What is happiness?

Question

How do you know when you are happy? Can someone be sad and happy at the same time? Can they be angr and happy at the same time?

Answer 1

Each person defines happiness for themselves, and it takes many forms for each of us.

I was sad and happy at the same time when my husband died after a long and painful illness. I was sad to lose him but happy he was out of pain and my caregiving role was over.

I can't think of a situation where a person might be both angry and happy unless it is a person who gets some sort of pleasure out of expressing rage.

Answer 2

Yes you can be sad and happy at the same time. When a person is suffering from a terminal illness and if that person dies you feel happy that he is relieved from that pain but at the same time if he is someone very close to you, you feel sad.

Similarly you can be angry and happy at the same time based on the situation.


Happiness is an illusion that cheats you as you can not be happy all the time. It gives you some sort of temporary pleasure to your mind but in due course of time the same object of happiness become the cause of distress.

Sri Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita

matra-sparsas tu kaunteya
sitosna-sukha-duhkha-dah
agamapayino 'nityas
tams titiksasva bharata (BG 2.14)

"O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed"

Answer 3

I think there are 2 levels to being. There is an internal being and an external being. By this, I mean that someone can be happy in life, but upset at the time. Someone who is very happy with their life, may find out they get fired. Now, this may not destroy the person and cause them to be depressed internally. Therefore, they are just temporarily upset but happy in the long run. I think true happiness is just being content with your life.

Answer 4

Mortal happiness is correlated with endorphin (e.g. dopamine) levels and potentiation. Often, habituation occurs in a particular experience, then, less dopamine, thus less euphoria/happiness.

Meditation techniques regularly provide more nuanced awareness, higher wave states: http://www.yogananda-srf.org http://www.easwaran.org and "Meditation for Beginners," Jack Kornfield, Ph.D.

"Extraordinary Knowing," Dr. Elizabeth Mayer, "Watch Your Dreams," Ann Ree Colton, "Climb the Highest Mountain," Mark Prophet, "Man, Master of His Destiny," O. M. Aivanhov, "The Reincarnation of Edgar Cayce?", Free and Wilcock, are worthwhile.

Answer 5

happiness is relative... it doesn't necessarily have to be an over-the-top elated sort of happiness, but can be a more subtle sort of contentment. my definition of happiness lies more with the latter. that's why, for me, it IS possible to be sad and happy in the same instant--i may be sad about one particular incident in my life but am able to maintain the full knowledge that my life, for the most part, is good. and that's why my sadness and happiness are not mutually exclusive. the same goes for anger, and so on.

what kind of happiness do you judge your life by?

Answer 6

Well you are happy because you are feeling well emotionally
And yes you can be sad/angry adn happy at the same time but not at the same thing

Answer 7

wow! it sound like you might need help relating to what feeling you experience. i can not talk for everybody in the world but i can honestly say that it would be impossible for me to be sad and happy at the same time. thats wierd!

Answer 8

Happines is.... sitting at the beach, watching the sunset, with a long legged blond and a tall Campari and soda.

Answer 9

Crying/dying on the inside laughing/smiling on the outside...the code of the abused.

Answer 10

Happiness is a temporary illusion.