I know lots of people who have externally satisfactory lives, and are miserable, and some people whos lives are a living soap opera, and are still chirpy and cheery. So can we simply choose to be happy?
2007-01-16 23:44:52 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Not thinking about hedonistic happiness, but basic principles of hope and gratitude, and yes thank you I have suffered from depression,
2007-01-17 00:07:51 · update #1
Up to a point we can. Depression is an illness and like we can't always choose not to have the flu, sometimes we can't help being depressed. BUT we get the flu more often if we don't eat fruit and go out with wet hair. Likewise, some people make themselves more prone to depression by their attitude.
And I feel we are less likely to be depressed if we have some very special friends who we love and who are there for us. even when we feel down, they pick us up and give us the will to carry on.
Thank you for a lovely question. x
2007-01-17 07:36:56 · answer #1 · answered by nev 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes! Absolutely. Read Dorothy Rowe's books on depression. She sets it out perfectly. I think one of them was called: "The Way Out of Your Prison".
Happiness derives from your mind choosing it's state. Most people do not realise that their mind is a tool to be used in anyway they see fit. We are not victims of circumstance but have control over whether we see a situation as "the end of the world" or sad or just "one of those things".
2007-01-17 07:50:34 · answer #2 · answered by KD 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, one can choose to be happy, some people are blessed to have a naturally optimistic personality. Those people are the most fortunate because happiness is more easy for them.
2007-01-17 08:40:33 · answer #3 · answered by June smiles 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only up to a point. Don't forget that we are influenced by our surroundings, our upbringing, our genes, and our brain chemistry.
Some people have better coping skills and others are just oblivious to problem solving and lurch from one disaster to the next.
And there are small minded people who get a kick out of hurting others.
I think there are many factors that influence how we feel and cope and we only have a limited influence over some of them.
2007-01-17 07:56:43 · answer #4 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe you can choose your attitude and that can make you a happier person. Instead of pulling a "poor me", you can think of others who have it worse. You can't afford a new pair of shoes and yours are in bad shape, think of someone who doesn't have shoes. Your family is making you crazy, think of someone who is all alone, with no family. Also, I've found if I look at circumstances and think, "what am I to learn from this?", it puts me in a more positive and productive frame of mind, rather than negative and destructive. What a Pollyanna, huh!
2007-01-17 07:55:46 · answer #5 · answered by Scoots 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Usually happiness is a choice, but having experienced severe depression first hand, I know that sometimes you cannot just choose to ignore the immense pain and sadness that is forced upon you.
2007-01-17 07:50:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
i'm happy most of the time and when i'm not i think back to happy episodes in my life soon i'm all smiles again ......if you have a happy outlook on life things dont seem so bad you have seen my blogg slutttee you know i've always got a silly grin on my face.....my wife says that i'm always grinning coz i'm a wee bit touched if you know what i mean but i make her smile too with my inane outlook on life
2007-01-17 08:51:03 · answer #7 · answered by jeff c 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I believe so because you choose your own destiny. Your life may not be going in the best direction but how you react to that is your choice, you could choose to look at the bright side or improve, or you could just wallow in your own despair.
2007-01-17 07:48:01 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
If I slapped you in the face, would you be enraged?
If your dog or cat runs up to you and licks you/ brushes against you, would you feel happy?
Making yourself happy doesn't equal happiness.
If I make myself my favourite espresso, treat myself to a lobster dinner - does it necessarily make me happy? It's no guarantee.
Have you ever been so depressed, for days and weeks on end and nothing, not even sex can perk you up?
I'm not telling the world to give up and drop dead. I'm just saying - unless you live in an ivory tower, or get high on injections of love - happiness is not a guarantee!
Even your highly evolved dog and cat can feel sad. What makes humans want to be like ants, who do not feel happy or sad - but just work mechanically, round the clock? Let's be human and feel and not be robots.
2007-01-17 07:56:00 · answer #9 · answered by Yahoo user 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Some people are only happy when they are miserable others are in denial of their sadness.
Then there is me who is happy denying being miserable.
2007-01-17 07:49:57 · answer #10 · answered by Rich 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋