I find joy from creation. For a long time (2010s) I barely created anything, just consumed. Now I try to do a lot of different things. 3D modelling, game creation, music composing, writing, coding. My skill level doesn’t matter, as I am not dependent on these skills as a source of income (apart from coding to some extent), and the lower my skill, the easier it is to take some big leaps doing these activities, and that progress can yield happiness. I like having several different things as well, as if I lose motivation for one thing, I am not stuck between having nothing to do and forcing myself to do something I don’t really want to.
The other thing is nature. Slowing down and walking in the forest, in the mountains etc. Listening to a waterfall, to the birds etc. Fresh air. Good stuff.
By choice.
XIV (14): Temperance: experienced vast extremes and, as such, has grown to appreciate moderation. He also knows that the good things in life must be waited for and that patience is a key part of a harmonious life. https://www.mysticsense.com/articles/tarot/fools-journey/
The fools journey is the story of the tarot deck and experiences we have in life. It’s meant to be a guide through life’s struggles, it sounds like you could use this at this point in your life.
If advertising is to be believed, it’s by partaking in goods and services.
Time spent with friends and partners.
Wrapped under a blanket with someone I was really into, playing a game together, watching a show, or just talking, was really nice.
Finding activities and hobbies that align with your values and make you groe.
Yes, mindless hobbies are also fine, but for me, participating in local FOSS communities and the like makes it a very fulfilling activity, and a way to learn more things.
I would agree. Some places are much harder to find other folks creating or using free/ethical software. & unfortunately more online projects are migrating to propietary chat like Discord while hosting their code on proprietary forges like MS GitHub which makes it hard to participate when free/ethical software are “your values”.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs shows what it takes for humans to be happy. A lot of people can’t even reach level 1.
Can’t even afford to reach level 1.
by not trying to compare themselves to anyone else
That’s the neat part,
Contentment is easier to find than happiness
I try to embrace my hobbies. Motorcycle rides, baking, trying new beers, gaming with friends, reading, etc. It can be hard finding the time to do it all, but I try my best.
It helps that I’ve already made peace with the fact I’m never gonna be rich enough to do anything truly incredible, like travel the world for 6 months, or retire :/.
Mostly, they don’t
Happiness is located in the wife’s arms
I don’t chase a big paycheck. I live meagerly, and save, but live comfortably. As they say, “love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
Game the system by having an unhappy childhood so being an adult is so much better? I enjoy being a grownup so much. What are you unhappy with? Were you happy as a kid and if so, what made you happy? I didn’t like school, felt alienated and in general kids have no control over their own lives. So adulthood suits me much better.
You nailed it for some of us. What do you do with a guy who went balls to the wall well into his 30s to make up for it?
I’ve felt happiness a few times. I’m thinking it’s time to fight for it.
I do think some (maybe most) of it is luck/brain chemistry, I feel happy a lot as I get older. Part is just that deep appreciation I feel when I wake up and realize that instead of school I will go to a job that pays me. Having kids was stressful but absolutely did increase my enjoyment in life, my desire to live, if that makes sense. More good than bad by a large margin.
Good news is if you are 40-50 you are getting to that age too - news articles say it’s like we sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor but I think bullshit because I can’t slow down yet and still feel it, it has to be changing brain chemistry and perspective - happiness comes easier now and also fewer things irritate me, youth is an irritable time.
And I guess finally, I really do think luck plays a big part - not in outward circumstances (though obviously luck is very important there too, circumstances don’t guarantee happiness) more in the ability to feel certain things. So my actual advice is to adjust perspective if you can, be grateful for the things you can, get physically active to the extent you can and take time to do pleasurable things because even if you are not wired to feel that rush of “happy” you may still be able to feel content and thankful and good.
