Basic question in life....are you happy?
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
Singapore
September 23, 2010 2:04am CST
To quote from Mahatma Gandhi, “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
So, friends, do you agree with the above sentence? Are you happy? Do material things make you happy? Or are you so emotionally strong that you are happy no matter what?
3 people like this
26 responses
@tomitomi (5429)
• Singapore
25 Sep 10
There are forces fighting within us and those in the environment around us. These are Forces that make us happy and otherwise those with potentials to make us mad or sad. While we cannot control alot of these external forces we can certainly do something to those that are within our means.
I must say that being happy is a great challenge every minute and everyday. Being happy or being mad or being sad is a choice. I would rather be happy than being sad or mad. The least I could do is to remind myself and I've been alot happier than I used to.
Yes! I'm happy.
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
25 Sep 10
Hi tomi,
I find that I always benefit from your sharing. Yes, we do have to face a lot of challenges presented by life and there are simply some circumstances which we cannot avoid nor overcome.
The main idea is whether we pick ourselves up again after a fall and be stronger and happier, or do we allow ourselves to fall back into the muck and then lament about the difficulties in life.
1 person likes this
@momof3kids (1894)
• Singapore
23 Sep 10
I shall compare my life with a person who used to be at 'war' with her neighbour. Comparing with that my life is total bliss. I have just asked my neighbour to help me keep a lookout of my baby and she was so helpful. And I am in turn so grateful. That is harmony to me.
I have many complaints but I feel that I am in control of a large part of my life and I am happy. And in control I meant I am determined to be nice to people and that alone can have a nice affluence on my days.
Material things do make me happy at first but they get worn out sooner or later. I am still wanting to buy and get many things so i have a little dissatisfation in that area.
I have not been 'tested', that is my arm or my kidney are still functional so I would not know how or what i will be in case that happens.
Happiness truly belongs to those whom the norm considers not so lucky but you see a broad smile across their faces.
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
23 Sep 10
Hi momof3kids,
I feel very gratified as I was reading your reply. There are so many people around us who are having a lot of problems and I guess we should feel happy with our lot as compared to these people. It is nice to have a good neighbour to keep a lookout for one another, they could really come in useful in times of emergency.
Complaints are probably part and parcel of our life, all of us have them. For some, they complained, move on and forget about it; others keep the grudge with them and go on being unhappy. I wonder whether it makes them happy to be unhappy.
@momof3kids (1894)
• Singapore
25 Sep 10
I do not know if it makes them happy to be unhappy but it will surely make me turn around and run. I know a certain person who complains all the time, its crazy to listen to her.
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
26 Sep 10
I have learnt not to get too near the complainers, they tend to turn us sour too...
@Beautyfactor (1512)
•
28 Sep 10
If you want an honest answer as to how I am feeling right now then happy is not how I would describe myself today.
I am very worried infact and it's making me feel very unwell and un happy. I think it's okay to look happy on the outside, like keeping smiling and being outwardly happy, but on the inside a lot of people who seem happy really are not.
Emotinally I am not a very strong person, I don't need material things to make me happy, but if I could find a few extra euros per month from somewhere that would make me a little happier.
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
28 Sep 10
Actually I was more thinking of happiness in the long term, we do have sadness or irritations from day to day.
I suppose many people are like that, they seem happy-go-lucky but in fact they have a lot of worries buried underneath.
I hope you feel better before the day ends, and pump up some hope for tomorrow.
@CTHanum (8234)
• Malaysia
30 Oct 10
hi blue~
hope this is not too late~the quote is really true...we think good, we say yes and we do best..material things will give us the happiness but it temporary.to feel happy we need to feel it naturally.material things will stimulate the feel but it is better if we fell the it sincerely.hope we always feel happy with ourselves and our lives.
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
12 Nov 10
Hi Hanum,
It is never too late to discuss about topics in life. It is true that material things will stimulate our feeling of happiness, when we get them, and similarly, they cause us to be sad too when we lose them. It is a very fleeting kind of feeling. Happiness and satisfaction have to come from within, without any external stimulation.
@ganeshidjl (132)
• India
17 Nov 10
i not agree with those sentences i think that only happy when you love some one or some one show love an you that love should be any type only
if you help some one that time you feel that your happy that is real happiness i think that Gandhi life is different and my life is different i dont want to be a Gandhi i want to be a human that i want to save humanity that helps others like not only humans but also all the animals
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
19 Nov 10
Those are very noble sentiments!
If you want to always be of help, it would be good to do something everyday, even if it's small, rather than wait for a great big chance to come. Thanks for your response.
@sundownkid (115)
• Philippines
13 Nov 10
The quote has a point. When everything is in harmony and all of the universe conspires and is in your favor, I guess you are indeed happy. Nothing can cause you to be sad but even how emotionally strong you are, you will once in a while hit rock bottom and get depressed. That is human nature. That is how life is.
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
15 Nov 10
There are always many ups and downs in our life, maybe the correct attitude to adopt would be to not get too satisfied when we are on the ups and to get out of the downs as quickly as we can.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
24 Sep 10
hi bluemoonpavilion. yes it sounds real rig ht to me. I have learned that you can be happy even when circumstances cry out that you want them changed. I am happy because if I did not make me happy then the situation I am here where I never ever planned on being in a tiresome boring retirement center would kill me, wither away my spirit a nd make everyone around me unhappy too. A sour person just poisons him or herself while being happy helps to be happy aNywhere you are.I have hopes of one day getting back into a two bedroom apartment with my son again. we aRe homeless so that is why we both are in the next best things for now.
so that is why we both are in the next best things for now.@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
25 Sep 10
Hi Hatley,
It is true, we choose to be happy. If you feel like you dislike the retirement center, it will make very unhappy. I am glad to hear that you are able to adjust your thinking and decide to bring happiness to both yourself and others around you. Work hard for your goal! 
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
24 Sep 10
I know what makes me happy, and I try to do those things that make me happy as much as I can, but I'm not happy all the time. Nobody is, I'm sure...
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
25 Sep 10
Hi dawn,
By choosing to do the things that you enjoy, you are already making a choice to be happy.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
28 Sep 10
I still have to reach that place. Where what I think and say and do are all in harmony. So, in the meantime, I pick my moments. I might not get 3 of them together, but sometimes I get two and I think that is enough.
I think I am emotionally strong, but I don't translate it as happiness.
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
28 Sep 10
Hi bounce,
Having some harmony is good enough, be it two or three in line.
Everybody has their own definitions of happiness. There is no absolute happiness, but surely we have moments here and there.
@carpediem17 (1315)
• Singapore
24 Sep 10
I agree with the quote. Some people say they are happy when the stars are in alignment!!
Basically I feel that happiness is a choice. You can choose to be happy or not. If you choose to be happy, then one must strive to be so.
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
25 Sep 10
haha, I am not so much into astrology!
It is sad that people would choose to be unhappy, probably they didn't realize they have a choice!
@serubhai1 (203)
• India
25 Sep 10
It is rhetorically impossible to be happy as unlike other activities like running, sleeping etc which can be defined within boundaries of words,"being happy" is very difficult to define if not, impossible. Theefore, it is logically imposible to be happy cos how do you know when you are happy? There is no scale of reference to compare it to!!!
What do you think?
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
25 Sep 10
Hi,
I think you made a valid point. However, I believe each of us has our own scale of reference. Maybe some measure happiness by how much wealth they have, others may measure it by counting how many smiles they smile in a day.
For myself, I would think it is determined by how peaceful my mind is. If there are no conflicts in my life, and my day passes smoothly, I would consider that a kind of happiness.
@bautistaanna04 (306)
• Philippines
24 Sep 10
yes. because when everything is in harmony. you don't have struggles inside and don't feel hesitations.
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
24 Sep 10
Yes, everything seems to be in line and we don't feel confused or contentious.
@jmayangcoF (279)
• Philippines
24 Sep 10
hnhnhhnn every day i always happy........But sadly to say that today ,, i'm sad,,,,cause i broke up to my boyfriend,, and i can't accept it...
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
25 Sep 10
Hi,
I am happy to read your first sentence, then I'm sorry for your second sentence. I hope things work out for you. Good luck!
@cbjones (1147)
• United States
23 Sep 10
I'm am generally a happy person. I've been stuck at the other end of the spectrum for a while early in my lie. Feels good to be able to say that I've seen much worse days, and know what I need to do, say and think to stay away from going there again.
Even with my current level of happiness, I am not really satisfied. I know that I can reach a higher level by achieving some of my long term goals in life. Some of said goals involve material things(mostly for key members of my family), but those material things, I believe, will be helpful in me reaching a true inner peace. As of right now, I feel guilt for being such a burden to the people who I love. I've put them through a lot of stress, and am currently trying to make them understand how sorry I am, and make them happy.
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
24 Sep 10
I guess you have gained a lot of experience in the process and generally knows how to deal with life.
As we get older, health becomes a major issue, both to ourselves and those whom we may need to depend on. It would be good to do some preparations beforehand like take up insurance and such.
@Downwindz (2537)
• Netherlands
23 Sep 10
I think he is correct on some stages of this saying, but it is not the only way to be happy. You can also become happy if you did something which you are satisfied with, or become happy because you are releifed
Right now im very happy and sometimes material things make me happy also, like everybody else, who dont like getting new things? One of the reasons that people like shopping a way of getting pleasure and happyness, though it is only bought and will in the long run be a very expensive solution.
Right now im very happy and sometimes material things make me happy also, like everybody else, who dont like getting new things? One of the reasons that people like shopping a way of getting pleasure and happyness, though it is only bought and will in the long run be a very expensive solution.@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
24 Sep 10
I believe Gandhi is speaking in terms of moral practice, what we should do in life. There are other methods and different people have different perceptions of being happy which may be achieved differently.
Of course we need materials things in this world too but chasing indiscreetly after them will not make us more happy, instead, we feel unhappy because we cannot possibly buy up all the things in the world. What we should is identify our needs and wants, satisfy what we need first and then buy what we want if and when we can afford it.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
23 Sep 10
I had to learn this the tough way but gosh have I learned. That although my surroundings are so tormented that I must be happy with myself and not allow circumstances over cloud my thinking.
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
24 Sep 10
There are some people who have a rougher deal than others in life. It is good to hear that you have overcome your hardships and make the right decisions in life to be happy and stay happy.
@formidexo (1351)
• Canada
23 Sep 10
I would say happiness is a by-product of doing the will of God. For me that has to be a big part of the equation. If God was not a part of life then nothing else would matter.
@bluemoonpavilion (4658)
• Singapore
24 Sep 10
It is a way of seeing things. If you believe strongly in God, you can be happy because you are at peace.
@sledgelhiam (32)
•
24 Sep 10
yes!bcoz i have all my family, friend,loveone,and other who trust me.its good feeling when i with them together.maybe sometime theres is problem that sometime its make me down but its ok hurt make me strong if you failed in your love stand up try again theres is no imposible if you want...be you and trust yourself feel free..lol "D "D "D
@doradora (3)
• China
24 Sep 10
I agree with the above sentence.I am happy sometimes when I am prised, or doing what i want to do or singing happy songs.But we do not need happiness all the time.Sometimes people are in blue and enjoy this kind of feeling.I’s good to be in harmony.But,don‘t you want to make your life more colourful and exciting?
