Why pursue happiness?

[Impenitent]

why pursue happiness?

it beats chasing your tail...

then again...

-Imp

[Walker]

To be happy, we do all sorts of things. We lie, steal, cheat, betray, hoard, overeat, overwork, overspend, and do all sorts of illegal, violent, unhealthy, self-destructive, immoral, antisocial, psychopathic things. Then we get frustrated. Instead of trying to be happy, why don't we just perform a task for its, own sake, do the right thing, pursue meaning, engage in worthwhile tasks, be good. When tempted to eat a donut, we may just to ourselves, "I don't want to be happy."

If happiness is not our goal, we will eliminate frustration, depression, anxiety, and all those emotional problems associated with trying and failing to be happy.

Good observation.

From another angle:

If by doing one discovers that doing the things listed doesn’t make happiness, then don’t do those things and see if that makes happiness. The guide to not doing is, “First, do no harm.”

In the long run, doing no harm makes the unharmed one happier than if you did do harm, and as the song says, when you make someone happy then you will be happy, too.

When not doing causes harm, then intelligence comes into play in the sense that one must draw the line between truth and necessary pain, as another song says.

[DPMartin]

To be happy, we do all sorts of things. We lie, steal, cheat, betray, hoard, overeat, overwork, overspend, and do all sorts of illegal, violent, unhealthy, self-destructive, immoral, antisocial, psychopathic things. Then we get frustrated. Instead of trying to be happy, why don't we just perform a task for its, own sake, do the right thing, pursue meaning, engage in worthwhile tasks, be good. When tempted to eat a donut, we may just to ourselves, "I don't want to be happy."

If happiness is not our goal, we will eliminate frustration, depression, anxiety, and all those emotional problems associated with trying and failing to be happy.

without getting complicated, living is basically seeking the fulfillment of desire. could be hunger or that new beamer or that fine young lady, or an empathy for the poor and helpless, take care of the family, yada yada. now what set of rules one is in agreement to (morals), to accomplish that, is the question.

[jayjacobus]

Needs take precedent over happiness.

Once that's done, do what you enjoy.

Watch the sunrise, have a cup of coffee, hug someone, watch a movie ..............................

That should make you happy without having to chase after it.

[RCSaunders]

Needs take precedent over happiness.

Once that's done, do what you enjoy.

Watch the sunrise, have a cup of coffee, hug someone, watch a movie ..............................

That should make you happy without having to chase after it.

Think. Someone who wants nothing needs nothing. A need presumes some objective, purpose, or end for which a thing is required to achieve or secure. Until something is desired, there is no need. What would it be needed for?

[Don't say one needs something to live. Not everyone wants to live. Desire always precedes need.]

As an aside, if one does not want to be happy, they really don't need to do anything. Misery and suffering are the defaults of not seeking happiness. The worst things in life, poverty, disease, and ignorance, are free. Everything else, wealth, health, and knowledge, require hard work and learning.