"If you make happiness your goal, then you're not going to get to it. The goal should be an interesting life."So says Dorothy Rowe in a recent Guardian article, and I think she is right. I know that when I start aiming for happiness, I flounder and begin to resent intrusions. When I search out things that I find interesting, or simply wait for them to appear, then I begin to expand and possibilities open up like a fan.
'I will have an interesting day today' allows for endless permutations. I like that.
13 comments:
How true. Or to put it another way happiness is sitting still and waiting for a butterfly to alight on you rather than trying to catch one. Let's hope one decides to do just that today for you. Love that crochet blanket.
Jane
I think that it is important to recognise happiness when it is thrust upon you while you search for an interesting life.
Oooh, no, just think of that Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times! I like to aim for serenity, but remain open to opportunity, but I do agree with you about the effects of trying for happiness - it just doesn't work out....
Looking for happiness comes under the best laid plans... quote. You just have to hope you realise it when you've got it. Sometimes it comes in an unexpected form. I'm rather with Rachel on living in interesting times - can be too interesting!
I think this is just spot on. Live your life to be engaged and interested and alive. Happiness retreats as you pursue it but slides in when you weren't thinking about it.
I hope you did have an interesting day.
Its knowing when to recognise happiness thats important.
Sue, as usual you have posed interesting questions.
I love the notion that during each day I will learn something new, or have some fresh inspiration, or have my accumulated knowlege and supplies of opinions challenged.
Life can be full of surprises. A day without a surprise is, for me, a bit of a disappointment.
xo
Such wise words. Wishing you an interesting day.
Sounds a great maxim to follow!
And I like that crochet blanket!
An interesting idea from an interesting blogger lead me to your Flicker images. I am definitely sold on the idea of a visit to Denmark. Did you see it on Coast? The episode that I saw featured beach houses.
My dear friend says we should not pray for happiness but peace ... So that whatever life throws at us we will not waver....
Oh, yes, and thank you. I like that quote so much.
Fabulous. I think aiming for an interesting life is setting the stage for happiness to happen. But what is happiness? Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, renown professor at Claremont Graduate University studies the psychology of happiness and creativity. He explores the subject in his book "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience" and it's a fascinating read.
Hope you have an interesting day!
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