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Apr 10, 2009 1:01:40 AM
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Happiness, in my view, is not a simple binary state (I am happy/I am not happy). For genuine happiness (as opposed to temporary gratification) to be realized requires a confluence of factors that need to be in reasonable equilibrium: health; material security; loving others and a sense of that love being returned; a feeling of trust in humanity in general; a sense that the world is essentially a good place; a confidence in justice both promised and fulfilled; the availability resources by which to grow and contribute meaningfully to others; a resilience that comes from overcoming fears (that it's OK to make a mistake, to work through a limitation or deal with an actual or anticipated loss).
Naturally, no one person is likely to be blessed with the full endowment all of these factors, and the degree to which we are shifts with the stages of our lives and circumstances.
The obvious answer as to why people are unhappy would be to posit that whenever we are below a certain threshold in all of the abovementioned factors, we are proportionately unhappy. It may be, however, that a even surfeit in one or more of these areas, accompanied by a paucity in others, can lead to disproportionate unhappiness. In the United States, many material needs are readily met even among those with middling incomes, but these material comforts may not be fulfilling if they are obsessively indulged or used to replace or avoid close relationships. A recent poll (I can't remember the name of the poll) showed that many people feel they have no one to confide in -- this disconnectedness, I would suggest, is a deficit in happiness that cannot be compensated for even by health, safety or material success.
A different example: I have read reports of people who despite sickness or permanent injury had found deep meaning and tranquility in other areas of their lives that helped override the suffering of physical impairment. If we examine our own acquaintances, we can all probably identify and contrast someone who "has it bad" but remains sanguine and confident with another acquaintance who seems to "have it all" but is overwhelmed by emotional or spiritual problems.
To give yet another example, if people feel a prevailing sense of injustice in the world, and they feel helpless to stop it, they may pull away from engagement with the world, thus increasing their isolation. Or they may feel that the injustice will eventually engulf them and take what little they have, which can cause deep anxiety. When people feel relatively certain of receiving fair treatment and feel trust in friends, family, neighbors, then the absence of isolation and helplessness translates to increased happiness.
Happiness is not just the fleeting sensation that arises when we are having a good time; happiness or lack of happiness underpins our lives or periods in our lives when we either are in equilibrium with ourselves and others, or not.
This is a very interesting question and an important one as happiness is more and more being seen as a universal human right. Of course, a trauma either in childhood or at any point in life can disrupt the equilibrium that brings about happiness and the effects of this disruption can last a long time; without help and support, the effects may damage the person's ability to be happy permanantly. What is paradoxical and worth noting is that there are some individuals who have attested that periods of trial or struggle which at the time were sources of unhappiness became sources of strength that formed the foundations for later happiness.
Not an easy question to answer. Thank you for posing your question and for reading my rather long-ish reply.
by jas.walz
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