How does one achieve "happiness"?

Post Reply New Topic

I do not know what that feels like. It's not that I am depressed, I am just not content. I always feel like I want more, but I don't know if it will ever be enough. I just don't know how to feel content. How do you feel content?

Again let me clarify, I am not sad necessarily, I am just not happy.

Well, as an inhabitant of one of the happiest countries (holland), i can spoil a bit of the secret, i think.

stop giving a crap.

that's it, if you stop worrying, you'll be a lot happier, for obvious reasons.

it rains? meh, it'll become dry again.
missed the bus? meh, another will be here in 15 minutes, lets grab a coffee.
burned dinner? great excuse to order a pizza.
no life-partner? at least there's no nagging and less costs...

Of what?

Acceptance. Accepting the current reality does not limit you from finding a more suitable one.

As all realities are expired as perceived, accepting that which is gone is not a burden.

Stand on the bank of a river and consider all the water that has flowed by, all that will, and see that all you can control is finding a place where the sun is not in your eyes, maybe find a bench in the shade, and bring some food and drink next time. Existence can be a picnic.

All that is in your control is your perception.

2 mainstream things:

Yoga and Meditation.

Or if your asking for internal peace, then try Buddhism.

My ASD makes me feel like I am more of an observer of the world and not a participant.

Sometimes I see participants and think they are achieving happiness and I am not.

Our "special interests" are suppose to bring us happiness ?

Very good advice.

Maybe you haven't accepted your ASD? If not, "it" WON'T ever be enough!! Like others have said, you just have to get to the point where you don't give a crap----you just have to get to the point where your philosophy is: "I am what I am----I do the best I can"! You're never gonna please everybody----that includes everybody's expectations of what you SHOULD be / do----AND, you may not always fulfill your OWN expectations of yourself; BUT, what does the OVERALL "picture" look like? If it's more good than bad, I'd say you're succeeding!

A major tenet of Buddhism is that life, because of yearning and mentally grasping for things, causes "unsatisfactoriness" or "dukkha" (which is sometimes incorrectly translated as "suffering"). You sound like the poster child for this belief.

It doesn't help that the purpose of the modern advertising industry is to make you "want" and "buy" things they tell you will make you happy ...(possibly part of the reason for your discontent)....while the purpose of Buddhism (and other philosophical approaches) is to teach you how to truly understand yourself.

Don't worry, be happy!

frequent masturbation

I don't know. But if you find out please let me know. I am unable to be content for any significant period of time for the same "wanting more". That may be having more material things, a more secure life with less worry, more money to blow on things like drugs and alcohol. But I always want more. Often, as it seems with you, I don't always even know what this more even is that I want.

I get depressed over it, but often just feel very dead inside. Joyless. Like someone shut off the part of me that's supposed to like stuff and enjoy things.

Yeah that's is exactly it. I mean people say just accept your life and stop worrying but it is not worrying really. It is just like there is this emptiness, that makes you feel unsatisfied. Your not really happy but at the same time I don't think I am really sad, I am just not content. It is not me wanting material things necessarily, it's just like "what am i doing" I guess, it is hard to find the words to describe it.

I derive much of my happiness from knowing that I have outlived my enemies ... or at least survived a layoff when they didn't.

Drugs! Lots and lots of drugs!

mmm....that does sound satisfying. In my imagination you celebrated by eating a tasty piece of cake as they made the "long walk" past you.

Sex, too!

And Rock & Roll!