How can you be happy?

Question

Just watched an absolutley distressing video of a beheading in iraq.

I then got to thinking about all the bad stuff that happens in the world, like wars, child molesting & murder.

How can you go on feeling good about life, when you know stuff like this goes on in the world?

I'm supposed to go on travelling soon, and I feel as if the world is such a horryfing place that I shouldn't risk it.

Answer 1

The world is still a beautiful place. 99% of people are predominantly good. There are some bad people in the world, but they get a lot of publicity which makes it seem as there are more of them than there actually are. Enjoy your travels. You will meet many wonderful people, provided that you are not too cynical.

Answer 2

First off, there is really no point in watching anything that makes you uncomfortable, understandably, a beheading would do that to anyone with a soul.
Second, yes bad things happen in the world, and many times they are beyond our control. You just have to be careful, not fearful but careful.
Third, there are many ways to feel good about life. Take 20 minutes each day to just stare out a window or people watch or meditate. Clear your mind of extraneous thoughts, let the bad thoughts and negative pass as if they were on a conveyor belt.
Fourth, the way to be happy, in conjunction with the first three suggestions, is to keep on living and not let anyone scare you into not doing what you want and going where you want. Don't let them take away your liberty and sense of self. That's what they want, don't let them win! Be strong and carry on, look over your shoulder every so often, but keep that chin up!

Answer 3

I have just been reading about the second world war.There were some terrible things happening, people didn't even know if they had a future, but they didn't give up, the human spirit is wonderful, people rise above all the horrors and press on. Basically people are good and friendly.

Yes you will see and hear of horrible things from time to time. Then again people are giving their lives to raise funds, fight disease, work towards the peace process with little thanks, but they carry on asking little reward

You have to make up your own mind to whether you have courage to travel, but if you do go, I am sure you will make some lovely friends.

I have spent a week helping students through an unhappy time, because of the shootings in America, and yet these students live in England. People care about each other, doesn't that tell you there are many more wonderful people than there are bad?
Take heart, and move on,it doesn't mean you have forgotten those who suffer, but instead are aware of them and care.

Answer 4

The key to being happy in such a cruel and unfair world around you is to focus on the good things in life, don't let the bad things get in the way of the beautiful. You don't have to be afraid to travel, try to go out with an open mind and you'll be pleasantly surprised. There are far more good things in life than bad.

Answer 5

What good does being scared, or sad about those events do? It changes nothing. It doesn't bring back the dead or stop the violence.

Any feeling person is going to hate that such things happen in this world, but that doesn't stop them. People are happy because they choose to be...they are happy they are alive, have the health that they do, their basic needs are met, they do fun things, etc.

If you fear travelling, then don't go. Are the risks where you are going worth the loss of pleasure in the trip?

Bad things happen everywhere. We don't live in a bubble where we are protected. I hate the horrible things that happen to the world, but I cannot allow those things to keep me from being happy about my life and my personal world. There's no point in that.

Answer 6

You can be happy by focusing on the good things in life and showing gratitude for having good things happen to you. When you focus on bad things you give those bad things more power than they need. You end up becoming inundated by all the bad stuff and end up depressing yourself and becoming miserable.

Focus on good things, the world is not all a bad place. If you want to travel do so. Otherwise, you'll just be limiting your experience of life. Life is meant to be enjoyed to the full.

Answer 7

You just get on with it. It all gets bit a pointless otherwise. Remember that you are not a murderer/child molester/warmonger and be happy about that. Also, try to focus more on the plus side of life than the minus. Yes all these things are happening. They happened before you were here and they will happen after. Use what they make you feel rather than letting it beat you.

Answer 8

It's called; "Man's inhumanity toward man."

It is common these days no matter where you go...

It exists because people would rather group and judge and stone others rather than allow themselves to see the faults and be honest about the potentality in their own soul.

Hence Dateline... The houses they set up to catch a preditor... Look how many of them there are... these are usually the same kinds of men who would beat another man to death for hurting or exploiting a " little child." But do not see anything morally wrong with doing it themselves, because their morality has dictated to them that a teenager is different from a little child... or they rationalize it telling themselves that the teenager "wanted it." so that made it okay for them to do...

Both types are wrong... but it takes getting caught and punished to actually realize that there is no difference between them and that all of it is terrible and exploitive.

Some of these men were physicians and military men! Sworn to both heal and protect...

That is how life works these days... unfortunately.

and wars over religious differences have always and always will be about anything but... From the time when Jesus was crucified... Religion was never about anything other than pollitical and social control.

Men like to group and classify themselves to ameloriate themselves... Neither kind of killing, for either reason is right.

The US soldiers are defending our country by murder and the terrorists are defending theirs by murder and the true reason is commerce, trade and oil. all carefully tucked into the guise of religious differences and politics.

Truth is truth... No one wants to see it. Just bend it to their own reasoning, perspective and rational. Which makes it relative at best and useless if you ask me.

"Remove the plank in your own eye so that you can see clearly enough to point out the splinter in the eye of another."

Answer 9

Every act of kindness makes the world a better place - go on your trip and be the answer to all the wrongs in the world - before you know it you will have gone from being the candle that that leads the world out of darkness to being part of the light of the brightest sun - representing the power of all those who were touched by you and followed your path

Answer 10

Happiness comes from within and not from external things and it's a choice. You can focus on all the bad things, all the negativity whatever. Whatever you focus on there you'll be . Or you can choose to focus on positive things on beautiful wildlife, incredibly kind people wherever you go, the fun of the journey. It's up to you.

The world is a pretty horrifying place but on the opposite , it's also pretty beautiful and wonderful and miraculous. Choose happiness and positivity and being proactivity, but the choice is ultimately your's.