Happiness makes you lazy
By didi13
@didi13 (2926)
Romania
November 2, 2011 6:48am CST
Have you ever thought at least for a second that happiness might be a bad thing?
Sure, not completly a bad one. I'd be a fool to say that. But beside the obvious good side, happiness comes also with a bad side.
I mean....First, tell me, are you happy? How many people have you ever heard saying they're happy? How many people have you heard not complaining about stuff, saying they got everything they need?
My answer to my own question would be: NONE. Of course, none except me. Yeah, as hard to believe as it might me, I really am happy. And I'm not saying it today. It's something that has been around for a few months. You know my opinion on happiness. Usually it lasts only one day. But this time it's a long lasting happiness. And it's strange the way it feels.
I mean...I always thought happiness is something man can't achieve. Or at least something you get and then lose. Happiness it's the end of the road. It's like you reached your goal. Then what? What can you get more then happiness? What's left to do after you get that?
I guess nothing. I mean...at least this is how it feels like when you're happy. Like there's nothing left to be done. You can just sit there in bed and enjoy your happiness. Sounds really lazy, isn't it? Well, that's exactly how happiness makes you. It stops you from doing anything. You say something(unconsciously of course) like : " Aaarrgghh, I'm happy where I stand, so what's the point of doing anythingh else?".
I never thought happiness will make me soooo lazy but that's the truth. At last I'm aware of this so I can do something about it. And definitely I will do something. I'm happy, but I wanna keep this happiness so I have to stop being lazy because lazy people don't deserve to be happy. I was going to say I'll stop being lazy since tomorrow, but then I've realised that's just an excuse. I thought, what then, what can I do today. And the answer is simple: I'm already doing something. I'm writing. So I stoped being lazy the moment I started to write. You see how easy it is when you want something? You just have to do it, to be active.
It would be a shame to allow happiness go away from me, to let such a good thing turn into something bad.
So happiness can indeed make you lazy. But only if you allow this.
1 person likes this
7 responses
@granite_butterfly (448)
• Canada
6 Nov 11
You present a strong argument but I must disagree with you. I find happiness to be inspiring. Suddenly, I want to do more and achieve more. In a manner of speaking, I want the happiness to "grow". Happiness also brings confidence and energy. It is my belief that to be truly happy, one must work on maintaining it. If people want to be happy, they will work to keep the happiness. Really, the state of being happy leaves no space to be lazy. Maybe you are not lazy but comfortable, something to consider.
@god314159 (84)
• China
3 Nov 11
I think it is not happiness that makes us lazy but luxury .By the way why we have to work hard? for the happiness ! and we desire for more . Hower the luxury can eazy your mind ,lose your body . once we get used to it ,we get lazy .
@veejay19 (3589)
• India
3 Nov 11
We spend most of our life in chasing happiness and for this we work very hard.In this life,happiness is fleeting,transitory and impermanent.Happiness never lasts long and goes as swiftly as it comes.For eg a hungry man is unhappy because he doesn`t have food to eat.Somebody offers him unlimited food and he gorges on it till he can`t eat anymore.He feels happy and contented.However after a few hours the feeling goes away as the food gets digested and once again he feels hungry.so the state of happiness lasts briefly.A rich man has wealth more than he requires but is he contented?No. He gets more ambitios and works even more hard so that he can double or triple what he already has.He will never be satisfied with what he has.Man is full of desires which are neverending. When one desire is satisfied another takes its place.One may be contented for a few hours or a day or few days but the restless nature of man`s mind will not allow him to be still.Real contentment comes only after Man finally realizes that he has all that he wants or needs and he does not have to strive for more.Once all desires are fulfilled then contentment comes in and only then real happiness is achieved.However after achieving this state Man does not get lazy.All this while he was thinking only about himself.Now he starts thinking about others and how he can make their lives better.He becomes a saint as he does not live for himself but for others.
@ferbjohn69 (1127)
• Philippines
3 Nov 11
Yes,I belive that being happy makes us lazy sometimes.
We are very frustrated and sad when we don't have something,but when we already have it we become happy.And I know many of us take a break because there is actually no reason yet to work because we already have what we want.
But when the time that we felt that what we have isn't enough the happiness fades,and we start to work again.That's the reason why I think being discontented has some good parts.Discontentment makes us work.:)
@Pushhyarag2000 (1416)
• India
3 Nov 11
Hello Didi. I don't see the connection between happiness & laziness the same way as you perceive & explain here. Laziness is more of an attitude in certain people or at certain times due to indifference. People simply refusing to engage in an activity and getting sluggish in mind and hence bodily too. What I do agree though is that having abundant wealth, especially inherited wealth, makes certain people lazy.
But happiness is another connotation of interplay between wants or needs and fulfillment. It is a state of being when mind displays an emotion about fulfillment. And knowing human nature as well as the fact that wants are unlimited, the state of happiness is never absolute but rather transient. Which means after enjoying happiness for a certain time, mind has a new list of wants and the happiness turns to expectation. Depending once again on fulfillment or otherwise, the outcome could be happiness once again or grief.
That's my take on the topic you posted. Have a great time.
@seriousnuts (508)
• Philippines
3 Nov 11
Wow, that's quite a long explanation, and I get your point. I agree with you. Sometimes, happiness could make us lazy. Achieving your greatest dream could make you feel satisfied, but after a while, you're gonna ask yourself, "what now?" It's great that you've been happy for a long while now. I hope you stay happy. You are right into saying that although happiness could make us lazy, but we could do something to counter this. Keep up your good attitude in life.
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
3 Nov 11
I understand what you're saying, but I do see it a bit different. Happiness is a feeling, an emotion. Happiness is not really achieving your goals. It comes from within. If you said there's not much to be happy about, that would be different, because most people are unhappy about some aspect of their life. But true happiness is more like containment. If one feels content with the way things are and going. I also believe that people could be happy and miserable at the same time. I do not think happiness makes you lazy, I think it would make you much more active and want to do do more things. Being depressed would certainly make you lazy. The lazy part you are referring to is contentment, like you're done, finished and it's now time to rest for the next 20 years. Happiness is what you make of things, like I said, it comes from within.
