Happiness

[bpcw]

Connectedness

When you read the story of the New Testament Church, you tend to get caught up in its explosive growth and amazing miracles. But here’s a component you shouldn’t miss: ‘No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had…There were no needy persons among them…those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money…and it was distributed to anyone who had need’ (vv. 32-35 NIV).

You say, ‘If I just had more money I’d be happy.’ You might feel more secure and have fewer worries, but you wouldn’t necessarily be happier. In the Journal of Happiness Studies, researchers looked at what distinguished quite happy people from less happy people. One factor consistently separated those two groups. It’s not about how much money you have; it’s not about your health, security, attractiveness, IQ, or career success. What distinguishes consistently happy people from less happy people is the presence of rich, deep, joy-producing, life-changing, meaningful relationships.

Social researcher Robert Putnam writes: ‘The single most common finding from a half-century’s research on life satisfaction, not only in the U.S. but around the world, is that happiness is best predicted by the breadth and depth of one’s social connections.’ But you can know a lot of people without really being known by any of them, and end up lonely. Those people in the New Testament Church got it right: it’s in sharing with one another spiritually, emotionally, financially, and relationally that you achieve your highest level of joy.

[harryg]

If you visit a poor country, it's always an eye-opener to see children laughing their heads off, running around enjoying themselves playing football or cricket, often without a proper football or cricket ball. The idea that one needs money to result in happiness is clearly a false one.

Personally I do not believe that the pursuit of money is a worthwhile primary goal, nor that having loads is necessary to be 'happy'. However, living in our society, having some certainly makes it easier. That might seem like a facetious remark but I mean it sincerely.

And the info on social connections is most certainly correct...


4U: https://www.youtube.com/embed/qB0ZOu_EZ ... 65&end=186

[bpcw]

However, living in our society, having some certainly makes it easier. That might seem like a facetious remark but I mean it sincerely.

Not at all, totally agree.

I copied it straight from a daily devotional!

[bpcw]

Oh and nice video, I do like a good micky take of Christian's!

[SOL]

If you visit a poor country, it's always an eye-opener to see children laughing their heads off, running around enjoying themselves playing football or cricket, often without a proper football or cricket ball. The idea that one needs money to result in happiness is clearly a false one.

Personally I do not believe that the pursuit of money is a worthwhile primary goal, nor that having loads is necessary to be 'happy'. However, living in our society, having some certainly makes it easier. That might seem like a facetious remark but I mean it sincerely.

And the info on social connections is most certainly correct...


4U: https://www.youtube.com/embed/qB0ZOu_EZ ... 65&end=186

Both of you are correct.

Harry I visited many a poor country, and it has never failed to amaze me how both the young and old, for the most part take things in stride. Sometimes you look around and wonder what they have to be happy about but only when you look closely do you understand that they don't fear the same things most people in the developed world do. They definitely have better social connections and are more interconnected to nature and their surroundings than the average westerner. A few years ago, I saw a bunch of kids swimming in what appeared to be a dirty river. Dirty mostly because of the rains. After heavy rains, Asian Rivers tend to turn brown. Anyway these chaps were oblivious to the fact. You would have thought they were swimming in some luxurious resort. I mean they were literally have a ball of a time.

[Yodean]

https://youtu.be/_0lyYmQWsOc

*****

Yeh, watching a bit of these types of clips keeps everything in perspective, whether your portfolio is down 20% or 50% ... at least you got a portfolio!

[LoriPrecisely]

https://youtu.be/_0lyYmQWsOc

*****

Yeh, watching a bit of these types of clips keeps everything in perspective, whether your portfolio is down 20% or 50% ... at least you got a portfolio!

I am sorry I could only watch the first 3 minutes in horror.

Florida looks horrible right now, but people are working to clean it up.

Why do people live like this?
Is it just because that is what they are accustomed to?
Why not just clean house? Just pick up the trash and throw it away.

[Yodean]

Why not just clean house? Just pick up the trash and throw it away.

I think it's one of those situations where you are not rewarded for being clean and tidy. You clean the trash in front of your shack, but your neighbors just see it as more empty space for them to deposit more trash. Over a period of time, you get broken down and accept this "New Normal."

The extreme poverty in many places is quite sickening to see.

[bpcw]

The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed.
Mahatma Gandhi

[LoriPrecisely]

The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed.
Mahatma Gandhi

There surely is enough of what we have need of, but your right about the greed, and I think part of the problem is distribution.
I watched a newscast yesterday of a large lemon crop being destroyed in Argentina.
They decided they wanted to plant something else on that plot of land.
The lemons were beautiful and in abundance.
Why could they have not given those away to someone, somewhere, rather than just destroy them?

[SOL]

Dumping milk, burning food, etc happens all the time in order to stabilise the price. However, they never think of giving it away to those who probably could not afford it in the first place. Something like that would be oh my just too nice and we can't have nice things done in this otherwise terribly hard world

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V9c4JvPRyQ


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBNbJdmxDC4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss7i-Wzmpso

https://youtu.be/UO5N5nPPwGA

[Yodean]

*****

Ms. Death apparently agrees with this.

[Yodean]

[Yodean]

*****

Readin' Market Wizards books is fun ...

[AstuteShift]

I’d say that showing more gratitude and giving back to others increases happiness even more

One life hack I’ve learned, the more you give back, in terms of charity without expecting anything then you get even more and then some.

However, only if you have no expectations besides providing good.