Many people believe that the most important reason to live is to be happy. However, happiness differs among everybody, as different things make different people happy. So my question to you is what makes you happy? How can happiness be achieved? Are you happy? (please be as thorough in your explanation as you'd like).

Happiness is complete Awarness and the intention to make ones actions as noble as possible within reason.

but people have a lot of different reasons to know what living is for..... you should find your own reason on living and stick with it. while not having to believe what other people believe it's to be... you won't learn anything that way or be able to find out the own meaning of it in your own way. unless if you do it yourself. cause it means something different to everybody and on so many different levels.

though it can take a while or even longer then that... on having to know if you are happy and how to achieve it.... i think i'm still messing around the happiness system. i know i'm happy about a couple of things... but i have other different emotions as they tend to get in the way....

Nicely said , I agree !

I've been thinking about it some more . . .
I think it's difficult to explain . . . the concept of happiness ,
it's something different for everyone .
Kendra is right by saying that you should find your own reason for living , your own happy place . . .
( stupid word I know , I feel like a shrink now )

And it's true sometimes other things get in the way . . . I know from experience . . . but hang in there you'll find it eventually
It's not always going to be easy but it will make you grow as a person .

of course. i mean time it doesn't stop, pause, or break... time keeps on going as we keep on going and the world still turns... for us to get how we should get on being happy. people can go their own pace and it's not a race.... wow that so rhymed! anyway... haha i made myself laugh...
so yeah like diva said eventually it would be found... *nods head*

Happy is the opposite of upset. The part in the middle is contentment.

What is happiness?

For me it is something that cannot exist without unhappiness, one gives the other meaning as without the other they are essentially abstract terms - you define one in opposition to the other. That’s not to say I need equal amounts of happiness / unhappiness in my life, but rather that I just try and accept that both are part of the process of living. There was an Orwell quote which said something like, “Men can only be happy when they do not assume the object of life is happiness”, which I like. I also think its especially pertinent in modern times were the main injunction seems to be to “enjoy life” to “have a good time”. There is nothing more oppressive (or depressive) that the expectation to be happy. I try not to expect it as an absolute - something I must have ALL of the time - but appreciate it when I find it in places here and there...

Anyhows, that’s not really answering the question. For me happiness comes from relationships, attachment, acceptance, play, creativity, and spontaneity - I still don't really know what it is, although I'm tempted to say there is something essentially child-like in it.

*sighs, shakes head, and walks away*

Thanks everybody! Any other opinions on happiness?

If Charles Shulz is to be believed, happiness is a warm puppy. Though he never qualified on that as far as I know, so that could lead to some unfortunate interpretations for the puppy.

besides i also don't think that people are never truly happy. until they are much older and have a lot of experiences with just about anything and everything as well as having to have a lot of lessons learned with in their own existance of living. by then they are pretty much filled with less worry and confusion about things all around them. to where they seemed to be really settled with themselves. if you like at most old people and that is the keyword i said most you would probably see what i mean. but this is what i think and you don't have to go by it only besides this is what i think or feel. remember you do that for yourself and not to go by anyone else. because you are going by what they are feeding on to you. you won't know until you go by yourself on things...

What about being high and getting great sex? That isn't a happy time? The more deviant the better...

Getting high means I might lose my job. Having great sex means I'm only getting older. HOW THE FUCK IS THAT HAPPINESS?!

happiness is an illusionary state, that i do not believe is something humans can possibly achieve, it goes against our natures.

people can find a level of happiness, but it never stays; there's always something there to gnaw at it, pick at it and eventually make your happiness sort of hollow...what would make a person happy?

only they can decide if they're happy, as for noble intentions and aware of what?

say someone gets complete happiness in murdering another person or taking advantage of others yielding financial placation, there's oodles of non noble pursuits that can make people happy...not all people, but happy people don't care about other people.

what is necessary to be aware of to be happy, that would suggest that a person would know for sure what makes them happy...if that was in humanities capabilities, there'd be a lot less...malfunctioning people in this world, often times when a person thinks they found what should be the epitome of their happiness, it quickly fades and becomes a bored contentment.

happiness is a double edged sword.

I think youve touched on existentialism. create your own happyness based on your beliefs.. of course you cant do everything you want or your probibly get arrested.. to be happy, identify what you want and take it

I don't know what the depressing chaps above are banging on about, I'm always happy! But, I don't think there's a true answer to the question this thread asks. If you're happy, just be glad you're happy - don't question it !!!

Yes, smile and be content with understanding less of life.

I will never understand all these people walking around in black pretending they are depressed. They're all middle classed little rich boys & girls simply conforming to a modern phase. The MTV generation - 'It's cool to pretend you're depressed'.