A concept of the meaning of happiness.....
Trust......everyone must at some time....felt that trust....from a friend...from a child..that undeniable feeling of being trusted....does this create happiness.....within you?
Brings to mind.....Patch Adams.........in one of his seminars First "do no harm" the patient gives the power to the doctor......he comes to the doctor in his moment of dread....why? because he trusts him - he trusts him to "do no harm"
No rational patient would put his trust in another human being.
We are all doctors.......at some time or another in our life we all have patients, sooner or later someone comes to us...and trusts us....they are hurt or hurting, by opening their pain and hurt to us.....they give us power....our words and actions can hurt or harm.
In the things that we do, we have the power to heal or do harm.
Parents - your children are your patients.
Teachers - your students are your patients.
Businessmen and women - your customers are your patients.
To those dating and married - the other person is your patient.
Friends - your friend is your patient.
Children (and we all are) - your parents are your patients.
Our neighbor is our patient.
Patch Adams......was known as the clown doctor
Humour helps because smiling and laughing triggers the secretions of morphine-like chemicals known as endorphins. Endorphins strengthen the immune system (responsible for fighting disease and enhancing recovery), reduce pain, and relaxes the body. Humour also works because it distracts people from their worries and pain and it restores perspective. Humour doesn’t alter the situation, but it helps you to cope.
Its nearly impossible to make someone feel happiness.....but we sure can make someone feel better which in turn can creates happiness within ourselves.!
My feeling is that happiness is a broader concept than pleasure. I do not see them as synonymous. One could have pain yet maintain their happiness but wouldn't the introduction of pain into an experience of pleasure eliminate its pleasing quality? Also, attaining pleasure requires action but I think Happiness can exist during inaction- more like a state of being (not doing).
you're happy when you know you are doing the right thing in life. you don't feel guilty. you didn't waste time. you got your education. none of this raskalikov guilt-trip. You feel comfortable with yourself. None of this 'Kant understand the definition'. You will know the good side from the bad, Skywalker...when you are calm.....no panic...no guilt. You are setting and reaching your goals. That SHOULD be happiness. You are excited about life and your potential. These, I agree, of course are particular ways of meeting happiness, and depends on historical context, where you live etc. Hey you might be a happy iraqi marksman. to each his own.