What is happiness?

[Womannchains]

I struggle with this every single day. I think happiness isn't something that can be defined or really put into any category. I don't understand happiness, I have moments of happiness, but my entire life has been this search for it. And I realize, I know deep down, that happiness comes from within, not from material things, or other people, or the type of life one has or does not have. But it's so elusive, fleeting, and as my teenager struggles with severe depression, she also asks these same questions, and wants to feel "happy" and it's not in our DNA. I believe that depression and anxiety can be inherited, my whole family on my mothers side have severe depression and anxiety issues, and there has been quite a lot of suicides in my family. I feel responsible for my daughters suffering, I see myself in her, the way she struggles and anxiety attacks, and I would sell my soul if I could bear it for her, and for all this pain to leave her alone. She is only 13 and has been diagnosed with bi-polar, low on that spectrum, and generalized anxiety disorder. So I try to be the strong woman I have had to be all my life, and help her realize that her life is worth the struggle, that happiness IS attainable, Gods, it's just so hard sometimes.

[MyLilKalEl]

Good morning,

I have come to see happiness as circumstantial. When something good happens or life seems easy for a season or you won the lottery are some examples I think of off top of my head. Though they are often fleeting moments. An understanding that has helped me is to differentiate happiness and joy. Joy is something I can sometimes try to tap into within myself and my faith or in nature, painting, e.t.c. I have found it helpful to see them different and understand joy is ours to find within, though happiness is not something we can manufacture. Ya know. Hole

Hope that makes sense. Lol