I'd like to introduce stoicism, in which virtue, logic, and reason sort of "take over" human thought. Emotions and love are wiped out. It sounds like a freak show from THX-1138 or George Orwell's "1984", but these pieces of literature were written by people who only wanted to see the darker aspects of a socialistic government and etc. Is it possible to be happy (in a way; you know what I mean) in a non-artistic, anti-emotional society?\n\nThink about it. It would be much more efficient, but what is more important: love or efficiency? If people thought more with the left side of their brains, things would get done faster, but as it is, emotions cloud our thoughts all the time.\nI'm not in favor of this, but I'm of the opinion that there are some people who actually think that way, and I'd like to hear their argument, if they happen to see my question. Holla
199815
I believe it would be unhealthy to block out emotions like that; it would interfere with brain chemistry.  I beleive what you are reffering to is an acceptance of emotions and, without acting on them, letting them go.  It is quite difficult to understand that concept and even more difficult to act on it, however.
489084
You know - this is a lot like whisper down the lane.  Let's stop for a minute and think about this stuff rationally.\n\nFrom where I am sitting, I have found that there is no devil beyond our own worst emotions - and there is no hell beyond being steeped in our own worst emotions.  As far as I can see, we humans are running the show - but more like a bunch of college students on our own independent course of study.  We come, we learn, we go - we very likely come back again.\n\nSome deaths are tragic - and some have far reaching implications like nothing else in this world.  Some deaths are welcome - there comes a time when the journey is over, don't you think?\n\nGod is a little easier to understand if you think of it as the energy that powers this existence more than some old guy in the sky using us like Barbie dolls.  We all come here of our own choosing to learn something specific, not to be coddled and live in a paradise and do nothing.  It's meant to be a challenge.\n\nPeace!
414048
release your negative emotions and be happy just because you can , you draw what think about, I know, read all Dr. Wayne Dyers books again and again to you understand this subject. anger is a huge waste of your life, think peace and be peace and love and harmony........
336554
Thinking with emotions is something that I found to be the source of a lot of my problems. When I started to pause and think I found myself making better decisions. This usually comes with the desire to change as well as just being a natural part of growing up.
429996
i agree to what your saying but not all decisions based on emotions are bad because if we didn't have emotions towards are decisions then no one would choose to become doctors and save lives and no one would chose to make or help fundraising for people in need but like i said i agree with everything you said about emotions but there are positive sides to them too.
671492
That is a very good question. It erk's me somtimes how people could care more about waht other people think about them than how they much they care about themselves. I never could find a way to explain this by just talking or typing, it seems as if I just cant get the words out. However, I have written a poem in the past, I hope you nor any one else finds it offensive. The poem is as follows:\nF**k you and your high society bulls**t rules\nYour so content to be alike, your such fools\nIm different than you and it makes me jump for joy\nYou care so much, society twist and turns you like a toy\nSo take your clan of dumbfounded minds and stuff it\nFrom looks to love to the size of clothes; that just wont fit\nYour mind works on a level thats considered primitive\nWhat happened to evolution, instead, your passive\nSo why dont you switch your side, here's the facts of life\nWhen you hold a standard for your own guilty strife\nYour left with a life of hate and most common shortcomings\nIve found and realized you live non-existent nothings\nYour determined that life is going in a set path with you in the lead\nYou dont understand, with that mindset you'll never succeed\nMy advice for a better world is simple, to thyself be true\nThrough this, you are your own person, with your choices due\nYour choice of what makes you, yourself, and others not\nNot to mean you live secretless and throw away your own spot\nYou decide what you are, who you are, and what you want to be\nNever let any one tell you your own feelings based on what THEY see.\nbored and thinking-may 29,06- "F**k Society"\n\nThis poem, I know, isn't anything fancy and is by far professional. I know it is flawwed and far from perfect. However, it shows what I feel and I wish everyone in some fashion could feel or atleast understand. I think it would make life much better for the rich and the needy, the pretty and the ugly, the happy and the sad, everyone big and small... lol, here I am sounding like some kindof activist or something. Im really not, just think a lot about how society puts a toll on every existing person weather they beleive in it or not.\n                                               Sincerely,\n                                                       Jamie
396287
yes, I too find this subject very interesting.  Recently I have come across the subject on the egoic mind and about living in the present..  I often find it hard to meditate my mind chatters on, The subjec ton the ego trying to take you over and often capturing your mind to stay on the negative is very interesting.  Ekhart Tolles has written a lot about the subject and is worth reading.  Ekhart says ... in order to be happy we have to learn to disidentify with our thoughts and emotions and take a higher stance in witnessing our internal life. That way we shall develop presence in the Here and Now and learn not to be taken away anymore. This is the Mystical Warrior Stance: to remain firmly rooted in the Now and fight all distractions of the mind, out of our deep knowledge that nothing can make us happy and blissful apart from this our own inner Self.\n\nCheck out his website.
161699
We are talking Ibsen here, right? OK, how about this.\n\nIn A Doll's House, Henrik Ibsen raises the question of happiness still relevant in our time. The author presents a situation where one of the female protagonists is forced by society to sacrifice her personal fulfilment on the altar of social conventions.\n\nThat was so far the formulation of the question. Now we proceed with the analysis. \n\nFrom the first pages of the book, the reader witnesses the efforts of the female character to follow her duty. Yet no matter how hard she tries, she fails. At the end, she finally comes to the realization that her misery stems from misapplication of her talents. Expected to be a mother and a wife, the woman forgets about her own happiness. This is not the way, the author seems to tell us. The young woman's depression creates an unpleasant atmosphere in the house which affects even the well being of the little children.\nThis is essentially the reason for the mother leaving her children at the end. Only by declaring her independence from the patriarchal society, can she find her own happiness. And only then, will she be able to give her offspring what they deserve, a peaceful atmosphere in the house, genarated by the contedness of each individual.\nAs Ibsen  unequivocally shows us, one has to follow his won dreams and raise the new generation according to similar ideals of self fulfillment and independence. This, according to the author, is the key to happy society in general, and family life in particular.\n\nOk, this is the gist of it. You can change what doesn't fit your thoughts, and add, to present your own opinion.\nHope this helps.
466128
Yes, I'm sick of it.\n\n"Are you happy?"\nYes, very much so.  I have a loving husband, a beautiful son, walls all around me and a roof over my head.  My son has toys, food, clothes, protection, love, everything he needs.  I have friends, I have hobbies, I have talents, I have conversations.  I'm quite happy.\n\n"Do you have good morals?"\nYes I believe I do.  Some may not agree with me on political points, but generally I've been characterized as a very moral person.  Mind you, these were mostly Christians who told me I'm moral so I think I've demonstrated a solid morality at least to those who hold atheists to a particularly higher standard.\n\n"How on earth is that possible if "God" isn't a part of your life?"\nContrary to popular belief, happiness and contentment is attainable without the Christian God.  I know several Buddhists, Wiccans, atheists, agnostics, even a couple Satanists, who are good, moral, happy people.  They require no Judeo-Christian deity.\n\n"Do you find that thinking slightly ridiculous?"\nOh, not just slightly.  HUGELY.
8384
Thought is not the be-it-all.  Thought is often associated with emotion and memories.  Even Spock and Data understand that thought is not the whole of human existence.  Current Western society seems to place more emphasis on material possessions that on spiritual growth.  It also seems to believe that logical thought is somehow a higher development than emotional expression.  The biggest fault of thoughts is they are almost always an excuse to guard oneself from Reality.  Life is a mystery, not a sequence of thoughts.
129137
it's supposed to be ask A question, not two dozen of them, lol. are you a philosophy major? ;) (if not, you might consider it....)\n\npersonally i like to believe that people innately have a sense of right and wrong, that we naturally are inclined to assume the best in others rather than go around killing and maiming. not sure that's the case, though. is it our first instinct to step on a spider? or only after we've been stung or bitten or harmed?\n\npart of me thinks that being mean is taught by other people, so maybe these two would be child-like in their curiosity and interest and willingness to assume the best in one another. or, maybe they'd be so used to fending for themselves that the self-interest gene would kick into high gear. certainly they'd be leery of another person.\n\nif morality requires empathy, and empathy is the ability to imagine yourself in the situation of others, then before they meet they aren't immoral, exactly, but rather amoral -- there's no need to know right and wrong, since there are no other people to be affected by their actions. in fact, it's hard to imagine even having a concept of yourself until there's another person to see yourself as being distinct from.\n\nin reality human contact in the earliest weeks after birth seems to be essential for moral development. children with reactive attachment disorder (from neglect or abuse or lack of nurturing) as an infant are the ones who grow up to be sociopaths, with absolutely zero regard for other people.\n\nfun stuff!
162474
Do not underestimate the power of the human body. Equal to survival is the human need for reproduction. Quite strong. More-so than most average morale and logic. A person who disciplines their mind could overcome. But those who follow their bodily desire like kittens in a field, chasing each butterfly stimuli only to become distracted by the next create the dilemma you bring to our attention. It's not in everyone's life path to do such, for in my beliefs, no matter how unfortunate and saddening to human emotion, all things happen in a finely intricate web of cause and effect, all tying into the same destiny. The chaos that we see, is really misunderstood harmony of what lifes main destiny has in store for us. In a way we create it, but do to our circumstances, there could be no other way for it to be. Such a postulate being out of scope of human emotion, makes for an impossibility for one to feel the need of going throughout life feeling irresponsible for their actions. You're destined to choose but that choice was included in that main web of destiny. Choice and destiny being one and the same. Simply put, Learning to accept and not force our expectations onto others, could only make for the best of worlds, but due destiny has in store what due destiny has in store, which in a sense, is the greatest perfection.
406116
My goodness.   This is a very interesting poem about how we are lied to throughout our lives and have to deal with those facts.  It would fit astonishingly well into any media studies course and am glad to have read it.  Tis true that Walter Raleigh was in Queen Elizabeth's command and was held in the tower.  The first respondant had excellent points, but after that... there were few comments that made sense.  Sorry folks.\n\nIt is most assuredly not about SEX!!  Except that we might lie to get it.  The point is that lies are imbedded into our very framework.  We cannot speak a truth.  Wit does get tiresome.  Beauty is used for naught.  There is nothing that is singularly GOOD- and Raleigh discovers it with a lovely cadence.  The repeptitive nature of "Tell them the lie" can be seen as a stab at church and country, but it goes deeper than than.  He mocks consumers and landowners.  Everyone is lying and he knows it.\n\nWhat I mean is simple that when people attempt to define something by using Good or Bad, they are intrinsically wrong.\n\nI hope you do well in your life and take the time to read lots of poetry.
24942
this is the type of question that could have many answers.... I agree that they hold is back a lot, but they also drive us forward with ambition etc. \nTruth be told, I think that emotions only evolved because they were very useful. If you think about it emotions are like pre package sets of responses and feelings. for example. ........ fear packages an increased heartbeat, an alertness, and prepares us for the worst. I'm pretty sure that this saved quite a few of our ancestors over the years. Then you can look at something like happieness and say ...whats the point of that?......once again its a pre packaged series of responses.....reduced heartbeat, dopamine is released, adreneline is supressed etc. This series of responses must have been beneficial to sustaining life or it probably would not have been developed. If you think about some of the things that make people happy.....sex, food, and sleep are right up  at the top. This is our positive feedback loop for sustaining life.  In some ways I feel that it may have been out capacity for complex emotion that laid the foundation for complex rational thought. Our ability to touch someone we loved and feel happy may have let to the first inklings of introspection.....   I feel some way about this person but I didn't about others. It seems to me that emotions are absolutely useful even if in out daily lives they are usually the albatross around our knecks.
207631
You asked how to be happy and wholesome. Cool. You asked the question of non-Christian folk. OK. Lets remember what you didn't ask ... How to attain enlightenment, or get to heaven, or please any Deity. Fair enough. So we'll just stick to those first two things ... How to be happy ... Learn to be content with things as they are. That means to practice simple acceptance of other people, places, things, circumstances, etc. When you can accept things as they are you can live without trying to change those things or control those people or etc. You get the idea. While you're accepting others as they are in order to be happy don't forget to extend that same acceptance to your self. Its just a matter of letting everything be what it is, and knowing that its that way for a reason, and ... that's OK. So far ... HAPPINESS = ACCEPTANCE. Now, wholesome. A dictionary definition of "wholesome" is: #1; Promoting good health or wellbeing, healthful. #2; Improving the mind or morals. #3; Looking healty or vigorous. ... Whoa! You're not asking for much, are you? lol Its not that complicated, really. Give life a little thought. Keep your self and your space clean. Get some exercise. Try to eat a ballanced diet. Take a multiple vitamin daily. The health aspect isn't all that hard. That part about improving the mind and morals? A little more work. Improve the mind? Exercise it a little. Read. Watch a little History Channel. I think you know how to exercise your mind already. Just do it consistently. Your morals? That's simple. Simple ought never be confused with easy. Pick a moral code, and ... LIVE IT! Which one? Hey, not my call. Suggestions? Sure. Center your life on (and you don't have to be any of these things to use something they have that YOU find useful) ... The Wiccan Reede. The Jewish 10 Commandments. The "Golden Rule" of Jesus. Whatever. Picking is the easy part. That's simple. Now, living it, that's another story. Be consistant, but be loving with yourself when you make a mistake too. Just DON'T GIVE IT UP! BE CONSISTANT! And last, but not least, get out of self. You do that by helping others and being there for them. It also gives you the exercise you need in acceptance AND your morals. Neither of those work well in a void. ~ Peace & Blessings ~ ;-)
198982
Go to the library and read, "How Should We Then Live?" by Schaeffer. Or if you're lucky you can find the DVD online. Be objective to healthy depression. Being human is understanding that one is human, and humans emote. All we have in life is relationships, good & bad. Just be in correct relationship with which ever one you're in. Then you will know where to go and what to do. Other-centered is the key to true freedom. It's just hard because we prefer self-centered. I hope you find the answer.
160653
Try Nietzsche’s Superman approach. The goal of the Superman is to reject the Principles of the Society overcome Nihilism and ultimately become one’s own man living according to Will To Power.