Does modern life make us "happiness disabled"?

Question

I have realized lately that as I grow older, I spend a lot more of my free time worrying and being anxious than I do being happy. I worry about normal, everyday things: will I be late for work? What will I cook for dinner? Do my cats have enough food? But I also worry about "big" issues--will I ever be able to afford my own house? Where will I get the money to get married (my parents can't pay, and the bride's father is deceased, so we have to pay for it ourselves)? If I have to move back to California, can I afford the moving expenses? Is my Mother's mental health deteriorating (yes, it is. She has early Alzheimers)? Even when I get "good" news, I worry about it! I found out yesterday that by making my monthly car payments on time for six months, I qualify for a much nicer car. I'm going to pick it up tonight, but I'm still anxious. Does modern life make us incapable of accepting good things at face value? Are we "happiness deprived" by merely living in this society?

Answer 1

wow-what a great question.
I do believe that stress and anxiety have been excelerated in our society.
there's an old saying.. ..Attitude really is everythng.
I you go through life thinking to yourself that you are uhhappy and stressed then that's exactly what you wil be.
When you change the way you look at things then things will change.
Find three things to be grateful for everyday and say them out loud to yourself...your life will change... I promise.


Best to you!

Answer 2

Happiness disabled and Happiness deprived. Whatever happened to being sad?
I mean, my life's crap. I live on a permanent 24 hour standby to assist any of 5 old people. The joy of having aged relatives who depend on you.
I have a fairly intimate knowledge of the workings of Parkinson's disease, adult onset diabetes, heart disease, epilepsy and dementia. And I'm on virtual first name terms with the local paramedics. Crisis after crisis teaches you many things.
I'm 40. I don't have a life.
I had a holiday.
In 1999.
I have a mental illness that doesn't make things any easier.
Like I say, life's no bowl of toenails.
The last thing I need is some psychologist coming out with a new buzz-phrase for 'sad'. (What do these witch doctors Do with their time?).
Because That really is the saddest thing.
Life is not fair, life is not easy.
Perhaps the only reward is death.
I don't know that for sure, so I'm going to keep on living every day I have, holding close those few precious moments of joy I get.
Because those little things are the closest thing I get to happiness.
That, and laughing at ludicrous buzz-phrases.
You're not alone.
Look for the good in the little things. That is what will sustain you.

Answer 3

Great question. Yes, I think our lives are so full of stress that we find it hard to just be happy. We have everything we need to make our lives easier& more convenient, yet we always seem to want more and then worry about it when we get it. I do my best to not sweat the small stuff and to remember that worrying about things does not change them. It takes time and practice to think this way but it is worth the effort. I try to ask myself "can I do anything to change this situation right now", " is this something that is going to affect my life next week, next year"...if the answer is no, I do my best to put it out of mind and deal with the things I can change or do something about. Remember that happiness comes from within and not from what we have.

Answer 4

Nice question there....I dont agree with you...Todays world is not happiness deprived....people make themselves happiness deprived!! Say u get a goodnews and instead of rejoicing abt it...u start worrying abt the futre attached to it....so here who's depriving the happiness...its you!!! You have to let go of all the worries at times and enjoy the moments u have to the fullest....Say its ur last day in this world and u dont want to regret it thinkin tht it got wated on my worries!!! Just enjoy life ...and Spread smiles :)

Answer 5

It depends on how much attention you pay to marketing.

Marketing is heavier than it has ever been, and is often designed to make us feel insecure so that we will buy more (cars, insurance, clothes, classes for your supposedly underprivileged kids, whatever).

If you reduce your exposure to marketing (you can't eliminate it entirely) by watching less TV, etc. then you'll find you have less to stress about.

Answer 6

We each as individuals, decide how we handle our everyday life. When we worry, it is us who has made that decision to worry. That's the wonderful about life.... we all get to make decisions, whether they are easy ones or not, we still get to make them everyday.

: )

Happy Spring !

Answer 7

i'm sure in the stone age, people were thinking, "we angered the gods and they send another stick of loud white from sky again, we hunt no deer, other tribe came and split Ugu's head open. But I am happy."