I can't turn it off. Since I was given the topic of "being a humble seeker of happiness" for the women's conference talk back at the end of December, I've thought a lot about happiness. I keep thinking about it...I've observed people, asked them questions about what makes them happy and read anything that I come across that has to do with happiness. It's such an interesting topic and of course being happy means different things to different people. Recently I've read three points of view that I thought would be worth sharing. Here are the gems:
From the USA Weekend newspaper magazine -
Want to be happy? Have a conversation. What's important to a happy life are meaningful conversations say researchers at the University of Arizona in Tuscon and Washington University in St. Louis. People who spend less time alone and more time talking meaningfully to others are found to be happier. They found that the happiest participants spend 25% less time alone and 70% more time talking than the unhappiest. Researchers suggest deep conversations may give a sense of meaning in interactions with others, which may make people happier.
From the LDS church news, May 29, 2010-
Most people one would surmise, want to be happy; many spend a lifetime actively seeking happiness. However, the number of individuals who actually achieve that goal seems to be greatly limited. Many people think that the word "pleasure" has the same meaning as the word for "joy" or "happiness". In their pursuit of happiness, they take a route that leads only to pleasure, which, in most cases, has a shorter shelf life than joy or happiness.
Is it not plainly laid out for us in Ecclesiastes 5:10 and 12:13 that those individuals who have true happiness are the ones who not only have faith in the Lord but also obey His commandments and live their lives in a manner that will bless others? Being true to our duty shows that we are true followers of the Lord. Staying true to our duty is the only way to obtain happiness.
From the book I'm currently reading - Three Cups of Tea -
Norberg-Hodge admiringly quotes the king of another Himalayan country, Bhutan, who says that the true measure of a nations' success is not gross national product, but "gross national happiness." On their warm, dry roofs, among the fruits of their successful harvest, eating, smoking, gossiping with a sense of leisure, Mortensen felt that for all they lacked, the Balti still held the key to a kind of uncomplicated happiness that was disappearing in the developing world as fast as old-growth forests. Their happiness sprung from the simple pleasures of good food, good conversation and the attention of family and friends.
I think there are three little nuggets of wisdom in these quotes. True happiness comes from connecting to others in conversation, in making our actions consistent with our knowledge of right and wrong, in performing our duty and serving others and in enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
From the USA Weekend newspaper magazine -
Want to be happy? Have a conversation. What's important to a happy life are meaningful conversations say researchers at the University of Arizona in Tuscon and Washington University in St. Louis. People who spend less time alone and more time talking meaningfully to others are found to be happier. They found that the happiest participants spend 25% less time alone and 70% more time talking than the unhappiest. Researchers suggest deep conversations may give a sense of meaning in interactions with others, which may make people happier.
From the LDS church news, May 29, 2010-
Most people one would surmise, want to be happy; many spend a lifetime actively seeking happiness. However, the number of individuals who actually achieve that goal seems to be greatly limited. Many people think that the word "pleasure" has the same meaning as the word for "joy" or "happiness". In their pursuit of happiness, they take a route that leads only to pleasure, which, in most cases, has a shorter shelf life than joy or happiness.
Is it not plainly laid out for us in Ecclesiastes 5:10 and 12:13 that those individuals who have true happiness are the ones who not only have faith in the Lord but also obey His commandments and live their lives in a manner that will bless others? Being true to our duty shows that we are true followers of the Lord. Staying true to our duty is the only way to obtain happiness.
From the book I'm currently reading - Three Cups of Tea -
Norberg-Hodge admiringly quotes the king of another Himalayan country, Bhutan, who says that the true measure of a nations' success is not gross national product, but "gross national happiness." On their warm, dry roofs, among the fruits of their successful harvest, eating, smoking, gossiping with a sense of leisure, Mortensen felt that for all they lacked, the Balti still held the key to a kind of uncomplicated happiness that was disappearing in the developing world as fast as old-growth forests. Their happiness sprung from the simple pleasures of good food, good conversation and the attention of family and friends.
I think there are three little nuggets of wisdom in these quotes. True happiness comes from connecting to others in conversation, in making our actions consistent with our knowledge of right and wrong, in performing our duty and serving others and in enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
2 comments:
Happiness is the design of our existence, and will be the end thereof, if we live as we should. I like the observations, Vonnie, and know them to be accurate.
iremember when living on the farm in
rupert, surrounded by family, the sheer joy of living.
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