Hi -
Firstly, I think before we talk about 'how to be happy', we need to define more precisely what we mean by happiness, as the word has a very broad meaning. I think we need to distinguish between the following 4 axis (at least):
‘Aroused’ compared to ‘unaroused’ happiness – or ‘intense, excited peak experience’ happiness compared to calm, contented happiness.
Immediate ‘in the moment happiness’ compared ‘reflective’ happiness – or felt happiness right now compared to our analysis of how happy we are in general.
Happiness as pleasure compared to ‘eudaemonic’ happiness – Or happiness derived from immediate gratification compared to the happiness we derive from striving and possibly suffering to achieve our potential.
Egocentric notions of happiness compared to egoless ideals of happiness – or the happiness derived from ‘gratifying myself’ compared to happiness derived from losing myself.
Personally the only happiness I'm interested in is unaroused, reflective, eudamonic, egoless happiness...
To be fair most of your list is conducive to achieving these things, some aren't.
Secondly, massive lists of 50 things certainly don't make me happy - I find massive lists quite lazy, you should make more effort to reduce, reduce and reduce, developing some more general categories AND some reference to how you've made your selections.
By all means include the original 50 and show us how you narrowed them down.
Cheers medeers, and here's hoping you're dwelling in meaningful happiness!
We all view happiness differently, Thank you for sharing your viewpoint. They are very interesting and useful. This is what i read from this book. I am sure that this isn't all that makes a person, there're so many things that can simple makes a person happy. The point is remembering to be happy and have that big beautiful heart open to receive it. :)