Why the pursuit of happiness naturally includes melancholy

[vic smyth]

Those of you that may or may not know me, I generally view the world with rose colored glasses (at least on my better days) and do not subscribe to the popular view on this forum that "we learn from suffering", so suffering is good. Then I read this article that really sheds some light on the subject and gives plenty of evidence that I might be wrong. So I thought I'd share it: Why the pursuit of happiness naturally includes melancholy


With Lovingkindness (metta),
vic

[Birki]

Hi vic,

I agree that one doesn't need suffering to progress spiritually. But, I do think it is possible to learn from suffering, though to me that does not mean "suffering is good". So I guess I don't really subscribe to what you consider the poplular view on this forum. However I really don't think the article you linked to argues for the matter one way or the other. It's just one guy's opinion about his view of the world. Frankly, I found it mildly depressing.

[Fasaga]

Hi Vic

All my life I've been accused of over optimism, so I too look at the world through the same glasses you do. As to the suffering and learning thing, I think that situations will always provide opportunity for learning, whether those situations are negative or possitive, there are lessons to be had, that's both spiritual and emotional growth, character building. I do not subscribe to the idea that the only reason we are put here (or choose to be here) is exclusively to learn lessons.

I do however believe that there are experiences and growth that are exclusively available in a physical world and I will always believe that we are here to try and enjoy this life for what its worth, for the time we are living it, the lessons happen by default, not by design. Just my opinion.

[Celera]

Vic, apart from any assessment of whose ideas are "right" or "wrong" -- whatever that means anyway -- I applaud your willingness to examine different ideas. If only we were all more open to considering new perspectives, we would all learn much more than we do from our sufferings.

[vic smyth]

Vic, apart from any assessment of whose ideas are "right" or "wrong" -- whatever that means anyway -- I applaud your willingness to examine different ideas. If only we were all more open to considering new perspectives, we would all learn much more than we do from our sufferings.

Thank-you for your kind words. I often learn more from those that express views different from my own, than those who are in agreement with me. Whenever I read something and think, "Hmm, maybe I'm wrong and have to rethink my position", is when I truly grow.


With Lovingkindness (metta),
vic

[shantu]

I'd never say suffering is 'good', but I would say that suffering teaches us in an intense, focused way that an eternity of being content cannot. It is my opinion that this pressurised learning curve is one of the reasons our souls reincarnate on this particular planet. I'm reminded of the 'Diamond Self' concept from psychology where our lives are spent refining and rediscovering the diamond that is our true self and as we know, diamonds are created through extreme pressure...

From personal experience I've learnt alot from depression and now, having spent half a life-time in a largely melancholic state, I am learning how to live in joy. It's quite a lesson!

[Annie]

The man in this article claims that there is a big difference between melancholy (general sadness that you know isn't permanent) and depression, which feels more hopeless and devastating. I have to agree. I think that sadness I've experienced has made me a deeper person, has made me appreciate my happiness, has made me stronger and more interesting, and more empathetic. True suffering, however, that feeling that life has no lasting joy, where you don't want to wake up in the morning, that drives people to wish they were dead, or into committing atrocities...I don't think this is essential for spiritual growth. I think it can be a huge hindrance, actually, that makes us regress rather than progress. If this wasn't true then there wouldn't be hauntings from tormented earthbound spirits, and there wouldn't be an outer darkness that people condemn themselves to.

I think that suffering comes out of free will. We come to earth with the best of intentions, but sometimes the struggle is too much. This is what spirit guides are there for, to do their best to make things more bearable so that you will feel happy again. I don't know, I mean, a lot of people say that some people come to earth with the intent to live a really hard life too though, but I'm guessing those are people who have really strong coping mechanisms and are not prone to depression.

The definition of suffering isn't necessarily universal. Someone might go through a really rough experience and come out of it okay, get treatment if they need to, get support from others, and emerge just as happy as they were before. But another person might go through the same thing and completely unravel, suffer from post traumatic stress disorder from a very long time, and develop a much bleaker view of the world than they had before.

[vic smyth]

Hi Annie,

Very well, put. Thank-you.


With Lovingkindness (metta),
vic

[william61]

I think that suffering comes out of free will. We come to earth with the best of intentions, but sometimes the struggle is too much. This is what spirit guides are there for, to do their best to make things more bearable so that you will feel happy again.

Gee I don't know Annie. Without being flippant, I and my new found friends in my late wifes mutual support group must have been elsewhere when Spirit Guides were being issued. Happiness is such a rare and fleeting experience for most of the group.
Bill.

[Annie]

Gee I don't know Annie. Without being flippant, I and my new found friends in my late wifes mutual support group must have been elsewhere when Spirit Guides were being issued. Happiness is such a rare and fleeting experience for most of the group.
Bill.

I'm sorry to hear this. I know that this probably seems unbearable, but don't give up asking your guides for good and better things to come your way in life, and talk to your wife often because I guarantee she is listening.

This is what I meant by free will though. Your wife didn't come here with the intention to kill herself, just like you didn't come here to go through this much grief. We have control over our actions here, and sometimes there's nothing our guides can do to stop it, when they desperately want to. That being said, maybe they gave you a little nudge in the direction of your support group...while I'm sure it seems like a drop of happiness in the ocean of your suffering, these people will give you a little strength every time you see them, just as you will to them.