Perhaps Venlafaxine Can Talk? Naw, It's Just Me.

[nfotxn]

A long while ago I came something of a cathartic realization that happiness is a choice. Which is all well and good, but here's the kicker: it's dependant on other choices you make. Happiness, or overall state of mind or that matter, certainly isn't a fish that you can catch but more so a culmination of all the things you've done.

As best as I can tell I personally derive my positive moods from the things that I do and how well I do them. Fortunately I'm not naturally maligned or at least my mind employs mechanisms to prevent me from following that path in a form of depression.

Now there's a narrative here that I'm not going to tell because I frankly don't want to tell the world. But the end result seems to be more self-realization.

Living an observed life as per usual.

Comments

[martyzilla.livejournal.com]

There's a great li'l book you may want to see if you can find: "Happiness Is A Choice" by Barry Neil Kaufman. New it's only $8.50 but I'm sure www.Half.com or www.eBay.com would have it cheaper. It's a good read for reinforcing on what you posted here ...

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

I keep meaning to take a look at that book.

Infact I keep meaning to take a look at a lot of books! But that's an entirely different matter :)

I'm gonna read some reviews. Danke!

Re:

[martyzilla.livejournal.com]

I came away from the book with some valuable lessons - I haven't quite put them into my life just yet, but at least they're kickin' around my head.

And I think I'm with you on 'meaning to' with books - if there were time to read every book that I want to read, my life would stretch over at least a millenium.

[poetofthewyrd.livejournal.com]

So, she understands.

And she thought she should say so, just in case.

[mrx88.livejournal.com]

How true man.

How I understand this, with my own experiences, is that when you create something, whether it being visually (such as drawings, etc), musically or abstractly (best example I can think of is coding programs), you get some kind of a high off of it – at least I do. It makes me feel good thus my mood, like you said, will echo with how I feel about that accomplishment. Being somewhat of a perfectionist, I strive to create things that are original and different from everybody else's, which is sometimes really hard to accomplish. I know it may sound weird... Anyways, in my case what would happen is I would create stuff one after the other (somewhat on a groove for a few weeks or months) and I'd be very content for a little while. When I would hit a void, in other words, no more inspiration to create stuff, and I would automatically get off that 'high' and I would feel miserable. Don't ask me why, I'm still trying to figure that part out.

At the moment, I'm trying find other stuff that makes me fell good, outside of the creativity department. For me, it's been hard to actually balance things out and finding just that but I guess with time, it will come. A few months ago, going to the gym helped me a lot, and as of late, taking part into divers activities such as soccer and football does too.

I won't bore you much longer because I could go on and on. :P Maybe I'm way off, but from what I could understand, I can relate. Just thought I'd share my views. :o)

Have a good one man.

[cub4bear.livejournal.com]

How come you're choosing not to be happy?

I dislike the use of the word "choice," especially the way you use it here. Happiness is not "choice." That's really simplistic.

Everyone develops ways to cope with bad situations; the problem is that one's tools for coping don't change as quickly as bad situations do. When new situations arise and ones tools for coping with them no longer work, the result is NOT happiness. At the very least, it's frustration. More often it's depression.

How one copes (or at least most of it; the bulk is really learned in childhoold and young adulthood) is not learned on a conscious level. Tell me, how often have you run away from a problem rather than confront it (and yes, you have -- everyone has)? How often have you thought "Wow, I'm under a lot of stress because of _______. I'll just do my best to avoid it!"

Was how you reacted in that situation really a "choice" in the sense that you use the word "choice?" Did running away from your problems make you happy? Did your happiness or lack of happiness result from a "choice" that you made?

Of course how we cope can be changed, but it takes a lot of self-knowledge, something most people don't have. That's what therapy is supposed to help with.

[theotherqpc.livejournal.com]

creation is the result of synthesis of two or more things - perhaps sperm and ova, or perhaps ethereal thought and thangible action. i'd say happiness is a non-physical orgasm (i really must stop using that oxymoron)

...and now i have Our Lady Peace in my head

[brianrdu.livejournal.com]

"Living an observed life as per usual."

Maybe we should form a club or something?

Depends on...

[(Anonymous)]

I think everything depends on you and what you want, life can be very sweet man. But everything depends on you... *wink*

:: n33o ::
Montreal

[sunflower1969.livejournal.com]

I have similar epiphanies intermittently, but unfortunately they fade. I'd really love to believe that happiness is a choice. Because who would choose to be unhappy? But I think a lot of it is biochemical -- something you don't have that much control over. I started taking antidepressants because I had no energy and didn't really care about anything, and there was absolutely tangible identifiable thing wrong with my life - nothing at that point that I wouldn't have chosen (happy relationship, good job, etc.) The antidepressants changed that to a large extent (though they fucked other things up, but that's another story). I think, however, that you can choose to be *less* unhappy, even if you are someone who suffers by depression, by sort of kicking your own ass and getting out of what is directly bringing you down. So if you get joy from doing things (whatever they are) well, and that's the way to kick your own ass, more power to you. :)