racipe for happiness ?

Yes, you are right. We have to be always positive and optimistic. But sometimes there are things that happened that takes away our happiness that no matter how we try to be happy we failed. But personally, I try not to think of the things that makes me sad because I'm kind of tired being sad. So I just pray and continue to have a cheerful disposition in life. And yes be contented with the things that I have and be thankful, too.

True happiness takes planning. Happiness doesn't have to be short lived. I think people expect it to last when they put nothing into it. As far as positive and optimistic is concerned I don't agree. Happiness takes hard work and it isn't always postivie and optimistic. Delusional and mis-spent is usually the aquivalent of the happiness people find.

I try as much as possible not to entertain any unhappiness that might lick the happiness that I am trying to enjoy in my daily life.I have tasted unhappiness far too long and now I want to make my daily life a happy one. To me happiness is a treasure. Happiness is nourishment for the soul. The key to happiness is found in simple things, like the gifts of joy that daily living brings. It is a state of mind where we do not hurt anyone's feelings. It is said 'neither give sorrow, nor take sorrow'. In other words, although we may not hurt someone's feelings, others may insult us and rob us of our happiness. We may be affected for a few moments but we should immediately bounce back and have only good wishes for that person. Good feelings for others is like an ointment that heals wounds and re-enforces friendship. Happiness is a daily decision.

I think accepting your lot and making the best of it is the way to go.I always look around at others and their lives ,what they have to live with,disabled child and all the restrictions that can make on you.No time for themselves sometimes no sleep,giving medication,taking sugar levels and being on twenty four hour duty,which incidentally most do without a moments thought of complaint as they love their disabled person such devotion,then you have the enemployed no money and the prospect of losing their home.I consider myself very lucky with a husband who has a good paying job and he is also extremely kind and loving,so yes I am happy with my lot,contentment comes from circumstances even if you are happy with the one you love and family ect,my circumstances are great in view of what others have to live with so I suppose I am contented.I also consider my self very lucky.

Certainly, happiness is developed by self and one must not rely on anything else or anybody else for it. I learned that through life the hard way but I'm glad that I did! Happiness comes from within.

Hi krajibg!I believe we have been on this earth since eternity.and we will remain so.Then what is there to fear?I know true happiness comes only from love.Love oneself and love others....living and nonliving.In this act of loving too I feel there should be detachment.Wheen we love we will find contentment even in just watching a rose bloom.And we also learn to adjust.

I agree with you. A positive outlook in life and contentment is the best way to be happy. There are people who have everything and still don't get contented, so they try to do other things to make them happy which really doesn't work. I feel sorry for them.

Yes, thought comes from Mind, or universal energy, that can be transformed into feelings, which in turn gets transformed into experiences and events in life. It is our true Self, that is the Law of Attraction in life, and it works. It is up to us to focus our minds and control our thoughts on desirable states of existence and we will attract that - equally so, if we are negative and pessimistic, we will attract that. We are creators.. - Derek

I agree that contentment is required for happiness. If we are content with what we have we can be happy and have moments of joy. I do not mean we should settle in and never strive for anything above what we are, but while trying to improve ourselves we should be content with our progress so far and enjoy our lives. Being in a constant state of acquiring things or status only make us unhappy. For example, I've lost a good chunk of my retirement funds, I'm in my mid fifties and there are no jobs here. But I am content. I don't have much but I have what I need and I have my health and my family. What more could I want? I am content. Therefore, when something great happens like an unexpected windfall or someone is kind to me, I have a moment of happiness that I could not have if I were not content. My mind is not full of discontent and striving to get more material goods. I hope this explanation isn't confusing, sometime it is difficult for me to explain something.

Happiness sort of comes and goes ocassionally in life while contentment lasts through our life, so being happy could be easy, being content is really hard though everyone try to attain it, i do admit that i am happy but still in the process of attaining contentment because of some serious issues going on now in my life, but i am sure i will be content very soon once they are all cleared

think possitive then smile...smile makes you younger and prettier

Happiness is a choice. If you choose to be happy nothing that happens outside of you can change that. It is not as easy as it sounds to put into practice and only the truly evolved individual will succeed at this venture most of the time. I still have a long way to go. The other part of happiness is perception. Anything can happen "out there" but it is how we perceive it on the inside that will affect out state of mind. I tell myself that I choose to be happy each and every day, that is not to say that I don't let myself feel whatever arises, I do that and move, as an example if I feel like a good cry, I will cry and move thorough the other side of the negative feeling and choose to feel content again as soon as possible. I think it is important to remember when making the choice to feel happy not to deny bad feelings but identify their source and allow yourself to feel them and deal with them accordingly. It helps to see the glass half full too!