A reader asked me, “What makes me happy? Honestly, I’m not even sure I can define what happiness is. Being with friends and family, doing things you love, beauty. These are common answers but I don’t think you can explain why they bring happiness. What are other things that make me happy and what does that tell me about happiness?
"Pronoia means the universe is conspiring to help you." This is GOLD! I never knew this was a thing, and that it's the opposite of paranoia. What person wouldn't benefit from this form of . . . what? Is it a delusion, like paranoia? Or is it actually the truth. I mean good God, how can we even exist and continue to breathe and at the same time deny the truth the universe is conspiring to help us? Seriously. This share has made my day.
Some things I'd add to the list: confident and friendly cats (animals generally), being near the sea or a big lake, coffee, exercise and meditation, being silly and immature with my girlfriend, watching good football, eating (I'm not a fussy eater), the early ideation stage and the final publishing stage of essay writing, travel, boats, trees and flowers, did I say coffee?, driving a scooter around south east Asia, sunsets, early mornings alone, house music, making people laugh, sex, really good tiramisu, playing badminton, playing catch, walking out into a cold night after a hot bath, hearing the call to prayer (I'm not religious, it just sounds incredible), and increasingly the writer-reader community on Substack—it's such a refreshing change from the rest of social media.
Thanks for asking this question Chris, I actually feel pretty damn good for the rest of the day now :)
"Pronoia means the universe is conspiring to help you." This is GOLD! I never knew this was a thing, and that it's the opposite of paranoia. What person wouldn't benefit from this form of . . . what? Is it a delusion, like paranoia? Or is it actually the truth. I mean good God, how can we even exist and continue to breathe and at the same time deny the truth the universe is conspiring to help us? Seriously. This share has made my day.
What do you think about enthusiasm vs happiness? If I asked you, what brings you enthusiasm, how would your answer be different? Would it be?
Never heard pronoia before, what a beautiful concept! Will keep it in mind, it's such an uplifting way of looking at things.
Some things I'd add to the list: confident and friendly cats (animals generally), being near the sea or a big lake, coffee, exercise and meditation, being silly and immature with my girlfriend, watching good football, eating (I'm not a fussy eater), the early ideation stage and the final publishing stage of essay writing, travel, boats, trees and flowers, did I say coffee?, driving a scooter around south east Asia, sunsets, early mornings alone, house music, making people laugh, sex, really good tiramisu, playing badminton, playing catch, walking out into a cold night after a hot bath, hearing the call to prayer (I'm not religious, it just sounds incredible), and increasingly the writer-reader community on Substack—it's such a refreshing change from the rest of social media.
Thanks for asking this question Chris, I actually feel pretty damn good for the rest of the day now :)
Wow - that article about the water distribution of China four thousand years ago is absolutely incredible.
Indeed a good question.
It also stimulated me to think about it.
Here's what has emerged:
Happiness for me is an elated sensation where I feel alive and an active contributing part to a larger whole.
I observe that often it arises when fully immersed in the act of doing something positive.