Happiness?

**AngryGroceries** · 04-09-2010, 10:28 PM

What makes you [each of you individually] happiest? ...and what things in general make you happy?

Accomplishments? Environment? New experiences? Possessions? Love?

**LifeWellWasted** · 04-10-2010, 12:52 AM

Happiness for me is difficult to pin down for me as it is constantly changing as I grow older (and hopefully wiser).

Love, outside of my teenage years, has never been something I have actively sought. Every encounter has been far too disappointing for me to purposely put any stock in potential happiness. For me this area is simple. Expect the worst, hope for the best. Happiness can only arise from concrete situations here. So I don't expect to be fulfilled in this area.

New experiences are always welcome as new knowledge always goes hand in hand with them. However, I wouldn't rate those as "happiness." More along the lines of satisfaction from gaining something I can use for the future.

Possessions are difficult. They only make me happy if they accomplish a certain goal; and to do this they must serve a specific function for accomplishing a immediate milestone in my life, or serve as a platform for a future one. (If that makes any sense...)

I have had, for a very long time, a clear vision of the future I wanted to attain. I suppose that spurts of happiness arise from small accomplishments towards my overall goal. But the euphoria felt is never everlasting.

I have learned that I love the process of projects. Dreaming about them, and being in the middle of processing/accomplishing them. I don't know if this is INTJ specific, but I find that I am most content when continuously challenged by a project.

**Vagrant** · 04-10-2010, 12:55 AM

What makes me happy?

Knowing that I have facilitated others to succeed. Knowing that what I've done will have a lasting positive benefit.

Oh, and sex. Massages too. God I want one right now. >.>

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**Rachel45** · 04-10-2010, 01:16 AM

Happiness: 1) Being a sober, productive person

2) Reading every day

3) Hanging out with my children

4) QUIET TIME (this is my alone time in my lair-a small room in my house that is decorated beautifully and is full of books).

5) Analyzation and strategizing (are ya surprised?)

6) Going to the wonderful twelve step meetings in my area

7) The gift of awareness that comes with long-term sobriety (sixteen years in October).

8) Academics: knowing that I never went to high school(long story-crazy parents) and yet have a GPA of 3.95

9) Knowing that I am loved by my family and friends and that I love in return.

10) Being an INTJ, silly

**Rationality** · 04-10-2010, 01:25 AM

1) Having a companion.
2) Material possessions.
3) Things that inspire me: good movies and shows, good music, good books. Beauty.
4) Seeing new places.

**True Rune** · 04-10-2010, 03:21 AM

I'm not sure what constitutes long-term happiness. There is one thing, but because of my own doubts and not feeling like getting bitched out I'm not gonna talk about it. But overall, when I feel happy it's when I'm going in the right direction, feeling loved and LEARNING!

**LifesEcstasy** · 04-10-2010, 04:01 AM

Meeting my self-appointed goals whatever they may be. They shift constantly but as long as I am on my way and feel purposeful then that's happiness to me. My life could be falling to shit but if I'm moving in the direction I want it's all good. My life could also be grand and cruisy but if I'm just drifting in a confused daze then I feel terrible.

**castalia** · 04-10-2010, 04:29 AM

Originally Posted by LifeWellWasted
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Love, outside of my teenage years, has never been something I have actively sought. Every encounter has been far too disappointing for me to purposely put any stock in potential happiness. For me this area is simple. Expect the worst, hope for the best. Happiness can only arise from concrete situations here. So I don't expect to be fulfilled in this area.

New experiences are always welcome as new knowledge always goes hand in hand with them. However, I wouldn't rate those as "happiness." More along the lines of satisfaction from gaining something I can use for the future.

Possessions are difficult. They only make me happy if they accomplish a certain goal; and to do this they must serve a specific function for accomplishing a immediate milestone in my life, or serve as a platform for a future one. (If that makes any sense...)

I have had, for a very long time, a clear vision of the future I wanted to attain. I suppose that spurts of happiness arise from small accomplishments towards my overall goal. But the euphoria felt is never everlasting.

I have learned that I love the process of projects. Dreaming about them, and being in the middle of processing/accomplishing them. I don't know if this is INTJ specific, but I find that I am most content when continuously challenged by a project.

Pretty much this for me as well. I am also currently practicing letting go and non-attachment to things, people, and ideas and I've found that it mellows me out. One of the most important things for me is learning how to have peace of mind and reaching some of the Epicurean freedom called ataraxia. Learning to let go and let be is, I believe, an important life lesson for any INTJ.

**Blendy** · 04-10-2010, 06:47 AM

Being alone in nature, spending time with my SO, reading, learning. While spending time with animals (ie playing with dogs, visiting goats and sheep at the farm, feeding/petting stray cats in the neighborhood), I'm often at my happiest.

Accomplishments (in the work/academic/professional sense) and possessions don't tend to provide any significant happiness.

**TypeINTJ** · 04-10-2010, 07:43 AM

Philosophically just existing makes me happy in & of itself, I am lucky to have been born, to be born in this century, to be born in middle class family, most importantly to be born with this brain
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, some of the things that make my happy include :

- to be able to accomplish myself in whatever task I choose
- to be able to make long term plans and stick to them till the end
- to be an independent individual
- to be an introvert & have an inner life
- to create a big picture of the world were I choose to be a part of
- to create meaning for myself instead of having it shoved down my throat by an extroverted culture
- to have a few people around me that strive to be better for themselves like me, where I can enjoy being in their company as much as they do, just because we want to not need too
- My Mac
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The list could go on forever, being an INTJ seriously rules, I create my own reality and that helps give me infinite options of things to choose from to be happy with
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**emma4enriquexx** · 04-10-2010, 08:48 AM

Independance and accomplishment.

**Thinktress** · 04-10-2010, 10:25 AM

this will seem so weird for an INTJ I'm sure but my son, learning, relationships, family, the animal kingdom (really, the animal kingdom and my family have to fight it out for their place there, ha!), a sense of giving back, personal accomplishment, nature, seeing the world, tech, computers

Material things are going to be the very last on my list of what makes me happy.

**Distance** · 04-10-2010, 10:41 AM

	Originally Posted by AngryGroceries To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	What makes you [each of you individually] happiest? ...and what things in general make you happy? Accomplishments? Environment? New experiences? Possessions? Love?

Shouldn't you be defining happiness first? IMO, happiness is the up-spike to contentment.

With the above in mind, accomplishments such as creating order with positive end results, make me happy. New, positive experiences make me happy. Challenge makes me happy. New loves make me happy due to happy hormones...haha...

But the meat and potatoes of life aren't based on happiness. They're based on positive contentment which is a composition of environment, real love, a place or places you call home, fiscal security, etc.

**TheBlackKnight** · 04-10-2010, 12:24 PM

	Originally Posted by AngryGroceries To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	What makes you [each of you individually] happiest? ...and what things in general make you happy? Accomplishments? Environment? New experiences? Possessions? Love?

Highest to lowest:

-Alone time with plenty of quiet
-Contingency Planning
-Reasoning
-Theory that is completely abstract
-Learning something new
-Anything I would personally label "nerdy"
-Making new connections
-Technology/Computers
-Emotionally-validating fiction
-Logic puzzles
-Explaining something to someone and having them understand what they wouldn't have understood otherwise
-Showing others that they're smarter than they give themselves credit for, when warranted
-Making others happy simply by understanding them
-Having others understand me

...Looking over that list, I think it's safe to say my INFP girlfriend is rubbing off on me.

**heartland** · 04-10-2010, 02:14 PM

	Originally Posted by AngryGroceries To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Accomplishments? Environment? New experiences? Possessions? Love?

Emotional honesty and making progress on my plans.

**t3hrubikscube** · 04-10-2010, 04:14 PM

Success, accomplishments, having fun (yes, even if it's seemingly meaningless), etc. all make me happy. I suppose certain things make me feel short-term happiness while other things make me feel long-term happiness, which are slightly different, but they're both forms of happiness.

04-09-2010, 10:28 PM	#1
AngryGroceries Banned MBTI: INTP Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 1,795	What makes you [each of you individually] happiest? ...and what things in general make you happy? Accomplishments? Environment? New experiences? Possessions? Love?
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04-10-2010, 12:52 AM	#2
LifeWellWasted Member [03%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 136	Happiness for me is difficult to pin down for me as it is constantly changing as I grow older (and hopefully wiser). Love, outside of my teenage years, has never been something I have actively sought. Every encounter has been far too disappointing for me to purposely put any stock in potential happiness. For me this area is simple. Expect the worst, hope for the best. Happiness can only arise from concrete situations here. So I don't expect to be fulfilled in this area. New experiences are always welcome as new knowledge always goes hand in hand with them. However, I wouldn't rate those as "happiness." More along the lines of satisfaction from gaining something I can use for the future. Possessions are difficult. They only make me happy if they accomplish a certain goal; and to do this they must serve a specific function for accomplishing a immediate milestone in my life, or serve as a platform for a future one. (If that makes any sense...) I have had, for a very long time, a clear vision of the future I wanted to attain. I suppose that spurts of happiness arise from small accomplishments towards my overall goal. But the euphoria felt is never everlasting. I have learned that I love the process of projects. Dreaming about them, and being in the middle of processing/accomplishing them. I don't know if this is INTJ specific, but I find that I am most content when continuously challenged by a project.
LifeWellWasted is offline post a comment

04-10-2010, 12:55 AM	#3
Vagrant Core Member [157%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6,312	What makes me happy? Knowing that I have facilitated others to succeed. Knowing that what I've done will have a lasting positive benefit. Oh, and sex. Massages too. God I want one right now. >.> To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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04-10-2010, 01:16 AM	#4
Rachel45 Core Member [137%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 5,509	Happiness: 1) Being a sober, productive person 2) Reading every day 3) Hanging out with my children 4) QUIET TIME (this is my alone time in my lair-a small room in my house that is decorated beautifully and is full of books). 5) Analyzation and strategizing (are ya surprised?) 6) Going to the wonderful twelve step meetings in my area 7) The gift of awareness that comes with long-term sobriety (sixteen years in October). 8) Academics: knowing that I never went to high school(long story-crazy parents) and yet have a GPA of 3.95 9) Knowing that I am loved by my family and friends and that I love in return. 10) Being an INTJ, silly
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04-10-2010, 01:25 AM	#5
Rationality Member [30%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,238	1) Having a companion. 2) Material possessions. 3) Things that inspire me: good movies and shows, good music, good books. Beauty. 4) Seeing new places.
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04-10-2010, 03:21 AM	#6
True Rune Core Member [201%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 8,062	I'm not sure what constitutes long-term happiness. There is one thing, but because of my own doubts and not feeling like getting bitched out I'm not gonna talk about it. But overall, when I feel happy it's when I'm going in the right direction, feeling loved and LEARNING!
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04-10-2010, 04:01 AM	#7
LifesEcstasy Member [45%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,804	Meeting my self-appointed goals whatever they may be. They shift constantly but as long as I am on my way and feel purposeful then that's happiness to me. My life could be falling to shit but if I'm moving in the direction I want it's all good. My life could also be grand and cruisy but if I'm just drifting in a confused daze then I feel terrible.
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04-10-2010, 06:47 AM	#9
Blendy Member [02%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 95	Being alone in nature, spending time with my SO, reading, learning. While spending time with animals (ie playing with dogs, visiting goats and sheep at the farm, feeding/petting stray cats in the neighborhood), I'm often at my happiest. Accomplishments (in the work/academic/professional sense) and possessions don't tend to provide any significant happiness.
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04-10-2010, 07:43 AM	#10
TypeINTJ Member [09%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 363	Philosophically just existing makes me happy in & of itself, I am lucky to have been born, to be born in this century, to be born in middle class family, most importantly to be born with this brain To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. , some of the things that make my happy include : - to be able to accomplish myself in whatever task I choose - to be able to make long term plans and stick to them till the end - to be an independent individual - to be an introvert & have an inner life - to create a big picture of the world were I choose to be a part of - to create meaning for myself instead of having it shoved down my throat by an extroverted culture - to have a few people around me that strive to be better for themselves like me, where I can enjoy being in their company as much as they do, just because we want to not need too - My Mac To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. The list could go on forever, being an INTJ seriously rules, I create my own reality and that helps give me infinite options of things to choose from to be happy with To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
TypeINTJ is offline post a comment

04-10-2010, 08:48 AM	#11
emma4enriquexx Member [06%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 274	Independance and accomplishment.
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04-10-2010, 10:25 AM	#12
Thinktress Veteran Member [52%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,112	this will seem so weird for an INTJ I'm sure but my son, learning, relationships, family, the animal kingdom (really, the animal kingdom and my family have to fight it out for their place there, ha!), a sense of giving back, personal accomplishment, nature, seeing the world, tech, computers Material things are going to be the very last on my list of what makes me happy.
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04-10-2010, 04:14 PM	#16
t3hrubikscube Member [18%] MBTI: IxTJ Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 745	Success, accomplishments, having fun (yes, even if it's seemingly meaningless), etc. all make me happy. I suppose certain things make me feel short-term happiness while other things make me feel long-term happiness, which are slightly different, but they're both forms of happiness.
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