Happiness a fleeting feeling...

[tamzdance]

I used to be happy all the time. At times I can trick myself into feeling happy, but it's getting to be less often anymore. By 'trick' I mean smiling and laughing, surrounding myself with upbeat/cheerful people, doing spontaneous activities, giving gifts, finding joys in the little things, dancing to find my happy groove, etc. All this still works for me, but these strategies are getting less and less effective. I am officially spiraling downward into a major SLUMP. Whatever it is, this feeling of being unhappy is really ringing true for me today. I cannot even get my facial muscles to turn up a smile today. Over-analyzing the fleeting happiness would be typical for me, so I think I'll just wallow in this down mood for awhile, let it pass....and go from there.

Does this sound at all familiar to anyone? Or is it just me. Maybe I have had a good happiness run, and it's all downhill from here. (See this funky mood I am in?!?!?) Sheeesh, I hate it!

[earthman]

Diet? Plenty of water? Our bodies tolerance for unhealthy substances can change over time. Sugar, caffiene, alcohol,dehydration....

[tamzdance]

Originally Posted by earthman

Diet? Plenty of water? Our bodies tolerance for unhealthy substances can change over time. Sugar, caffiene, alcohol,dehydration....

Hi earthman, I have taken stock of all of the above, but I see your point in how tolerance can change over time. I think this fleeting feeling is more emotional than diet related. But who knows. I certainly know that when I am eating well and drinking plenty of water, I do feel better overall. Thanks for the nudge.

[sorter]

Er, I don't think tricking yourself into feeling happy is happiness.
Happiness to me is when it doesn't occur to me whether or not I'm happy.
That's when I'm engaged with whatever is happening and it's not too stressful or too boring. It's just right.

I think you're on the right track to wallow in your down mood except wallow isn't a bad thing.
Engage your mood. Look for how it is helping you, teaching you.
Look for how it connects to your goals, your life.
It's neither good nor bad. It's part of you. No better or worse than any other part.
.

[Cochonette]

It will go back uphill, no worries. If you worry about it going downhill, that may actually be the cause of it going downhill. If there are things you deeply enjoy but aren't anymore, that may be a sign that you are still looking for some thing that inspires you even more deeply... a thing that goes so deep that it applies to all situations ultimately... not just a particular friend or place or activity, but an essence. For me that's self-confidence. That's the thing that ultimately leads to happiness for me, as I see it. Sure, there are details to it. There are specific things that make me happy, too. But sometimes you can't even enjoy those things because you're too busy missing this deeper component... like, the overwhelming will to BE happiness. To create it.

At least, so it is for me..... I try to acknowledge always that I can only speak for my own experience ultimately.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by tamzdance

I used to be happy all the time. At times I can trick myself into feeling happy, but it's getting to be less often anymore. By 'trick' I mean smiling and laughing, surrounding myself with upbeat/cheerful people, doing spontaneous activities, giving gifts, finding joys in the little things, dancing to find my happy groove, etc. All this still works for me, but these strategies are getting less and less effective. I am officially spiraling downward into a major SLUMP. Whatever it is, this feeling of being unhappy is really ringing true for me today. I cannot even get my facial muscles to turn up a smile today. Over-analyzing the fleeting happiness would be typical for me, so I think I'll just wallow in this down mood for awhile, let it pass....and go from there.

Does this sound at all familiar to anyone? Or is it just me. Maybe I have had a good happiness run, and it's all downhill from here. (See this funky mood I am in?!?!?) Sheeesh, I hate it!

It's definately not just you.

I don't know what to tell you though, still working it out for myself.

[ChrisGinsburg]

Find a way to appreciate all your emotions and happiness will pervade into and through sorrow. We're never truly experiencing one emotion in its entirety. Our emotions are fluid and constantly mixing into each other. Each one balancing the other. Just as most all of us appreciate a sunny day we also appreciate finding a dark room to go to sleep.

[ssandra]

If you have a negative emotion and just try to change it into a positive one without seeing what the lesson is, it will simply come back stronger and stronger until you do get the lesson.

The lesson is very personal. It can be anything from "take more time for yourself, go out more with others, to eat better food, drink more water" etc.

Ask you unconscious mind what there is to learn. What is your body trying to get through your thick skull

After you have gotten what there is to get for you, you will be able to implement the changes in your life and move on to feeling great again!

[Cochonette]

Originally Posted by ssandra

If you have a negative emotion and just try to change it into a positive one without seeing what the lesson is, it will simply come back stronger and stronger until you do get the lesson.

The lesson is very personal. It can be anything from "take more time for yourself, go out more with others, to eat better food, drink more water" etc.

I like the way you put that.

[veloci]

You may have some problems that needs to be addressed right now. The first problem is that you are not happy. That tells me you have other problems to address before you will be truly happy. Not a lot of people will want to face their problems though because of fears. I know how it feels, but muster up your courage. You will have to face your fears, but do not use fear itself as your motivation. Instead use love to embrace your fears, for then you do not react to the problems and feed your ego. You will respond or feed your true self - your soul.

I still have much to learn about this, but the idea is to respond instead of reacting. A lot of people choose to react because it is within their comfort zone to do so. There are very few people who choose to respond because it borders or gets passed their comfort zone.

Oh, the reason why you shouldn't react as much as responding is because the problems will temporarily get postponed by you. You will eventually have to face it, whether sooner or later. Quite often the problems will come back even "bigger" when you least expect it, so yeah...

Love and live light,
Veloci

P.S.: I, too, have a difficult time following what I preach. I realize my ego acknowledges everything I say, but refuses to accept them. This usually calls for being conscious of yourself, and then decided to respond. It is not easy at all for me, but I feel meditation will help you train your consciousness again. The reason why I told you all of this is because I want you to know that there is someone out there who is also struggling the same as you. Good luck tamzdance, and bless your soul!

[tamzdance]

Thank you, everyone, for all the great words of wisdom. This is truly a smart people forum. Much love to you.