Do you ever wonder why you're never satisfied?

brizzlar

We're all wired for joy and happiness. Every person on the planet is seeking to be happy. Even the suicidal person wants it, but just believes it will be found in death.

The question then is how do we find it? Will you find it once you get married? Once you get the guy/girl you've been pursuing? Will it be in that house? That job? That car? That income? That child? That physique? That suburb?

The reality is that you will probably get that thing that you're chasing and end up feeling high and dry.

Why? Because all those things are like the shadow of the actual source of joy.

A man once said "I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will hunger no more, whoever comes to me will thirst no More" (own paraphrase).

Let me encourage you to look that quote up and see if that man perhaps is the one your heart has always longed for but never been able to find.

Chrisjuvers

Maybe if you're not focused on materialistic things, you will eventually be satisfied.

gothchiq

Being materialistic is definitely a way to never be happy. Hobbies, social interaction, and good close relationships are how you'll be happy, in addition to taking good care of yourself of course. For many people, spirituality is also a component.

Whitezombiegirl

No, mythological deities do not make me satisfied.

brizzlar

@Whitezombiegirl

Thanks for your comment.

I understand your rejection of mythology, but how did you come to conclude that Jesus comes under that category?

brizzlar

@Chrisjuvers

Out of curiosity, would you say other people constitute 'material things'?

brizzlar

@gothchiq

Thanks for your thoughts. The quote I put forward can be seen in a freeing sense - ie true and lasting happiness can be found in the one who claimed to be the 'bread of life'. There is though an exclusive element to it, that is, he is also the only bread - which makes the person differ from spirituality and religion.

NeymarMessiFCB

How did I know this was religious

NeymarMessiFCB

brizzlar wrote: »

@Whitezombiegirl

Thanks for your comment.

I understand your rejection of mythology, but how did you come to conclude that Jesus comes under that category?

Maybe because he isn't real and is based off of an Egyptian god named Horus.

gothchiq

I *am* a Christian. That said, I respect others' right to believe or disbelieve.

gothchiq

I also have to let you know that the boards have rules against preaching. I'd hate to see you get banned for not knowing this.

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JeromeBarry1

The "U" shape of happiness in human life describes the very young as happy and the very old as happy while describing the middle 2/3 of life as unhappy. In the case of my father, who retired with a pension and Social Security replacing 100% of his lifetime highest earned income, he was very happy. In the case of most of us who don't have pensions, savings, or any realistic expectation that Social Security will 100% be there for us, life is an "L".

Unknown

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Caporegiem

The day I'm satisfied will be the day I have nothing left to accomplish and what's enjoyable about a life with no goals to accomplish?

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ouryve

Can't say I have, no.

Thinking on, mind, in terms of being more inclusive and 21st century with that quote, "I am the spiralised vegetable substitute for bread and other carbs of life, he/she/xe who comes to me shall not hunger, though if they think they do, maybe they need to have a drink of water to make sure they're not mistaking the signs of thirst for hunger." doesn't quite fit into a song so well as the classic version.

JessicaJS23

I'm always satisfied

JessicaJS23

I'm always satisfied.. Happy with what I have.. That's the key to happiness. ( for myself )

Alienique

Nope. And if I ruminate too hard on it, I'll end up with an existential crisis, followed by increased awareness of the gaping void in my soul, and probably another cat to fill said void.

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kirstenleigh123

brizzlar

Interesting thoughts by many.

@gothchiq thanks for the heads up. I'll try to be respectful and low key

I understand that many of you are frustrated with religious beliefs - especially Christianity as that is was you were most exposed to growing up in the U.S.

I also understand that many of you feel like exclusive claims come across as narrow and narrow isn't ok in the 21st century according to many.

I actually happen to think most of us have thrown the baby out with the bath water though.

I grew up around the Christian faith but only rejected the caricature of the faith that I had formed in my head.

Id like to encourage and challenge all of you to re examine that which you've possibly only been given a taste of or worse, a complete misrepresentation of.

When I worked as a teacher we had a motto in the classrooms: 'question everything.' it's a great way to approach life and I think it applies to our search for happiness/meaning/purpose as well

brizzlar

Caporegiem wrote: »

The day I'm satisfied will be the day I have nothing left to accomplish and what's enjoyable about a life with no goals to accomplish?

@Caporegiem

How did you reach rhat conclusion?

brizzlar

Louise1491 wrote: »

I think we're never satisfied because we always have that knowledge that there is more. That being said though satisfaction can come from just true appreciation of what you already have.

Interesting thoughts Louise. How'd you come to conclude that?

brizzlar

NeymarMessiFCB wrote: »

brizzlar wrote: »

@Whitezombiegirl

Thanks for your comment.

I understand your rejection of mythology, but how did you come to conclude that Jesus comes under that category?

Maybe because he isn't real and is based off of an Egyptian god named Horus.

Very interesting comment Newmarmessi. I'd love to know how you came to thsy conclusion? I'm currently studying theology and don't believe I've come across that theory yet. I have read that some fringe scholars believe that Jesus went to India during his childhood..

brizzlar

NeymarMessiFCB wrote: »

How did I know this was religious?

What's you're definition of religious?

gothchiq

Alienique wrote: »

Nope. And if I ruminate too hard on it, I'll end up with an existential crisis, followed by increased awareness of the gaping void in my soul, and probably another cat to fill said void.

Cats are love. Not to recommend animal hoarding or anything, but we've got two spoiled furry babies and are looking forward to getting a third once we get our debt level down. One of my rescues died recently (she apparently had liver failure when I took her in, and I did not know. she died on the operating table) and there is a lot of expense related to all the vet bills wherein we tried to save her. So maybe a year from now that'll be paid off and we can find a healthy and spastic kitten. XD

kate141987

hamlet1222

I suffer from a mental illness I call 'chronic satisfaction' it prevents me from running marathons, getting to the top at work, making millions, and of course achieving a six pack. Still I'm the least stressed person I know, so it has its benefits. I did try reading the bible once, got half way though the old testament, came to the conclusion that we have billions of people in the world worshipping a dangerous, jealous, and genocidal psychopath - that whole noah's ark thing!