Enlighten me, please.
2006-10-22 07:51:15 · 28 answers · asked by . 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Kent...not everyone is depressed. Some people are just miserable for the sake of being so. Why?
2006-10-22 07:53:32 · update #1
haggis...everything is a choice. I choose to be happy in the worst of situations. Why do others not follow suit? I know being happy makes me feel better faster.
2006-10-22 07:54:53 · update #2
alfonso r...that has always served to open new doors for me, and I would guess it holds true for others. I look upon these things as new avenues to be explored.
2006-10-22 07:58:30 · update #3
Debra M...I agree with you that it is indeed a choice. In choosing happiness, the darkest of days have a hint of sunshine.
2006-10-22 08:00:16 · update #4
JAM...Spooks suffers her dark days too. Like JAM, Spooks chooses to keep happy thoughts close, and dark thoughts away from others.
2006-10-22 08:02:00 · update #5
JAM suffers from periodic bout of depression, but even then she makes the CHOICE to not be miserable to those around her. She makes a choice to see beauty somewhere.
It is difficult, but can be done.
2006-10-22 07:59:55 · answer #1 · answered by Mav here! 4 · 8⤊ 0⤋
I love you, Spooky. What an amazing question.
I do believe that happiness is a choice; I believe that a person can make that choice when confronted with almost anything. But of course there would have to be a flip side to it.
I have known people who were miserable, and I suppose it is because they didn't know they *could* make the choice to be happy or they were unable to do it. I can think of women that I work with who seem unhappy all the time, misery compounding on misery. Yet their lives seem no more complicated or plagued by tragedy than mine.
I have known people who were clinically depressed. In my friend's case, I don't think she could see that there was a way to be happy at all. She tried medications but had allergic reactions to everything she tried. 30 years of therapy didn't help. No matter what she faced, she could only see the negative. It wasn't really her fault, though.
I also think that some may choose to be miserable because it makes them a greater focus of attention; drama queens who just love to be the one everyone is talking about and fussing over.
Sometimes it is easier to be torpid and miserable than to be proactive and find ways to achieve happiness. So perhaps for some people, emotional laziness plays a part.
Wow. You have really got me thinking about this and I thank you.
2006-10-22 15:03:17 · answer #2 · answered by Chickyn in a Handbasket 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If I have a migraine my Mom is getting married to a *************** and I just drooped dinner on my toes I am miserable and yet the choice come in next do I make make friends with the step Dad take care of my self feed my family and move on or do I cultivate my sorrows, love on them nurture them.
In short bad things happen to all of us hard feelings you will be cranky at some point whether you are choosing that or not the question is do you stay there?
There are people with real true depression too that can't help it.
So I would have to say yes and no.
But that is what you wanted any way yes?
God says "Man is that he might have joy"
2006-10-22 15:07:16 · answer #3 · answered by esoreinna 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Abe Lincoln supposedly said that when a man wakes up in the morning, he pretty much has a choice of whether to be happy or miserable. For me, that is too simplistic. Both Lincoln and his wife suffered from depression .. I think it is mostly chemical. You probably know some people as I do , that no matter what , always have a smile on their face .. others who never seem to do . I think it goes beyond choice. Good Luck ! :)
2006-10-22 14:54:18 · answer #4 · answered by tysavage2001 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps when you chose your spouse you thought it would be a choice of happiness. Instead, over the years it turned to be quite miserable. This is just one example of how you can make a good choice in life, only to have it turn into a bad choice etc. You didn't necessarily make the initial choice to be miserable, it just turned out that way.
2006-10-22 14:58:48 · answer #5 · answered by Bikerbutt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By saying it is a choice this means, I think, that a conscious effort must be made to keep a positive attitude. It takes a lot of energy. But in the long run it pays off. So when bad things happen you say--A lesson to be learned.
No one chooses to be miserable. They haven't fully understood the nature of happiness yet. That's all.
2006-10-22 14:54:13 · answer #6 · answered by a_delphic_oracle 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Happiness is a choice you make about how you are going to respond to life and its sorrows and joys. Some have a harder time making that choice than others I think. Maybe the choice is intrinsically harder for some than others. I wish I knew why. If I did, maybe I would be better at encouraging others to make the happy choice. As it is, I can only be sorry and love them, even if they don't.
Hoping the best for you always...
2006-10-22 15:56:48 · answer #7 · answered by Debra N 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Happiness is a choice. Some people may choose misery by making bad choices, and some may intentionally choose to be miserable. In that case, everyone has their own reasons. Everyone can choose to be happy by making good choices.
2006-10-22 14:57:07 · answer #8 · answered by bluebug 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've heard happiness is based on your circumstances...
But I've heard joy is not based on the external
I think you can always be joyful as a Christian if you walk in the spirit
The Bible talks about joy
Galatians 5:22 it is one of the fruits of the Spirit
1 Thessalonians 5:16 says to be joyful always
Also here's an internet site talking of joy
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/158/story_15897_1.html
2006-10-22 15:07:47 · answer #9 · answered by cook1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For some people being happy isn't an option because of circumstances in their life so they need to turn convention on its head and try and find a positive side to suffering hardship. Believe it or not there is a positive side to suffering.
2006-10-22 14:54:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋