The Exceptional Happiness Ideas and Thinking Thread

[wayneL]

People interested in Happiness should investigate "Flow"

This occurs when you are doing something very interesting to you.
You become completely caught up in the moment.

I have experienced it a few times when doing a long distance bike ride.
Pushing myself a little bit to keep speed up with just a bit of pain.

A few minutes later I have had no thoughts and great feeling of euphoria.

That's endorphin.

Endorphins are endogenous opioid polypeptide compounds. They are produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in vertebrates during strenuous exercise,[1] excitement, pain, death, and orgasm,[2][3] and they resemble the opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia and a sense of well-being. Endorphins work as "natural pain relievers", whose effects may be enhanced by other medications.

 

[Sean K]

That's endorphin.

And known as 'runner's high'.

 

[tech/a]

People interested in Happiness should investigate "Flow"

This occurs when you are doing something very interesting to you.
You become completely caught up in the moment.

I have experienced it a few times when doing a long distance bike ride.
Pushing myself a little bit to keep speed up with just a bit of pain.

A few minutes later I have had no thoughts and great feeling of euphoria.

I hear you!

 

[Trevor_S]

Positive thinking can make things worse

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25726759-23109,00.html

Although positive thinking does appear to be effective when it's part of a broader program of therapy, on its own it tends to have the reverse effect of what it is supposed to do, said Dr Wood, urging self-help books, magazines and TV shows to stop sending a message that just chanting a positive mantra will raise self-esteem.

 

[RamonR]

It is not about the endorphins, but I couldn't rule out they play some part.

It is more about your whole concentration being directed towards something you find important.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology).

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

I do like this thread gals and guys,

Keep it up.

gg

 

[wayneL]

It is not about the endorphins, but I couldn't rule out they play some part.

It is more about your whole concentration being directed towards something you find important.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology).

OK gotcha. Endorphin definitely a part of what you describe, but understand what you are saying.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

OK gotcha. Endorphin definitely a part of what you describe, but understand what you are saying.

I must disagree.

As a sallow youth I spent 18 months living in Haight Asbury in San Fran.

I lived for the moment.

Sex drugs n rock n roll made me exquisitely happy.

As did being young.

Je ne regrete rien

I reckon now that I'm older that being young is the best basis for happiness.

As we age the sdnrnr becomes less of a palliative.

So happiness is for youth.

Contentment is for the rest of us.

gg

 

[wayneL]

I must disagree.

As a sallow youth I spent 18 months living in Haight Asbury in San Fran.

I lived for the moment.

Sex drugs n rock n roll made me exquisitely happy.

As did being young.

Je ne regrete rien

I reckon now that I'm older that being young is the best basis for happiness.

As we age the sdnrnr becomes less of a palliative.

So happiness is for youth.

Contentment is for the rest of us.

gg

I hear what your saying.

Again it depends on what we call "happy".

But I observe that those in middle age seem to be the most unhappy. Je ne regrete rien turns into status anxiety. If those in middle age can tame that particular beast, then there is a chance of being "happy" (as I understand happy, which may be akin to contentment).

I think there may be a chemical reason too. Serotonin (the happy hormone) seems to decline as we get older. In my own case I find that I certainly have to manage my mind more diligently than when young.

I can attain happiness (again my definition) when I have my favourite philiosophies to the fore. When I forget and allow everyday life to crowd those thoughts out, it's easy to slip into self pity and misery.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

I hear what your saying.

Again it depends on what we call "happy".

But I observe that those in middle age seem to be the most unhappy. Je ne regrete rien turns into status anxiety. If those in middle age can tame that particular beast, then there is a chance of being "happy" (as I understand happy, which may be akin to contentment).

I think there may be a chemical reason too. Serotonin (the happy hormone) seems to decline as we get older. In my own case I find that I certainly have to manage my mind more diligently than when young.

I can attain happiness (again my definition) when I have my favourite philiosophies to the fore. When I forget and allow everyday life to crowd those thoughts out, it's easy to slip into self pity and misery.

I can hear what you are saying and agree.

As our knee cartilages degenrate, so do our brains.

I'm unsure as to the evidence for lower serotonin levels in mid life, but I see no reason to doubt it.

I guess it comes back to what a poster above said about reality versus expectation.

I find that looking at my peers , the most happy folk are those whose reality exceeds their expectation and vice versa.

When you are young its all unmeasured expectation and happiness follows if reality concurs.

As one ages, with experience, the happy reverse the algorithm, adjusting their measured expectation downwards to reality, imperceptably.

Excuse the wordy response, but I've avoided comment on this topic as I'm a student of happiness.

gg

 

[wayneL]

I guess it comes back to what a poster above said about reality versus expectation.

I find that looking at my peers , the most happy folk are those whose reality exceeds their expectation and vice versa.

I think that's about the crux of it, in the main. Hence the difficulty for those of us who want to improve our reality.

It's difficult to work for a better reality while managing expectations. It's a bit of a dichotomy.

 

[Solly]

I must disagree.

As a sallow youth I spent 18 months living in Haight Asbury in San Fran.

gg

All the leaves are brown........??

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

I think that's about the crux of it, in the main. Hence the difficulty for those of us who want to improve our reality.

It's difficult to work for a better reality while managing expectations. It's a bit of a dichotomy.

Interesting.

I'll have to think and talk to garpaldog about it.

gg

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

All the leaves are brown........??

Solly mate,

You are evil.

Everyone on ASF thinks you are such a nice altruistic person.

lol

Yes my leaves are brown, la di da.

Aint life good, and wouldn't it be nice to do it all again.

gg

 

[Boyou]

Aint life good, and wouldn't it be nice to do it all again.

Hey GG ..this might ring your bell..don't know how to embed you tubes..so heres the link...our old buddies from the Angles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb6L0k-qZfw

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Aint life good, and wouldn't it be nice to do it all again.

Hey GG ..this might ring your bell..don't know how to embed you tubes..so heres the link...our old buddies from the Angles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb6L0k-qZfw

Thanks mate

I used believe in insurrection, now I believe in resurection.

gg

 

[Trevor_S]

I though this timely.

The New Economics Foundation, which compiled the Happy Planet Index

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/australia-not-home-to-the-good-life-20090706-da7b.html

If you want to live a good life, don't live in Australia

...

A British think-tank has ranked countries based on the environmental impact, happiness and life span of their people.

Australia has fared badly at number 102.

A very large ecological footprint - one of the worst of the 143 countries surveyed - is to blame for the poor result.