Happiness as a By-Product of….What?

Those who follow me on Instagram saw this earlier today… but I felt to share it to a broader audience, and would enjoy reading your responses if you feel to share them.

Huxley suggests that,

“Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness, it is generally the by-product of other activities.”

Do you agree or disagree?  If you agree, as I happen too, then this question is what keeps coming to my mind.

What are the “other activities” that you engage in that produce “HAPPINESS” as a by-product?

My answer is – (in part) Creating meaningful connections with others, having rich experiences /meaningful memories with my family, and learning something new that is helpful seem to bring happiness as a by-product for me.

What about you?

  I want to hear from you…

Please share your answers in the comments on the blog site https://kirkweisler.com/thought-for-the-day/

Kirk Out

 

 

Comments

  1. Beverly (Bev) Baker

    I agree! We only achieve happiness when we are engaged in life and with others. If you invest nothing there is nothing to be gained. So I always invest in life, I take chances, I don’t care if I look silly or the fool from time to time. Without the risk, you might miss out on the fun!

  2. Leslie Trottier

    My book group is reading “The Book of Joy” by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu. The authors maintain that there are eight pillars of joy that are valid regardless of your life challenges. It is their stand that all humans deserve to be joyful. Those of us who are reading the book want to give a copy to everyone we know!

  3. Gardening is a great example of this. Many efforts are made to produce the bold blooms on a red geranium plant in a terra-cotta pot seated in the kitchen window. Sowing, watering, sunlight, fertilizer, transplanting, and trimming. Happiness is the by-product of these efforts. Same with the delicious taste of a caprese salad during the height of summer. Homegrown basil leaves with sliced tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette. Efforts to grow that basil and tomatoes. For someone the making of that mozzarella cheese and vinaigrette as well as the preparation of the salad takes time and effort. Happiness is the by-product.

  4. Daniel Murray

    I make other people happy because I take them off guard – when asked how I am doing, I respond with a resounding Most Excellent – sometimes there is a look of confusion on their faces, but then it brings a smile to their face because it is something they did not expect to hear.

  5. Katie

    Hi – I receive your emails, and I navigated all the way over here to comment on today’s T4D because I came across an article on Facebook this morning and actually shared it on my own page:
    http://www.theplaidzebra.com/why-we-should-all-be-practicing-friluftsliv-norways-philosophy-of-getting-back-to-nature/
    My answer to your question, for me, is “friluftsliv”. Being in nature with my dogs is what makes me happy, and I try to do that every day. I always knew that my Norwegian blood flows strongly in me 😉
    I’m an introvert. Being in nature with my dogs is my happy place. Oh how different people are, hey?
    Thanks for your inspiring posts/emails. I’ll look you up on IG.

  6. Marria McGee

    I think I disagree, Kirk. I believe that happiness is a choice. I choose to be happy. I choose the way that I view events that happen (good or bad) and make a choice in how I react to that event. That said, of course, I think I can have an influence on the things that happen in my life by creating meaningful connections or having rich experiences — but that is no guarantee for happiness. Happiness has to come from within. Thanks for the opportunity to share my thoughts! 🙂

  7. Chris Burch

    I definitely agree! Especially in regard to “activities” of cognition and attention – that is, keeping one’s mind focused on true and meaningful priorities which can lead to sheer joy, even during times when happiness seems no where to be found.

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