...or does happiness happen entirely for its own sake?
Pleasure is dependent on external factors...but happiness?
Does one need a reason to smile?
-Rob
2007-03-31 22:34:54 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
i think you don't need a reason to be happy... you just are... besides that there should be reason why you aren't.
2007-03-31 22:43:25 · answer #1 · answered by Kuikui 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
happiness does not happen!
True Pleasure of the ultimate nature is not dependent on external factors nor does happiness.
It is only realized or it becomes our awareness.
Let me make myself understood that any thing that is external to this body mind and heart is experienced by the senses, these are not perfect and complete as the eyes need the external source of light for it to work, or it may mistake a rope to be a snake in the dark.
True & pure smile can come only from the heart sincerly , tall the rest are imitations and not really true & pure.
2007-04-01 06:41:08 · answer #2 · answered by mr.kotiankar 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Scientifically, yes (assuming you mean a "state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy"). Intuitively, no.
If you look at it scientifically, we need some sort of stimulus to initiate the complex chemical reactions that lead to a feeling of placid content. Perhaps you just smelled fried chicken just like your mum's. Or maybe the sun shining outside was just the thing for you after a whole day cooped up in the cubicle. You might not be aware of the stimulus, but there it is.
Intuitively, why would anyone need a REASON to be HAPPY? Why, the two together almost make a contradiction. Sometimes, I find myself grinning for no apparent cause whatsoever. When that happens, I just enjoy the emotion and feel that wonderful fuzzy feeling what it lasts. I don't NEED a reason to smile; heck, I don't WANT one. The feeling is enough for me. :D
2007-04-01 05:57:52 · answer #3 · answered by tigertrot1986 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I suppose the way you gotta look at it, or at least the way I do, is that you COULD be happy just for sake of being happy...
... however...
I would find that very hard. To sit and think, "hey! I should be happy! For no reason whatsoever!" isn't exactly human nature. We, as humans, react first and foremost to our surroundings.
Now, I'm not going to say that it's absolutely impossible to sit and, having nothing particularly on your mind, just happily smile to yourself. But I do know that if I was so see that person smiling, I would think "whoa, I wonder what they're thinking about?" Or perhaps, "Gee something great must have happened to him!"
So my answer to your question would be, yes, I do believe there is always a "reason" for anyone to be smiling. Whether it be because their crush brushed against them on their way to class, or the person is just thinking pleasant thoughts... maybe they're just happy to be alive! Who knows, but I would have to assume the person is at least thinking of something that makes them happy :D
Best of luck to you! And keep-a-smiling!
Anna :)
2007-04-01 05:49:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anna 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
personally i feel that being happy really depends on yoou.
you and you alone.
no one can make u unhappy or happy for that matter if you choose from within u to feel wuteva emotions it is tt ur feeling.
something tt happened could be unhappy,and this is inevitable in life(we all know,life has really many obstacles),but!,we could change the situation!even if the event was an unhappy one,as long as we can have that positive attitude,the attitude of daring to dream and challenge,than really,u will find a great difference in uyr mentality!
so really,
YOU DO NOT NEED A REASON!
nobody said it was a crime to smile for nothing at all! (:
2007-04-01 05:44:16 · answer #5 · answered by heyaryk 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe in cause and effect, so yes I believe that there is a reason behind every smile. No matter how subconscious the reason and effort for a smile may be, from my thinking it is ALWAYS an outcome of an event of some sort.
2007-04-01 06:16:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, happiness is dependant solely on your internal condition. Though external events may trigger internal experiences.
About smiling: Daisaku Ikeda, President of the Soka Gakkai International once said, "A smile is not the effect of happiness, but the cause of it."
I'll add only: try it, you'll see that you cannot feel bad when you smile.
2007-04-01 06:04:20 · answer #7 · answered by Jeanne B 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. There are somethings that we just have to do on our own. There are reasons that one is happy, but they shouldn't go out there and depend upon everyone else so that they can be happy.
2007-04-01 07:06:48 · answer #8 · answered by Laela (Layla) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This question begs one to ask, what is happiness? If happiness is emotional fulfillement and positive feelings, then, it would seem, that you would need something to cause your happiness. If happiness is conceived of as the realization of one's purpose, then the reason for your happiness is the fulfillment of the teleology of your nature. In this case, satisfaction in one's life would come once one knew the purpose of their existence, accepted such a purpose, and set about its fulfillment-- this would engender happiness.
2007-04-01 08:49:31 · answer #9 · answered by Timaeus 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the weak person make the situations control him so when something bad happens he become sad and when something good happens he become happy , but the strong person controls the situations when he is happy nothing bad would make him sad . so you have to control the situations and be happy all the time without a reason ;)
2007-04-01 06:45:05 · answer #10 · answered by Little princess 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's just up to you. It depends on your ABILITY to see the environment. Not environment itself. Don't waste your time trying to find a reason to be happy: most important thing is to find happiness inside yourself...
2007-04-01 06:14:38 · answer #11 · answered by Vera 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋