Also, because I need to think this thought more often, and writing it down helps for that

[godream]

Dear Self:

Happy is something you achieve, not something you are given. Nobody is going to bring it to you on a plate. It probably wouldn't be satisfying if they did anyways. You build it yourself, and that's not a bad thing.

You deserve it (really! yes you do!) and there is nothing wrong with pursuing it.

Love,
Self

Comments

[shaktool.livejournal.com]

Actually I have a third perspective on happiness: “Happiness Is a Journey, Not a Destination.”

[godream.livejournal.com]

Fair enough! Still fundamentally active, though, no?

[rifmeister.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[I used to go to this dance class called floor barre. The teacher was super supportive. As you were doing something he would say "Yay, yay, yay, yay... even yayer!"

[godream.livejournal.com]

:) !

[kaigex.livejournal.com]

While it is surely something achieved and seldom given, I tend to find happiness comes most readily as a side effect of pursuing things of deep passion/interest, or of interacting with those that inspire or are inspired by self, but is as allusive as a summer morning's mist if chased directly. It typically hides in corners and crevices between mundane moments, wrapped snuggly in gossamer melodies, awaiting a breath, a touch, or some secret trill to draw it forth.

[godream.livejournal.com]

but you are still pursuing -- the more I think about this the more I think the active-not-passive part is what I've been coming up with entirely too many Perfectly Reasonable And Mature reasons not to follow up on.

[flexagon]

Nice insight! It's definitely active-not-passive.

As the book I lent will say at some point, a lot of happiness comes from steering the little boat of your life, and surprisingly not so much from where you steer it to. (Then it also says nobody believes that last part. Ha.)

Speaking of which, should I say sorry for replying to a 4-line post by handing you a book? I guess that was a little heavyweight as replies go. :)

[godream.livejournal.com]

you absolutely should not say sorry, i am on page 78 and loving it. ;) thanks!

[kaigex.livejournal.com]

It's a shame they say nobody believes the last part. I surely do. It's like mountain climbing - eventually, all the views from the top look a bit similar, but for those that keep hiking anyways, that isn't really the point in the climb. Still, I may want to borrow said book when you get it back.

[kaigex.livejournal.com]

Ahh, yes. I suppose in line with the journey comment above and steering comment below, there is pursuit inherent in the choosing of the routes even if one isn't so concerned with the destination, so I do indeed agree with the active-not-passive sentiment. Perfectly Reasonable and Mature^TM reasons not to do things are all kinds of dangerous; they're like those big stone heads in Labyrinth that warn you away from the most interesting paths.