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Original poster

What’s it like to be happy?

10 replies

ClemDanFango · 19/10/2019 13:34

I’ve never truly been happy my entire life through childhood, teen years, my twenties.
I’ve had happy times here and there but never had long lasting overall happiness and I just wondered what that feels like in a wistful sort of way?
If you do have lasting happiness what’s it like?!

OP posts:

Original poster

ClemDanFango · 19/10/2019 14:07

and so my unlucky steak continues....

OP posts:

Waxonwaxoff0 · 19/10/2019 14:15

I have been pretty happy for the past 5 years. A couple of blips here and there. I have very little stress. Good family, good social life, good health, a happy son, a job I enjoy, don't worry about money much (I'm not well off at all but I can pay the bills plus afford a few luxuries and I'm content with that).

It's good but I don't really talk about it because I have so many friends and family members who aren't happy and they don't want me going on about how good things are.

Some people don't believe me either as I'm single and people find it hard to believe that I'm happy without a partner!

This sounds so corny but my favourite part of the day is when I'm cooking dinner for me and DS. I put on my favourite music, sing along while I cook and those are the moments where I feel so grateful for my life.

Original poster

ClemDanFango · 19/10/2019 17:21

That sounds so lovely, it must be wonderful to feel so content with your life in a ‘just the way it is’ kind of way and your example isn’t corny at all!

OP posts:

RONNIETRIX · 19/10/2019 19:25

This post breaks my heart.
Have you had counselling ? Tried all the methods available to you to make you more content?
Remember 'happiness is fleeting and no-one is happy all the time but neither should anyone be unhappy all the time.
I know this sounds silly but There dies also come a time when you need to decide to be happy. It's hard but give urself a break u deserve to be happy.
I really wish u the best

Oblomov19 · 19/10/2019 19:32

I haven't been happy since something bad happened to me/us 6 years ago. It still has a dramatic effect on our lives every so often.
Plus I've been ill.

Original poster

ClemDanFango · 19/10/2019 19:40

RONNIETRIX please don’t feel sorry for me, I’m fine and wasn’t looking for sympathy.
I accept my life as it has been and is at the moment, that’s doesn’t mean things won’t change for me in the future. I’ve just had shit circumstances more often than not but that doesn’t mean I always will, there are many years left for me to find real happiness.

OP posts:

Timeless19 · 19/10/2019 19:41

I don’t think we should strive for happiness when actually being content is a much more balanced achievable emotion.

I am a very grateful person, I count my blessings, I feel lucky for what I have and thus content.

There have been times in my life when I have compared myself to others, seen what is lacking in my life and felt jealous and crap about it. Not great emotions but they made me realise what was missing from my life and make changes to improve my lot.

Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be content/happy but I think it does mean enjoying and being grateful for what you have and taking steps to make it even better.

Charley1988 · 19/10/2019 20:35

When you feel delighted on waking up in the morning

Wren77 · 19/10/2019 20:43

For me it's knowing that I am achieving my potential - for most of my adulthood I did unskilled jobs due to a bit of disastrous educational experience and doing badly in exams (crushing shyness/ bullying etc) I went back to education when I turned 40 and I am finally doing the job of my dreams, we are not rich, hardly even comfortable but I have everything I ever dreamed about and despite the fact we are going through a sad/ worrying time at the moment I am full of gratitude for the life I have and that makes me happy.

surlycurly · 19/10/2019 20:46

I'm rarely happy. If I am it lasts an hour, maybe more but no more than a day. I have never had a 'happy' period in my life either. I am ASD and don't fit in with other people. I am happy usually when I'm alone and doing something I like but I only ever get a few snatched hours here and there of that, generally when I'm pulled back into the world I feel pressured, anxious and harassed. I've had a considerable amount of trauma over the past 10 yrs or so too and that doesn't help either. I feel like I'm always waiting for the next thing to go wrong. Don't get me wrong, I never give up, and I have pockets of pure joy and contentment but they are fleeting. I don't think I'll ever be really happy.

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