Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Happiness: Filling the Void

What makes us happy?

I've seen an interesting theory on happiness recently.

Someone said that all human beings have a void inside of us. We need to fill this void, and if we don't, our sense of purpose and our sense of meaning will atrophy. We fill it with work, we fill it with family, we fill it with music, we fill it with causes, we fill it work consumerism, and all kinds of other things, both tangible and intangible.

Some people say it's a bad thing that we have this void, but I disagree. I believe that our void motivates us. As a common proverb says, hunger is often the best seasoning.

What makes each of you happy? Do you believe that this "void" theory makes any sense? How do you fill your void?

Thanks for sharing your opinions.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Yes, I think a person can have a void inside of him. But I also agree with Lincoln who said

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
Abraham Lincoln

I'm not talking about someone who lives a tragedy or has abuse or extreme poverty in his life, but just your average, regular person. If people focus on what they have instead of what they do not, and they are grateful and make the most of things, generally I think most people can fill the void.

As life progresses, there are more tragedies but there are also more things for which to be grateful, partner, home, children, faith, friends, a good book now and then, a blue sky on an October day, THE INTERNETS!!!!, and freedom of expression(along with the other freedoms). TRL