Ingredients in the Search for Happiness | Hacker News Reader

Ingredients in the Search for Happiness

bravenewtraveler.com

24 pointswallflower15 comments

Unless you are using it toward creating some kind of masterpiece work of art, introspection is highly overrated. I used to spend a lot of my time introspecting and while it is good once in awhile, too much of it will just make you stuck in your head and unable to enjoy yourself in social situations. I find meditation to be a lot more effective.

What is the difference?

I disagree, I don't know many people who appear to introspect at all. I read that and think that your concept of meditation and my concept of introspection are probably more similar than our ideas of meditation.

[edit: Honest question I am pointing out that the parent might not disagree with those who tout introspection, as they may share semantics for different words.]

My understanding is Introspection is the analysis of ones own thoughts. Meditation is simply being still and seeing things as they really are, understanding that thoughts are just thoughts, just as the floor is just the floor.

I mostly agree with roqetman's definition and I will add that my definition of introspection extends to the analysis of one's self in general. Analyzing oneself is often fraught with self-deception as we can only analyze ourselves using categories that are limited to our finite experience. This doesn't mean it is waste of time, but it carries the danger of us deducing way too many ungrounded truths about ourselves.

Meditation on the other hand I view as a letting go of this kind of analysis.

Thanks, my concept of introspection borders on meditation. Looking at an idea detached to see it as it is. Then feeding that back into my thoughts on what is good or bad, or whatever may be troubling me. Though I admit, I have taken it too far in the circular non-direction before breaking out before. But that's what I used to enjoy about introspection. Once you found a circle in your reasoning it gives you an opportunity to step out and examine what is causing you to reason in circles. Thus allowing you to glimpse the restrictions of your categories. Thanks for pointing out the danger of categorizing within our experiences. That is a much more pressing fault to me.

(I knew the definitions in theory, but I questioned them in practice; I don't meditate.)

[edit: You know, after watching the TED speech on success, and a bit of introspection, I see where you are coming from. Introspection has pulled me out of a depression, but it has also contributed to my high difficulty relating to other people. I guess I just reacted to the phrase "'highly' overrated". Which just reinforces my thought that most non-measurable disagreements between people are a failure to communicate effectively.]

You make some good points. Before I started doing meditation, I often practiced the kind of introspection you are describing. I still do sometimes, but not as much as before. I find that it really does help in gaining a sense of self and it is also empowering, so I can relate to how it pulled you out of depression. But as you mentioned, it can make a person way too analytical about everything and therefore hard to relate to others.

I think it is very good for creating works of art or hacking but for me it hinders being able to just relax and "feel the vibe" especially in social settings. Meditation, I find, creates for me the much needed balance.

Nice to have a normal discussion on here as opposed to the flamefests all over the web, HN is very cool!

I thought there were only 4 ingredients to happiness: Water, barley, hops, and yeast.

Two if you are a whisky aficionado: Water and malted barley.

Hey, don't underestimate the importance of the cask/barrel!

Unless you want to drink sweet sludge, you better make sure there is some yeast involved as well. ;-)

Happiness comes from you having an interesting life. I recommend reading the "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" to find more about it.

The more things you get the less happy you are, they are like a burden you carry with you, or rather stay home as carrying them would be too heavy. When I was in college I got my first laptop. Before I could leave my room door and windows open all day, after that I had to watch things closely. Instead of socializing I "was online".

"Every thing you own, owns you" to cite Tyler Durden.

I find this truth most oppressive when traveling. Leaving the laptop at home relieves the heaviness of worry that someone will steal it, and it's easier to leave work behind if you're so inclined. You're free.

"The things you own, end up owning you" is the actual quote. I agree that there is a lot of truth to the notion. The more you own, the less mobile you are.

That's why this year, my 13 month journey in the eastern hemisphere is being done with a single carry on bag. Nothing owned, nothing owning me :)

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