Because emotions aren't an exact science, do we really know how to be happy? Is being happy something we fleetingly come in and out of?
Being happy is innate
Some of us may automatically know what it means to be happy, it may take others time to find out. Being happy is innate, it comes from within us. If it's not obvious, it is important to dig deep.
Our past dictates how happy we will be
We may not all feel the same emotions associated with our past, but it is usually our past that dictates how happy we feel; two people may lose a loved one and will experience different emotions associated with their loss. Because experiences are based on the past, it is not always easy to know how we will feel after any new experience.
Blocking out our emotions
We may block out our emotions and may deny that we have issues. We may also convince ourselves and others that we're happy, that there is nothing wrong. What we unconsciously have yet to deal with, can make a difference between us being happy, or sad.
Predisposition to depression
If someone in the family has a predisposition to depression, the odds are we can too, but if we understand why someone has depression then we may turn things around for ourselves. A lot of it is down to our perceptions on our understanding.
Avoiding predispositions
There are predispositions that can be avoided, but it is important to know how to avoid them. Being happy is something we need to work on. Happiness is never a quick fix. Retail therapy doesn’t work. There are only so many frocks you can buy.
As I continue to work on my emotional and spiritual health, I have days where I change how I feel about what I’m dealing with, but even with what I get to deal with and through my beliefs, for the most part I am happy.
I think we all come from different backgrounds and how we re-act to different circumstances is different. What causes stress in one person's life may not even bother the other person.
I also think that how we are raised has a lot to do with how we perceive our circumstances. I don't think the answer to one person's problems is always the answer to another person's problems.
How you handle one situation doesn't always work for another.
Of course what you say is completely true. As individuals We need to know what works, so that we can concentrate on what makes us happy at the end of the day.
I think Lisa is right; our feelings and how we react to situations and circumstances is very much determined by our experiences.
Having said that, I also believe that we can change the way we respond and try to respond positively.
This is the key of course. Initially our experiences do shape our world and does become part of our past, but there is no reason why we have to stay living in the past and blaming our behavior on our experiences.
Anyone can change the way they respond. I am living proof of having achieved it. It can be done.