1. Home >
  2. Arts & Humanities >
  3. Philosophy >
  4. Resolved Question
Rob S Rob S
Member since:
March 22, 2007
Total points:
1797 (Level 3)

Resolved Question

Show me another »

Do you need a REASON to be happy?

...or does happiness happen entirely for its own sake?

Pleasure is dependent on external factors...but happiness?

Does one need a reason to smile?

-Rob
  • 3 years ago
Kuikui by Kuikui
Member since:
March 31, 2007
Total points:
405 (Level 2)

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

i think you don't need a reason to be happy... you just are... besides that there should be reason why you aren't.
  • 3 years ago
Asker's Rating:
4 out of 5
Asker's Comment:
interesting. I hadn't considered that you would need a reason to not be happy. I'm not sure if I agree, but that definitely got me thinking!
All the answers were great! Thanks Everyone!

-Rob
happiness is very easy to achieve as long as you you see everithing in a positive way, and self steem plays and important role on the matter,

Report Abuse

Other Answers (21)

  • gmcfayden by gmcfayde...
    Member since:
    October 25, 2006
    Total points:
    14285 (Level 6)
    Nope.....

    It's a matter of disposition...... Who needs a reason?! anymore!!!

    Those that say they do are only seeking to be impressed and to impress others......

    but, if not, then I say, be happy..... Those whose hearts are open to happiness, shall find it without reason!!!

    Just - Because!!!!!


    your sister,
    ginger
    • 3 years ago
  • wil_francis_lover by wil_fran...
    Member since:
    March 20, 2007
    Total points:
    367 (Level 2)
    In my opinion you NEED a reason to be happy.
    • 3 years ago
  • martajar by martajar
    Member since:
    February 05, 2007
    Total points:
    149 (Level 1)
    Not really. You can be happy although you are loaded with troubles.

    It is the way you see your life.
    • 3 years ago
  • Tse Chuen by Tse Chuen
    Member since:
    December 06, 2006
    Total points:
    9538 (Level 5)
    no... you just gotta think happy... life is just what you think... so... theres no reason to b happy... you just gotta b happy whenever u want to be... cheers! smile! =)
    • 3 years ago
  • heyaryk by heyaryk
    Member since:
    April 01, 2007
    Total points:
    144 (Level 1)
    personally i feel that being happy really depends on yoou.
    you and you alone.
    no one can make u unhappy or happy for that matter if you choose from within u to feel wuteva emotions it is tt ur feeling.
    something tt happened could be unhappy,and this is inevitable in life(we all know,life has really many obstacles),but!,we could change the situation!even if the event was an unhappy one,as long as we can have that positive attitude,the attitude of daring to dream and challenge,than really,u will find a great difference in uyr mentality!
    so really,
    YOU DO NOT NEED A REASON!
    nobody said it was a crime to smile for nothing at all! (:
    • 3 years ago
  • Anna by Anna
    Member since:
    March 07, 2007
    Total points:
    374 (Level 2)
    I suppose the way you gotta look at it, or at least the way I do, is that you COULD be happy just for sake of being happy...

    ... however...

    I would find that very hard. To sit and think, "hey! I should be happy! For no reason whatsoever!" isn't exactly human nature. We, as humans, react first and foremost to our surroundings.

    Now, I'm not going to say that it's absolutely impossible to sit and, having nothing particularly on your mind, just happily smile to yourself. But I do know that if I was so see that person smiling, I would think "whoa, I wonder what they're thinking about?" Or perhaps, "Gee something great must have happened to him!"

    So my answer to your question would be, yes, I do believe there is always a "reason" for anyone to be smiling. Whether it be because their crush brushed against them on their way to class, or the person is just thinking pleasant thoughts... maybe they're just happy to be alive! Who knows, but I would have to assume the person is at least thinking of something that makes them happy :D

    Best of luck to you! And keep-a-smiling!
    Anna :)
    • 3 years ago
  • tigertrot1986 by tigertro...
    Member since:
    November 24, 2006
    Total points:
    2117 (Level 3)
    Scientifically, yes (assuming you mean a "state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy"). Intuitively, no.

    If you look at it scientifically, we need some sort of stimulus to initiate the complex chemical reactions that lead to a feeling of placid content. Perhaps you just smelled fried chicken just like your mum's. Or maybe the sun shining outside was just the thing for you after a whole day cooped up in the cubicle. You might not be aware of the stimulus, but there it is.

    Intuitively, why would anyone need a REASON to be HAPPY? Why, the two together almost make a contradiction. Sometimes, I find myself grinning for no apparent cause whatsoever. When that happens, I just enjoy the emotion and feel that wonderful fuzzy feeling what it lasts. I don't NEED a reason to smile; heck, I don't WANT one. The feeling is enough for me. :D
    • 3 years ago
  • Jeanne B by Jeanne B
    Member since:
    February 04, 2007
    Total points:
    21912 (Level 6)
    No, happiness is dependant solely on your internal condition. Though external events may trigger internal experiences.
    About smiling: Daisaku Ikeda, President of the Soka Gakkai International once said, "A smile is not the effect of happiness, but the cause of it."
    I'll add only: try it, you'll see that you cannot feel bad when you smile.
    • 3 years ago
  • Vera by Vera
    Member since:
    April 01, 2007
    Total points:
    112 (Level 1)
    I think it's just up to you. It depends on your ABILITY to see the environment. Not environment itself. Don't waste your time trying to find a reason to be happy: most important thing is to find happiness inside yourself...
    • 3 years ago
  • ಠ_ಠ by ಠ_ಠ
    Member since:
    March 09, 2007
    Total points:
    2360 (Level 3)
    I believe in cause and effect, so yes I believe that there is a reason behind every smile. No matter how subconscious the reason and effort for a smile may be, from my thinking it is ALWAYS an outcome of an event of some sort.
    • 3 years ago
  • \" moOnLighT "/ by \" moOnLighT "/
    Member since:
    March 17, 2007
    Total points:
    200 (Level 1)
    $$$ can bring happiness
    • 3 years ago
  • mr.kotiankar by mr.kotia...
    Member since:
    November 23, 2006
    Total points:
    3111 (Level 4)
    happiness does not happen!

    True Pleasure of the ultimate nature is not dependent on external factors nor does happiness.

    It is only realized or it becomes our awareness.

    Let me make myself understood that any thing that is external to this body mind and heart is experienced by the senses, these are not perfect and complete as the eyes need the external source of light for it to work, or it may mistake a rope to be a snake in the dark.

    True & pure smile can come only from the heart sincerly , tall the rest are imitations and not really true & pure.
    • 3 years ago
  • Little princess by Little princess
    Member since:
    March 27, 2007
    Total points:
    436 (Level 2)
    the weak person make the situations control him so when something bad happens he become sad and when something good happens he become happy , but the strong person controls the situations when he is happy nothing bad would make him sad . so you have to control the situations and be happy all the time without a reason ;)
    • 3 years ago
  • Beauty isn't everything... by Beauty isn't everything...
    Member since:
    April 05, 2006
    Total points:
    7541 (Level 5)
    No..Being alive is more than a reason;)
    • 3 years ago
  • Nora by Nora
    Member since:
    January 05, 2007
    Total points:
    230 (Level 1)
    no need for reasons...be happy..jus because ;)
    • 3 years ago
  • Laela (Layla) by Laela (Layla)
    Member since:
    November 20, 2006
    Total points:
    19645 (Level 6)
    No. There are somethings that we just have to do on our own. There are reasons that one is happy, but they shouldn't go out there and depend upon everyone else so that they can be happy.
    • 3 years ago
  • Ghanouge by Ghanouge
    Member since:
    September 18, 2006
    Total points:
    11300 (Level 6)
    nope im always smiling :D see

    Source(s):

    gh
    • 3 years ago
  • Timaeus by Timaeus
    Member since:
    March 12, 2007
    Total points:
    12588 (Level 6)
    This question begs one to ask, what is happiness? If happiness is emotional fulfillement and positive feelings, then, it would seem, that you would need something to cause your happiness. If happiness is conceived of as the realization of one's purpose, then the reason for your happiness is the fulfillment of the teleology of your nature. In this case, satisfaction in one's life would come once one knew the purpose of their existence, accepted such a purpose, and set about its fulfillment-- this would engender happiness.
    • 3 years ago
  • al b by al b
    Member since:
    November 27, 2006
    Total points:
    7460 (Level 5)
    nope, it just a choice. You can decide to be happy or let circumstances drive you into depression and misery.
    • 3 years ago
  • nancy s by nancy s
    Member since:
    March 31, 2007
    Total points:
    160 (Level 1)
    it is not the level of prosperity that makes for happiness but the kinship of heart to heart and the way we look at the world.Both attitudes are within our power, so that a man is happy so long as he chooses to be happy and no one can stop him.
    • 3 years ago
  • farah_fauzi by farah_fa...
    Member since:
    April 20, 2006
    Total points:
    2224 (Level 3)

Answers International

Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. Click here for the Full Disclaimer.

Help us improve Yahoo! Answers. Send Feedback