We saw the video: “Can Joy be taught?”
The speaker in a university professor who emphasises that happiness is important; students should develop habits that make them happy during their studies, and acknowledge it
We discussed the issue and found that happiness is difficult to define. It is a feeling, intangible, and can’t be forced. Happiness depends on time frames, “right now” or “later”, and on the impact that positive or negative events have on a person’s life.
Some of us felt that “confidence” and “contentment” are better stances to have in life.
Portuguese youngsters face many challenges in life: expensive housing, competition and other fear-driven feelings. But then, so did we (all older now) when we were young. Still, in the 70s, young people in Germany were optimistic (although the ware loomed large and gave the country a heavy burden of shame and guilt).
It is important to acknowledge happiness when it occurs, looking at the sky, a sunset, walks in nature etc.
Scientists said that happiness, is 50% based on the genes, 10% based on comfort (having the basic necessities guaranteed) and 40% on what the person does and likes. Many people do not like their jobs but they need to do them to earn their income.
Health and good sleep are important as well. Persons with chronic pain cannot be expected to be happy.
Science is trying to come up with ways to increase dopamine, the “happiness” chemical, in the brain. Hallucinogenics may create hallucinations but they also create happiness and can profoundly change a person’s life. They are now used to treat severe depression.
Money does not make us happy but it is needed to fulfil the basic needs. Rich people want more of it because they get a dopamine kick out of it.
The health industry is also offering more and more treatments against anxiety and ADHD, which means that more people need to be diagnosed with it, to sell them “medicine”. Social Media rides the wave too and induces youngsters to feel that they are a victim of this or that symptom or disease.
We discussed that holidays are important to keep people healthy and give them a change to review their situation in life. Nowadays, companies are aware that when the staff take their full holidays, they will incur less sick days later.
Bhutan measures a “Happiness index” instead of the GBP (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_National_Happiness
A person can decide to be happy (or more content and confident) and then strive to do things that have the effect. Anger can also be a feeling that, deep down, makes a person happy because he/she can be upset with somebody and vent frustration about other things. Sarcasm is not helpful.
Some people achieve happiness by pushing themselves through hardship (mountain climbing, biking across a continent etc.) There used to be a bus trip you could take from Cape Town to Cairo. Discomfort and hardship was included in the ticket. Nowadays, such a trip cannot take place any more because of the war in Sudan.
A story from C: A rich guy arrives at St. Peter’s in Heaven and asks him ”Are there any Golf courses here?” St. Peter says “Yes”, and takes him there. The man plays one round after another and the ball always ends up as a hole-in-one on each Green. After some time, the man goes to St. Peter and says: “I am a bit bored here, maybe I should be in a lower part of Heaven.” St. Peter says: “Oh, but you are, you are in Hell.”
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