Is the secret to happiness low expectations?

[TA1LGUNN3R]

Alternately, a normal sized person could pick him up and hold him while he punches Gillipig in the face. Or better yet, perch him atop that person's shoulders so AoG could kick Gillipig in the face.

[kuthoer]

Probably.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151821771181035

Give most guys the choice of only 2 beauties or 15 beauties and I'm sure we'd be very happy and satisfied with the choice of 15.

[mrswdk]

Heroin makes people pretty happy.

[jonesthecurl]

The other secret to happiness used to be my sig - work hard for long hours at something you believe to be worthwhile.
Or to put it more succinctly, happiness is believing your time is not wasted.

[oVo]

Heroin makes people pretty happy.

It's only good the first time, then you spend the rest of your days
trying to match that high. So it's not the happy path.

[BigBallinStalin]

The other secret to happiness used to be my sig - work hard for long hours at something you believe to be worthwhile.
Or to put it more succinctly, happiness is believing your time is not wasted.

I used to believe that, but the "loot n' booty" philosophy is paying off.

[Army of GOD]

J'aime AoG! Il est mon favorit!

[nietzsche]

The other secret to happiness used to be my sig - work hard for long hours at something you believe to be worthwhile.
Or to put it more succinctly, happiness is believing your time is not wasted.

This is interesting, and for all practical manners it's a good advice. And the practical is the most important thing in this topic but... the other side of this "theory" is someone that doesn't do what he believes worthwhile, and it's not happy. It's a vicious cycle and saying to someone with this trait of personality "do something that you think worthwhile in order to become happy", it won't work most times. The vicious cycle is one of self-steem, for everyone has something he/she considers to be the most worthwhile thing to do or at least the most worthwhile thing to do within his reach.

This, I think, is based on the fact that there's a machine working full time in the background, and if you tell this machine the ego that handles it is not worthy, it will produce thoughts and emotions that satisfy this premise, or belief.

But we hit the "self-steem" concept and used it in the construction of the argument, which makes it very ambiguos because of the many interpretations and taboos that this concept evokes when it's mentioned.

The secret to happiness is not low expectations, because this sounds like an stoic philosophy, the secret, IMO, is to choose to be happy. Choosing to be happy might sound like a lot of obstacles must be overcome once the choice is made but the truth is the choice in itself carries the strength and conviction necessary. Is like if you sow rice, you'll get rice, if you sow corn you'll get corn.

So, more like low expectations it's being and not expecting. Because, as Mrs. WDK said, overthinking is the actual enemy. Thinking too much is also an enemy. Thinking when thinking is not required is also an enemy. Thinking is one aspect of our mental world and should be used only when necessary. And thinking about the future comparing it with our ideal future is not necessary. That is what expectation is... thinking (worrying) about the future. "If this comes about I'll be happy, if it doesn't I won't". Well, by thinking that way you have started to sow rice, don't expect to get corn.

The key to all this is something like, when you chose to become happy, you have changed lanes, and the obstacles you saw when you were in the previous lane won't be there in your new lane.

[BigBallinStalin]

Are you happy, nietz?

[PLAYER57832]

I'm starting to believe it is. Argue with me why it isn't so. (btw, I have low expectations on this conversation )

Ironically, the opposite is probably more true.

What creates happiness is not so much what you have, its the ability & freedom to actively work towards your own goals.

People who have achieved their goals are often less happy than those "en route". The LEAST happy are those who feel they have little choice in their lives.

[Gillipig]

I'm starting to believe it is. Argue with me why it isn't so. (btw, I have low expectations on this conversation )

Ironically, the opposite is probably more true.

What creates happiness is not so much what you have, its the ability & freedom to actively work towards your own goals.

People who have achieved their goals are often less happy than those "en route". The LEAST happy are those who feel they have little choice in their lives.

What scientificly conducted research material are you refering to? Common sense often fools us and can not be relied upon in questions like this.

[nietzsche]

Are you happy, nietz?

WHat's with the sweet talk? you want to get into my pants?


As I said, happiness is a choice, and it has to be chosen every day, every minute. At any given moment I have the choice to b happy, and I can, but to be honest, there are many emotions and state of mind that I chose not to suppress just now, I'm very interested on the workings of the mind, and I have myself as the only experiment.

My circumstances are not the best right now, yet I feel in control somehow, and it's pretty different that how I would've felt in the past, with my previous understanding of the human condition.

Besides, handsome and well hung, what else could I desire?

[notyou2]

They made me read Low Expectations in high school.

What a dreary book.

I hated it.

[Gillipig]

They made me read Low Expectations in high school.

What a dreary book.

I hated it.

You had too high expectations.

[kuthoer]

My expectations for this thread are at a all time low.

[jonesthecurl]

Well, what did you expect?

[PLAYER57832]

I'm starting to believe it is. Argue with me why it isn't so. (btw, I have low expectations on this conversation )

Ironically, the opposite is probably more true.

What creates happiness is not so much what you have, its the ability & freedom to actively work towards your own goals.

People who have achieved their goals are often less happy than those "en route". The LEAST happy are those who feel they have little choice in their lives.

What scientificly conducted research material are you refering to? Common sense often fools us and can not be relied upon in questions like this.

Digging the exact studies up would take more time than I have for a casual discussion right now.

But yeah.. that was part of the point. What people precieve to make them happy and what really creates long term happines might well differ.

One references was the "happiness study", but there are some more specific pointed studies that have been recently published. I just don't have the time to dig them up.

[2dimes]

My expectations for this thread website are at a all time low.

Fixed me thinks,

[mrswdk]

Digging the exact studies up would take more time than I have for a casual discussion right now.

You ought to make this quote your signature.

[oVo]

Well, what did you expect?

Nothing... but the usual suspects.

[PLAYER57832]

Digging the exact studies up would take more time than I have for a casual discussion right now.

You ought to make this quote your signature.

Usually, I do provide references.

The trouble is a lot of people here demand "references" for what is really common, public knowledge.. as if quoting someone's opinion makes that opinion more factual.

[mrswdk]

Digging the exact studies up would take more time than I have for a casual discussion right now.

You ought to make this quote your signature.

Usually, I do provide references.

The trouble is a lot of people here demand "references" for what is really common, public knowledge.. as if quoting someone's opinion comprehensive research makes that opinion more factual.

I think the above is a bit closer to the mark.

[Gillipig]

Digging the exact studies up would take more time than I have for a casual discussion right now.

You ought to make this quote your signature.

Usually, I do provide references.

The trouble is a lot of people here demand "references" for what is really common, public knowledge.. as if quoting someone's opinion makes that opinion more factual.

If there isn't any research confirming a *insert commonly held view* then I hate to break it to you but then there's a pretty good chance it's because there's no good reason to believe it's true, and the only reason it's commonly held now is because it has been in the past. I never get into an argument about what is popular to think, I prefer to talk about what is true. The argument "800 000 000 people think it's this way so it probably this way" holds no merit to me. So if you want to convince me of something you've got to bring a better argument than "public knowledge".

[Timminz]

Yes, if you're a failure.

[nietzsche]

Digging the exact studies up would take more time than I have for a casual discussion right now.

You ought to make this quote your signature.

Usually, I do provide references.

The trouble is a lot of people here demand "references" for what is really common, public knowledge.. as if quoting someone's opinion makes that opinion more factual.

If there isn't any research confirming a *insert commonly held view* then I hate to break it to you but then there's a pretty good chance it's because there's no good reason to believe it's true, and the only reason it's commonly held now is because it has been in the past. I never get into an argument about what is popular to think, I prefer to talk about what is true. The argument "800 000 000 people think it's this way so it probably this way" holds no merit to me. So if you want to convince me of something you've got to bring a better argument than "public knowledge".

What is "truth" then?