mundanity and futility of our existence

There's no (permanent) happiness - there's only gratification, pleasure gained from a temporary satisfaction of a desire.

 

[gottago222]

you seem like a cool guy i would party with you

 

[4eyebiped]

The modern world has given us interconnectivity in the form of the digital online world, other physical forms of media, radio/TV and the general ability to easily travel large distances (Cars, Planes, Bikes, Trains, Etc.). What this has done is given us great awareness. This awareness has taken away ignorance and in turn people have become overall less happy than before.

Before the marvels of technology connected us in so many different ways, you could only compare yourself to the locals of your village. This meant a greater percentage of the population could stand out and there was less extremes to compare yourself to if you didn't. Now no matter how talented you are, rich you are, beautiful you are, or whatever skillset and talent you have, you can quickly find an uncountable number of people that exceed you. Sure we can also see numerous people worst than us, but most only care about those that are better than us.

 

[Somber]

People that are always happy are a rare breed. People tend to have a mix of better and worse periods in life and that's normal. The bad times allow them to appreciate the good ones more.

Many people also operate in automatic mode. Eat > Work > Sleep rinse & repeat. Time can pass by quickly that way.

And small things can, suddenly out of the blue, give a change of perspective that can result in a world of difference.

Though personally I just add songs I like to the list I want to CTB on.

 

[Snake of Eden]

There's no happiness - there's only gratification/pleasure, which is always short-lived.

There is a state of connectedness within oneself and to the rest of the universe. As if everything fits perfectly into its place. Thats not the same as simple pleasure/gratification.

I am not speaking of poetic hypothetical imagery here. I mean it in practical and experienceable terms. To me that qualifies as happiness/absence of suffering. Even that is not permanent but it is not the same as pleasure

 

[motel rooms]

There is a state of connectedness within oneself and to the rest of the universe. As if everything fits perfectly into its place. Thats not the same as simple pleasure/gratification

Yeah, try to stay in that state for an extended period of time... Even "spiritual" gratification is short-lived...

 

[little helpers]

I don't really buy into the happiness BS. cuz, define happiness? steady existentialist here. I can talk about meanings and meaninglessness all day lol.

There is a state of connectedness within oneself and to the rest of the universe. As if everything fits perfectly into its place. Thats not the same as simple pleasure/gratification.

I am not speaking of poetic hypothetical imagery here. I mean it in practical and experienceable terms. To me that qualifies as happiness/absence of suffering. Even that is not permanent but it is not the same as pleasure

yeah and it's called euphoria. *smirk*. definitely not what the "happiness" folks are searching for. think I can already testify as an addict how much chasing this shit screws you up.

 

[Snake of Eden]

Yeah, try to stay in that state for an extended period of time...

No one can. Happiness doesnt have to be permanent to be real. It is a state rather than a feeling. I am not claiming anyone can be happy if they want it. I am just stating that this state exists/it is possible

 

[motel rooms]

No one can. Happiness doesnt have to be permanent to be real. It is a state rather than a feeling. I am not claiming anyone can be happy if they want it. I am just stating that this state exists/it is possible

It exists. I experience it every time I drop acid while listening to beautiful music. I'm at one with the universe for 5 hours & then the trip ends...

 

[Snake of Eden]

yeah and it's called euphoria. *smirk*

Synonym? So. I actually experienced state of perfect blissful happiness for A whole day after chiropractor adjustment. Thats not as fleeting high you get from drugs or sex. Even then i dont claim happiness i felt was perfect but it is unprecedented and i never thought possible

 

[Snake of Eden]

It exists. I experience it every time I drop acid while listening to beautiful music. I'm at one with the universe for 5 hours & then the trip ends...

I mever done acid. I dont know how you felt or suppose to feel. I wanted to explain that a state of happiness is out there. Thats not the same as saying there such a thing as happily ever after. There exists some form of happy lives for people who are lucky in the world who experience a modicum of it due to their minimized suffering and thats not perfect happiness but it is closest thing to it. Happiness is possible because it exists but it is impossible to sustain for extended period of time in its ideal climaxed form

 

[motel rooms]

Happiness is possible because it exists but it is impossible to sustain for extended period of time in its ideal climaxed form

It is possible, but it is impossible.

"Chronic sadness exists in abundance, but chronic happiness doesn't exist at all."

 

[little helpers]

Synonym? So. I actually experienced state of perfect blissful happiness for A whole day. Thats not as fleeting high you get from drugs or sex

no. I'd say "bliss" is a synonym, as the way you've put it. whether from drugs or from your endogenous brain chemicals, it's euphoria. I have this very weird childhood memory of experiencing this just through reading. it truly is wonderful. although when you think about what the "happiness" people are going after, a whole day is still fleeting. too short for a lifetime.

Edit: what I think most people want, is purpose, meaning, safety, sense of control, autonomy, attachment, affection, connection, stability. things like that.

 

[dreadpirateroberts69]

I'm high rn and ironically, reading this thread is actually making me feel better about not being happy

 

[Somber]

There is a state of connectedness within oneself and to the rest of the universe. As if everything fits perfectly into its place. Thats not the same as simple pleasure/gratification.

I am not speaking of poetic hypothetical imagery here. I mean it in practical and experienceable terms. To me that qualifies as happiness/absence of suffering. Even that is not permanent but it is not the same as pleasure

Happiness and pleasure are 2 separate things.

Pleasure is the instance that follows on satisfying a desire. Can be winning something (lottery, game etc.), acquiring a material posession (shopping spree) or achieving something (promotion, good grades orgasm, etc.)

Happiness is a general state of being, lasts longer, but is also more difficult to attain. It's the result of a combination of elements and when it's gone it's hard to say what exactly caused it. That's that feeling of connectedness with oneself & the universe.

Though it could also be psychedelics.

 

[Snake of Eden]

It is possible, but it is impossible.

"Chronic sadness exists in abundance, but chronic happiness doesn't exist at all."

It is an attainable state meaning it is there in our psyche to access which makes it possible but it is an ever elusive state which makes it impossible to retain in its purist form.

The conditions of living is part of the reason why this is the case like you mentioned in the "". But happiness is not mythical. What is mythical is that as modern society we claim and endorse material pursuit as the key to happiness but thats farthest from the truth as research is continuously showing. Things like traumas, poverty, isolation, health problems and its pervasiveness in the world make it even harder to get close to that happy state.

 

[rationaldeath]

Our brains aren't wired for happiness, they take things for granted & they're perpetually greedy for more. More food, more sex, more everything.

Could you imagine if we evolved to have happiness and pleasure as our main survival mechanism instead of suffering? There doesn't seem to be any reason that couldn't be the case. Maybe someday we can rewire this mess of a brain we have.

 

[Snake of Eden]

Could you imagine if we evolved to have happiness and pleasure as our main survival mechanism instead of suffering? There doesn't seem to be any reason that couldn't be the case. Maybe someday we can rewire this mess of a brain we have.

It is interplay of both but suffering is the necessary evil to allow us to survive in this world. The world itself has to change to such a degree that makes happiness and pleasure as more of the dominant incentive for survival. It cant be any other way.

 

[random_observer]

It is interplay of both but suffering is the necessary evil to allow us to survive in this world. The world itself has to change to such a degree that makes happiness and pleasure as more of the dominant incentive for survival. It cant be any other way.

I think it would be better to define "happiness" as the feeling you get from pursuing a meaningful outcome. Finding meaning is difficult but not always impossible.

 

[Snake of Eden]

I think it would be better to define "happiness" as the feeling you get from pursuing a meaningful outcome. Finding meaning is difficult but not always impossible.

Happiness is a spectrum. It is a flow. If you manage to lose yourself doing something that completely takes you from everything else then yes thats some form of happiness.

 

[rationaldeath]

It is interplay of both but suffering is the necessary evil to allow us to survive in this world. The world itself has to change to such a degree that makes happiness and pleasure as more of the dominant incentive for survival. It cant be any other way.

You don't think we could rewire the brain to make us happier or even eliminate suffering? I have no idea personally, but it seems plausible to me if our understanding of the brain reaches a high enough level.

 

[little helpers]

another point I wanna make here, I think the Western world (and subsequently its global colonies) in general is too tied up with being happy, happier, gratification, pleasure. cuz that shit sells! that's how you sell people things, for real.

and to insist on happiness is to underplay the meaning one gains through pain. through striving. the greatest connection I've found with others, is that during my darkest hours. I never consider extreme pain-aversion a good thing. sure, extreme pain is not something anyone wants. but neither is blissful ignorance. what does being chronically flushed with exogenous or endogenous chemicals in the brain really do for you? being put out all day? isn't that death, in a way? why are dope addicts like me seen as the living dead in the first place?

before we talk about what happiness is, we need to look at what's outside of it. without lows there would be no highs. without lack there's no gains. what remains when we take "happiness" out of the equation? what relationship do they manifest with each other? how does both serve us? there's a lot of questions to be asked. and each one of us is entitled to an answer we have true commitment to.

 

[Jeko]

Some of my friends/people that I know actually seem happy and with things coordinated. Therefore, I kinda think there's something in these people that's... different. They re genuinely happy.