Why do anything if happiness comes from within?

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This topic has 8 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 10 months ago by belove.

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August 10, 2014 at 5:46 pm #63008

Michael
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I have a question that is causing me a lot of concern. I have a lot of ambition, not for material things or concerning relationships particularly. I strive to have an extraordinary life full of incredible and exciting experiences. I love travelling, last year just after I turned 19 I went to shanghai on my own for no apparent reason, just to do something out of the ordinary and extreme. I aspire to be a doctor and am travelling to Tanzania at the end of August to volunteer in a local hospital for a fortnight. I volunteer at my university’s first aid society. And I felt like I was on the right track for the extraordinary life that I want. I also enjoy going to the gym and power lifting, I plan to start painting again, join a band to make the most of my guitar playing abilities, and I also plan to start a YouTube channel. But I recently came across the idea that happiness comes from within, separate from external experiences or achievements. I find this very demotivating, as it means that in order to be happy, it doesn’t matter if I do all the things I like doing, and if happiness comes from within through things like meditation, then why do anything? I am now questioning if happiness is the most important thing in the world. Could someone please clear up if I’ve misinterpreted this information and clarify what it means.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

August 10, 2014 at 9:13 pm #63026

Matt
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Because happiness isn’t the end of the journey, its the beginning.

August 10, 2014 at 11:09 pm #63036

Ryan Viola
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You are right that happiness comes from within and meditation gives you the same but by doing things you like gives you feeling of satisfaction and indeed it results into happiness so keep on doing things that you like.

August 11, 2014 at 10:46 am #63113

Rose
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I’ve never thought about it that way before. Instead of asking why, ask why not? Why would you not still want to do all those things you planned to do? Do you worry that you will end up depending on your experiences to make you happy instead of letting your happiness come from within?

September 13, 2014 at 7:17 am #64826

Brad
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Hi Micheal. I think the idea that happiness comes from within is really about your attidude in life. In life you often don’t have control over what happens, but you do have control how you react to it and how you internalize the events of your life. You can control whether you have a positive attidude or a negative attidude and it is your state of mind that will bring you happiness in life. It comes from within.

October 22, 2014 at 6:45 pm #66662

Steve
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I’m with Brad….and to take it a bit further….
Happiness occurs as a by-product of working towards a goal, either your own or someone else’s.
Happiness doesn’t necessarily come from achieving that goal…but from working towards it. The events that happen on the way can provide all sorts of new directions and opportunities…but the trick is to start moving towards a goal…and see what happens.
From what you’ve said, you appear to be doing that. Enjoy the ride and don’t be afraid of detours!

October 27, 2014 at 8:14 am #66872

ren
Participant

from my tiny view, i heard that < happiness come from the your MIND >
maybe this is because we called it from within

one thing is good or bad,
you can DECIDE it 🙂

this person is good or bad,
you can CHOOSE your attitude or your thinking about him/her 🙂

this environment is nice or poor, you can CHOOSE to look at the bright side or the dark side 🙂

happiness also depends on how much Love that you GIVE to others and yourself in a
balance state 🙂

cheers! blessed you!! 😉

December 12, 2014 at 9:11 am #69161

Rock Banana
Participant

You do stuff, e.g. painting, playing football, because you enjoy it not because it “makes you happy”. Can’t you see the difference?

December 12, 2014 at 11:04 am #69171
belove
Participant
Michael,
You sound like an amazing person, especially at such young age. I am so happy for you.
In my understanding, the saying that happiness comes from within, is because you can’t find something outside that is not already in you.
The paper chase is the problem – when someone chases the next thing to make them happy and don’t find a way to enjoy the journey, they don’t feel happy when you reach the destination. If they found happiness, it’s temporary. Then another paper chase begins with the same result. The key is to find happiness in what you’re doing, which is what you’re super good at doing. Enjoy the ride my dear friend. It’s a lovely one.

“There is no path to happiness: Happiness is the path.” ~Buddha
“Happiness is the absence of striving for happiness.” ~Chuang Tzu
- This reply was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by tinybuddha.
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