What Does Your Happiness Depend On?
Contentment can come from a really close relationship
Infinite Joy, Unconditional Love, and Infinite Compassion - the REAL US.
Welcome to What Does Your Happiness Depend On?
A few minutes ago I signed up to a website called 'Making Australia Happy.' It's a brand new program which has commenced on the Australian Government's Channel, The Australian Broadcasting Commission or ABC. It is the first of its kind and I was fortunate enough to see it.
Why fortunate? Because it is a field I've been interested in for a long time now. And isn't it surprising? The most important thing in our lives - Happiness - and it's taken over fifty years of Australian Television programming before this one was brought on. Well, it's here, so there's hope for us yet.
Who Stole YOUR Joy of Life?
About twelve months back I wrote the text of a book: Who Stole Your Happiness -and how you can reclaim your rightful ownership. It was co-authored by my friend, Dr. YKK, who did the research on the scientific side of things. Frankly, I think it's a good read, but that is simply self-promotion. What I'm wondering is will the designers and producers of Making Australia Happy actually get into the real reasons for people's unhappiness - lack of self knowledge.
Happiness comes from contributing to the Common Weal.
How would you answer these questions?
At the beginning of our book, YKK and I ask the reader to answer five very simple questions with either a Yes or No answer. Those questions are:
1. Does your happiness depend on getting something?
2. Does your happiness depend on something happening to you?
3. Is your happiness dependent on a time-frame?
4. Do you think you have control over your happiness - or does it just happen?
5. Does your happiness depend on others?
At the end of our book we ask these same questions again.
You've seen enough? Then start looking inside.
The real test is an ongoing one - are you becoming steadily happier?
In the ABC's progam, Making Australia Happy, eight volunteers are being studied to see if the program to which they're being submitted will increase their levels of happiness. All were, at the beginning, below the mean average on the Happiness Index. They improved enormously in just one episode. One can only congratulate the people involved in the program for that. However, I think the real test will come from a measurement taken, say, two or three years AFTER the program is completed. If they have reversed back to their previous low level, then it the whole thing would have been done at a relatively superficial level, I think.
The essence of this is: Know Thy Self. Working towards this is the way to sustainable happiness. But I've said enough.
Comments
Great article, very thought prevoking.
Writing 5 things you are grateful for everyday for at least a month seems to really help one be happier. It helps you see the blessings in your life.
What does your happiness depend on...OMG...what a wonderful and thought-filled question. I think I have gone through all of the questions you asked in the section "How would you answer these questions". What I finally know for sure is.... I am happy when I have a good book to read. I am happy when I have a few hours of solitude. I am happy when I look into the smiling faces of my grandchildren. I am happy when I wake up to another day because I am still alive. I am happy when I can write about my experiences because that is when I can see my journey. I have reach the age where I don't have many moments of unhappiness...and wished that I'd come to this at 20 or 30 years old when happiness seemed so fleeting. Great hub...thank you for allowing my moment of reflection.
Happiness is being a penguin. Lynda
Great photos.
5