How can we be happy here on Earth?
 

Avatar has through its representation of the paradisical world Pandora made many ponder over their own lives and the state of this world. For some this has led to a feeling of unhappiness since our lives in comparison with the Pandoran life seems rather bleak and meaningless. But still Pandora is an unobtainable fantasy. So what can we do to find happiness here on Earth instead?

Statistician Nic Marks has thought about what happiness is and how we can be happy: “he ask why we measure a nation's success by its productivity -- instead of by the happiness and well-being of its people. He introduces the Happy Planet Index, which tracks national well-being against resource use (because a happy life doesn't have to cost the earth).”

Nic Marks: The Happy Planet Index | Video on TED.com


Also Dan Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness have pondered over the matter of happiness: “he challenges the idea that we’ll be miserable if we don’t get what we want. Our "psychological immune system" lets us feel truly happy even when things don’t go as planned.
Dan Gilbert asks, Why are we happy? | Video on TED.com


Also executive, educator, writer and life coach Srikumar S. Rao has thought of these things:
He “…says we spend most of our lives learning to be unhappy, even as we strive for happiness. At Arbejdsglaede Live! 2009, he teaches us how to break free of the "I'd be happy if ..." mental model, and embrace our hard-wired happiness.”

Plug into your hard-wired happiness 1
Srikumar Rao: Plug into your hard-wired happiness | Video on TED.com

Plug into your hard-wired happiness 2
YouTube - TED Talks- Srikumar Rao: Plug into your hard-wired happiness- Part 2/2

What is your opinion? How can we be truly happy here on Earht?

I believe my approach is close to the Buddhist approach. But I can't say for sure. But tomorrow I'll have more to say; I'm speaking with a Tibetan monk tomorrow!

Happiness is not some unattainable goal. We can achieve it here on Earth.

I would divide happiness into 2 categories. The first is simply an emotional reaction to whats happening in the present moment and second one is a sense of fulfillment. A Buddhist would teach you to always live in the present moment in a constant state of bliss. This is the first form of happiness I mentioned. Its the elation you feel when you directly experience something wonderful.

The second form we have to work for. I believe that each of us has purposes to fulfill in life. When we work towards that purpose we receive lasting happiness. Imagine if you teach your child about something. Simply teaching him gives you a sense of fulfillment for the rest of your life. You feel happy that you were able to help him and advance his knowledge. You will notice this second form of happiness the most when you are old and look back upon your younger days and judge whether your life contributed to the advancement of others or not. This the feeling we get from accomplishment. When we help others or surmount obstacles we obtain lasting happiness.

We need to stop and smell the roses from time to time but we have to mainly work towards the advancement of others and accomplish something.

For me, happiness comes from a few things... the people here, and escapism :)

Cool. Maybe he'll even speak back :) Seriously, would like to know how this goes.

The truest and happiest people in the world, are actually those whom give more if not all of their time, helping others. As strange as it sounds, which isn't really, seems the more self-absorbed we are, the less happy we are, the more we give as an expression of gratitude to helping others, the happier we are!

“And the honor and distinction of the individual consist in this, that he among all the world's multitudes should become a source of social good. Is any larger bounty conceivable than this, that an individual, looking within himself, should find that ... he has become the cause of peace and well-being, of happiness and advantage to his fellow men? No, ...there is no greater bliss, no more complete delight.”

I think we get closer to happiness when we stop focusing on the bad things and start looking at the good things in life. That some people need to realize that the Earth is beautiful and that there a lot of really good people in the world.

This is true, I can't do more than to agree with you, but once in a life we all must learn that good things can't live without the bad, and vice-versa. And for good, I don't recall the last time I felt happy without being pissed off before that... or being happy then pissed off. It all happens with a purpose, it doesn't matter if here out outside the community. The thing that brings sadness is when you feel very very happy and then something comes and "crushes" down everything. :shoop: Imagine how the future would feel like without a past, or how can the eye see without the mind, or how bunnies could eat carrot without their teeth. It's all inner-connected, that's what I think.

But we can be happy on Earth, only if we make our goal to achieve for good things that will make us or someone else happy. Here I just tried to make a versus to my "story" up there. :xD:

:facepalm: mixed the dates up. I will be talking to someone within a couple weeks. I'll keep you informed:D

How can we be happy here on Earth?

By devoting your life to God

I honestly don't think happiness is the ultimate goal of mankind. It turns people self-centered in the end.

And that probably is the reason why we are like this, here on Earth -because for others being happy, some have to live badly or not live at all.

Believe it or not, some of the happiest people on Earth don't believe in God. And I would agree with the studies that show that - I don't think there is any correlation between God and happiness. However, I do believe there is a correlation between compassion and happiness.

I think this is a great example of a question that is more powerful than its answer.

Agreed and disagreed. While I don't necessarily believe in one supreme god (though I do believe in the immortal soul and life after death), I do feel that spiritual health is just as important as physical, emotional, and mental health. I'd definitely recommend people try meditating. Nothing brings inner peace more than taking a journey within. :)

Score. I used to be hit-or-miss on meditation until I made it a regular daily practice and put it in the morning ritual; now it is an invaluable start to the day.