How much of our own happiness and the quality of our lives depends on our own actions, and how much is contributed by our environment and other things we can't effect? Is this too much of a burden for one person?
2006-07-26 16:41:53 · 27 answers · asked by ? 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
All of it, its a mental state
2006-07-26 16:43:09 · answer #1 · answered by TruthIsRelative 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a non-idealistic world, I do believe that in a lot of situation, we simply don't have enough control with our lives to ensure we are happy all the time. Having said that, there are ways to get back the control to your life: prioritize. It actually came from a time management book I was reading. Instead of telling people to put every single piece of their lives on post-it notes, people should try to identify what is truly important to their lives and prioritize their time based on that list. If you are living behind a long chain of to-do's, you are simply busy, not really doing what you really want and you can never reach inner peace that way. That is also the reason why a lot of people lost sight of their loved ones because of work. What you can try is to make up a list like that, and then put more time on the things high up on the list. This is an example:
Family
Health
Financial security
Job
...
If you can do that, and change the way you go about your daily activities, you may reach close to inner peace, and more happiness everyday
2006-07-27 00:16:20 · answer #2 · answered by p0 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe our happiness is our own responsibility. How we choose to react to a situation, and the impact we allow external sources to affect our outlook is within our control - within reason. This does not mean that we bury our heads in the sand and ignore problems. I simply mean that you choose how to perceive.
Your personal happiness is not a burden, nor should you burden others with expecting them to make you happy. I adopted the personal philosophy that I am not responsible for the happiness of others.
2006-07-27 00:08:25 · answer #3 · answered by WannaBe 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Happiness is an internal state, so each individual is 100% responsible for their own happiness. Relying on other people, or on fairy-tale mythologies, is just a form of dependence or wishful thinking that will prevent you from ever achieving full, true happiness.
2006-07-26 23:47:44 · answer #4 · answered by R[̲̅ə̲̅٨̲̅٥̲̅٦̲̅]ution 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's up to you to decide what you feel. It's true that your nature makes you want to feel a certain way about the things in your life but ultimately, you can change that. You are in control of your mind, and it's not the other way around.
Your values will have a lot of effect on how the things in the world make you feel. And it's true that controlling your values is extremely hard but if you can, you can control your happiness by changing your values to match your situation.
2006-07-27 00:16:18 · answer #5 · answered by Justin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our happiness depends on how we deal with and consider our environment. It is the only burden one person has.
2006-07-27 01:49:04 · answer #6 · answered by One & only bob 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are solely responsible for how happy we are despite what goes on around us or happens to us. It is strictly our attitude.
Think of Job in the Old Testament. Just the worst things possible happened to this rich man yet he remained faithful to God and of a good mind, attitude and heart.
Think of people you know who seem to be suffering more than you can possibly comprehend that always seem to be happy. They are because they've made up their minds to be that way, not because someone felt sorry for them or gave them money or bought them a house or told them they were pretty.
It is all in our minds how we are.
2006-07-27 01:26:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
your own actions- 40% I think true happiness is a 40-60 deal. Everyone is able to figure out the other 60% Years go by and you will aquire more wisdom. Wait and pray for that holy spirit come into your life.
2006-07-27 02:54:19 · answer #8 · answered by Jimmy Par 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
unquestionably. and i don't mean that cynically. it's all about perception. i would take a look at the book *the complete idiot's guide to toltec wisdom* it explains clearly how our minds function and how crucial it is to insure that its effect upon us is benevolent rather than the usual hindrance. also, see www.sahajayoga.com for an introduction to "energy work" . not very well understood here in the West is the role played by our "internal energy" in our degree of health and life satisfaction. good luck
2006-07-26 23:50:42 · answer #9 · answered by drakke1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who else could be responsible for it? We are morally responsible not to harm others, but that doesn't make us responsible for their happiness.
We aren't responsible for things we can do nothing about - like our genes and the way we are raised. And we aren't responsible for our misfortunes - not as long as we have taken all reasonable steps to guard against them.
The government is responsible for maintaining the conditions that make it possible for us to guard as best we can against misfortune and the immorality of others.
But beyond that, we are each responsible for our own happiness or lack of it.
2006-07-27 00:01:12 · answer #10 · answered by brucebirdfield 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I feel we are completely responsible for our own happiness. Reliance on others can help, but it is really just your state of mind that you maintain that guides you. Depression is a different case though because it is an actual chemical imbalance you are having.
2006-07-26 23:47:10 · answer #11 · answered by wandererthelost 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋