Can we make ourselves happy?

Question

Or do we become happy by doing whats right for others?

Answer 1

Doing what makes you happy is the right thing to do. If the people or person you are trying to make happy cares about you then in the end if you are happy they will be happy for you. But that being said it sure is better if you have someone to share your happiness with. And yes you can make yourself happy I have done it for years it just seems to create alot of dirty hand towels.

Answer 2

I feel ideally we do not need anybody else but just ourselves to be happy. Only if we can be happy on our own will we have the power to do right things for others. And that will give us more happiness. But if we are not happy with ourselves nothing will make us happy.

Answer 3

Interesting question. I realize at this point in my life that only I can make myself happy. I used to think that I would be happy by doing what's right for others.WRONG!! That's called Codependancy! When you derive your own worth from always helping others. That's not to say that I don't still do that to a certain degree...I do. But I can't change the world all by myself. I can't make someone love me. Thankfully, I've learned from past bad experiences,and now know what love REALLY is!

Answer 4

Laura - We are the ONLY ones that can choose to be happy ourselves. Doing what is right for others can make us happy, but we have to understand why...if its because we expect appreciation and accolades for doing it, we likely will not get them. Doing good should be just because its the right thing to do. I do not think it will make us happy though.

Answer 5

Yes we can make ourselves happy. I believe that people need to have an intrest in the well being of other people to do what is right for others. I feel i can do both : )

Answer 6

For sure we can make ourselves happy!

Happiness is a state of mind. And, we have a choice as to how we look at things. If we choose to view things in a negative light, then life will be negative. But, if we choose to see the bright side of situations, then we will feel happy. It really is that simple.

Focus on the positive.

It really does help me to remember that I have to trust God's will, in all things. When I look at it that way.....that everything is for a reason.....that only He truly knows and understands.....it really gives me great peace about anything that happens.....good or bad.

Answer 7

Good question.

Yes, doing anything for ourselves can only give us joy at best, it can not make us happy. Happiness comes only when we do something for someone else. Had it not been so, the world would have been extinct long ago!! The completely selfish man with s...o much intelligence would have seen to that.

Answer 8

Both of these can make you become happy. Happiness itself comes from your mindset, from the way you look and interpret reality of life and not let yourself become depressed easily. History shows that most of the greatest personalities, such as Hitler, Gandhi or Martin Luther King, have achieved great things due to their way of thinking. it is your psychological mindset that determines what happens in your life and not the opposite.
On the other hand, several philosophers have argued that the best way for one to live fully his/her life is by helping others without waiting for anything in return.

Answer 9

For me both.
I have always had great satisfaction in knowing that I contributed to others' happiness, yet neglected my own happiness in many ways. It seemed easier for me to help others than helping myself.
I made a conscious decision about five years ago to make my happiness a priority, while still bringing happiness in whatever form I could to others.

Answer 10

Both.

You have to come first. If you only do for others and not yourself then you resent other people that have "healthy selfishness".

If someone finds what makes them happy, does it, and then gives to others to make them happy as well, then that is the recipe for happiness!