Measuring Happiness: Inquiries and Replies

[b]Measuring Happiness: Inquiries and Replies [/b] [cb][b]Inquiry One:[/b] Even when placed in exactly the same situation and environment, one person may feel it as "happiness", another may feel it as "unhappiness", and yet another may not feel it as either happiness or unhappiness. So I think that by changing one's mindset, the "amount of happiness" can fluctuate. What do you think about this?[/cb] [b]Reply One[/b]: About your question: "amount of happiness". Let me answer it directly. Please don't feel offended. Happiness is different for everyone. It is so subjective that we need to be very careful not to measure others' happiness. It is their homework to evaluate what true happiness is, which offers them profound wisdom and knowledge to learn from. We deprive others of the chance to grow and learn when we try to "teach" them what happiness is. Since that exceeds our capacity to love, just taking care of ourselves is enough. We don't need to interfere, manage or change others' perspectives about how they live or what they live for/by joyously and contentedly. That is why they need to make mistakes in order to grow, transform and regenerate. No one is perfect and we don't have to be perfect. The imperfections are the perfections. Just watch over our loved ones and soothe them in time if necessary. [cb][b]Inquiry Two: [/b]Thanks for the response.[/cb] [cb]If happiness were a material substance like rice, the amount of rice would decrease by how much you ate that day.[/cb][cb] [/cb] [cb]Therefore, as you suggest, if the amount of rice a person can consume in their lifetime is a predetermined fixed quantity, then instead of voraciously consuming the finite amount of rice, we should eat it little by little, so as to share the remaining rice with those we love.[/cb] [cb]However, "happiness" is not a material substance like rice. This is an undeniable fact.[/cb] [cb]For example, let's consider two siblings in similar circumstances.[/cb] [cb]The older sibling may view the circumstances as miserable, leading to a pessimistic, unhappy daily life. On the other hand, the younger sibling may find contentment in the same circumstances, living each day filled with a sense of happiness.[/cb] [cb]Thus, unlike rice, the "amount of happiness" may fluctuate depending on one's mindset. This is the premise I am proposing for discussion.[/cb] [b]Reply Two:[/b] The "amount of happiness" may fluctuate depending on one's mindset. 　←　This is totally correct. I can't agree with you more. Our happiness depends on how we view the world. We can create our happiness so that we will never feel scarcity. (Frankly speaking, I am not used to getting into any debates with people, so please don't argue with me about any controversial issues.) [cb][b]Inquiry Three:[/b] I believe that constructive discussions are mutually beneficial as they contribute greatly to broadening insights and deepening understanding on a given matter.[/cb] [b]Reply Three:[/b] I think "interest" keeps every learning path more smoothly and last long. Holding curiosity for everything in the world makes our life funnier and fresher. I used English a lot when I was working. Now I still use it a lot since I love tarot cards, witchcraft and astrology. I guess that intriguing tarot cards are designed to help us create our future, not to predict it. They offer us alternatives, ideas and suggestions that may provide us with insights into our own life or the events surrounding us, so that we can then make more informed choices. Therefore, we can take our responsibility for our life rather than passively accepting our "fate" or "destiny". I do the card-reading very often and even take them everywhere I go. It is a way that I communicate with the other worlds. In addition, it is the way I make my life more meaningful and fulfilling.