Comments on: The Pursuit of Happiness http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/ public domain playground. friendly entities welcome. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:44:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: 19661967 guttogut - Pop Occulture http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-36225 19661967 guttogut - Pop Occulture Wed, 14 Feb 2007 02:15:17 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/#comment-36225 [...] There is no wrong poetry. But there is bad poetry. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy it or that it doesn’t still accurately reflect a particular person’s experience. Sisoris Hoyd rubs his hands together in delight from the back room. From the kitchen rise the muffled cries of cocks being beheaded. “I want to be happy but not all the time.” Someday they’ll find a cure for pain. Someday we’ll appreciate the goddamned rain. Someday when the flowers come up we will rejoice once again. [...] [...] There is no wrong poetry. But there is bad poetry. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy it or that it doesn’t still accurately reflect a particular person’s experience. Sisoris Hoyd rubs his hands together in delight from the back room. From the kitchen rise the muffled cries of cocks being beheaded. “I want to be happy but not all the time.” Someday they’ll find a cure for pain. Someday we’ll appreciate the goddamned rain. Someday when the flowers come up we will rejoice once again. [...]

]]> By: Tim Boucher http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-17436 Tim Boucher Wed, 14 Jun 2006 21:51:21 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/#comment-17436 <blockquote>This is such a weak statement that I can’t help but call you on it, even though I know it’s mostly irrelavent to your main point.</blockquote> Well I see what you're saying. And I certainly shorthanded and probably distorted the whole thing - But in the context of the BBC documentary, this is pretty much *exactly* what they try to conclude. Check it out. Well, to be more accurate, they show how well-meaning people after the model of Reich tried to open doors for people, which corporations then realized they could use these newly open doors to stuff full of products via lifestyle marketing

This is such a weak statement that I can’t help but call you on it, even though I know it’s mostly irrelavent to your main point.

Well I see what you’re saying. And I certainly shorthanded and probably distorted the whole thing - But in the context of the BBC documentary, this is pretty much *exactly* what they try to conclude. Check it out. Well, to be more accurate, they show how well-meaning people after the model of Reich tried to open doors for people, which corporations then realized they could use these newly open doors to stuff full of products via lifestyle marketing

]]> By: Jacob http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-17434 Jacob Wed, 14 Jun 2006 21:46:27 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/#comment-17434 <blockquote>followed by disciples of Wilhelm Reich was thought it best to “let it all hang out.” Letting it all hang out though is exactly what lead us to where we seem to be now in this country and in the world.</blockquote> This is such a weak statement that I can't help but call you on it, even though I know it's mostly irrelavent to your main point. Reichian therapy isn't about "letting it all hang out", at least not in the way you mean it here. It's about removing blockages of sexual energy (among other things, but this is primary.) Reich posited (along with the Chinese and Hindu internal alchemists) that sexuality, when blocked by feelings of shame and repression, manifests not just psychologically, but also physically, as a malady, and becomes concentrated in certain locations of the body which are often evidenced by latent aches or muscular tension. If the American mentality concerning sex and indulgence was at all educated by Reichian therapy, we'd probably be much healthier than we are now. America's sickness isn't "letting it all hang out" -- it's not a <em>lack of order</em> that is deadening our senses and making us sick and unhappy.

followed by disciples of Wilhelm Reich was thought it best to “let it all hang out.” Letting it all hang out though is exactly what lead us to where we seem to be now in this country and in the world.

This is such a weak statement that I can’t help but call you on it, even though I know it’s mostly irrelavent to your main point.

Reichian therapy isn’t about “letting it all hang out”, at least not in the way you mean it here. It’s about removing blockages of sexual energy (among other things, but this is primary.) Reich posited (along with the Chinese and Hindu internal alchemists) that sexuality, when blocked by feelings of shame and repression, manifests not just psychologically, but also physically, as a malady, and becomes concentrated in certain locations of the body which are often evidenced by latent aches or muscular tension.

If the American mentality concerning sex and indulgence was at all educated by Reichian therapy, we’d probably be much healthier than we are now. America’s sickness isn’t “letting it all hang out” — it’s not a lack of order that is deadening our senses and making us sick and unhappy.

]]> By: alistair http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-17433 alistair Wed, 14 Jun 2006 21:23:24 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/#comment-17433 it doesn`t have to be a choice. you are the one who makes the distinction by asking the question and putting grinning and dumb together as if they are inseperable. some of the wisest, most intelligent, capable and spiritual people smile all the time. i merely point out distinctions and suggest flexibility. at the end of the day we all make our own reality by the choices we make. happiness is a part of that. it doesn`t have to be a choice. you are the one who makes the distinction by asking the question and putting grinning and dumb together as if they are inseperable. some of the wisest, most intelligent, capable and spiritual people smile all the time. i merely point out distinctions and suggest flexibility. at the end of the day we all make our own reality by the choices we make.
happiness is a part of that.

]]> By: Nate http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-17432 Nate Wed, 14 Jun 2006 20:58:35 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/#comment-17432 I think I'd rather have a cause than be happy, if it came to a hard choice between them. What's more important, to get something worthwhile achieved, or to waste your life away being dumb and grinning? I think I’d rather have a cause than be happy, if it came to a hard choice between them.

What’s more important, to get something worthwhile achieved, or to waste your life away being dumb and grinning?

]]> By: alistair http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-17426 alistair Wed, 14 Jun 2006 19:09:56 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/#comment-17426 yes we do have to face our self eventually. all the having and doing just postpone the inevitable. i teach the generation of peak states and happiness falls into that catagory. people who find a simple happiness inside tend to not persist in abusive behaviours and types of thinking. the more you choose good feelings the less room there is for the other less positive ones. method: remember a good, fun, passionate memory from your past. build p the image in your mind in terms of wht you saw, what you heard and what you did and possibly tasted and smelled too. really focus on the textures of colour, sound, volume, brightness and intensity as you relive this experience and notice how you feel the things you remember feeling when you first experienced the event. the better you become at recreating this memory the beeter you will become at re-installing this feeling for continued use. this is the reason we put pictures of loved ones on our desk. our feelings are our reality. yes we do have to face our self eventually. all the having and doing just postpone the inevitable. i teach the generation of peak states and happiness falls into that catagory. people who find a simple happiness inside tend to not persist in abusive behaviours and types of thinking. the more you choose good feelings the less room there is for the other less positive ones.
method:
remember a good, fun, passionate memory from your past. build p the image in your mind in terms of wht you saw, what you heard and what you did and possibly tasted and smelled too. really focus on the textures of colour, sound, volume, brightness and intensity as you relive this experience and notice how you feel the things you remember feeling when you first experienced the event.
the better you become at recreating this memory the beeter you will become at re-installing this feeling for continued use.
this is the reason we put pictures of loved ones on our desk.
our feelings are our reality.

]]> By: Tim Boucher http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-17425 Tim Boucher Wed, 14 Jun 2006 18:46:30 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/#comment-17425 <blockquote>In otherwords, write a television series!</blockquote> Haha. Okay, simple as that!

In otherwords, write a television series!

Haha. Okay, simple as that!

]]> By: pete http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-17421 pete Wed, 14 Jun 2006 16:58:51 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/#comment-17421 I think I relate so well to your posts because a lot of your thoughts and beliefs (or if you take offense to that word, allow me to rephrase it with 'ideas') remind me, in no small way, of Joss Whedon's. He came off as an atheist in interviews, and a fairly staunch one at that, but the concepts and themes he incorporated into his shows were undeniably profound. He applied spiritual truths to story-telling in practical, everyday situations (albeit set in mythical scenarios, such as space or the mouth of Hell) ...and whether or not you yourself are a fan of Buffy or Firefly, I think Joss Whedon is pretty much a genius and you seem to take after him in many regards. In otherwords, write a television series! I think I relate so well to your posts because a lot of your thoughts and beliefs (or if you take offense to that word, allow me to rephrase it with ‘ideas’) remind me, in no small way, of Joss Whedon’s. He came off as an atheist in interviews, and a fairly staunch one at that, but the concepts and themes he incorporated into his shows were undeniably profound. He applied spiritual truths to story-telling in practical, everyday situations (albeit set in mythical scenarios, such as space or the mouth of Hell) …and whether or not you yourself are a fan of Buffy or Firefly, I think Joss Whedon is pretty much a genius and you seem to take after him in many regards.

In otherwords, write a television series!

]]> By: suki http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-17420 suki Wed, 14 Jun 2006 14:46:11 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/#comment-17420 I liked it when Dennis Leary said in his No Cure for Cancer tour, that happiness comes in very small doses: a bite of a chocolate chip cookie, a drag on a cigarette. Have you ever read Sark? I think her stuff is mainly for women, but I've heard her speak on NPR and she's a pretty amazing person. Her point is basically that if you want to be happy, then just accept your life the way it is, and just try and be happy with it. But if you want something else--like to fight for a cause, to have a new house, whatever, you should know that those things will not make you happy--just a cause and a house. In my metaphysical studies, I've found that no matter what people pursue--happiness or celebrity or money--they will just keep running into the same personality quagmires in new clothes. You're better off with the cookie or cigarette. I liked it when Dennis Leary said in his No Cure for Cancer tour, that happiness comes in very small doses: a bite of a chocolate chip cookie, a drag on a cigarette.

Have you ever read Sark? I think her stuff is mainly for women, but I’ve heard her speak on NPR and she’s a pretty amazing person. Her point is basically that if you want to be happy, then just accept your life the way it is, and just try and be happy with it. But if you want something else–like to fight for a cause, to have a new house, whatever, you should know that those things will not make you happy–just a cause and a house.

In my metaphysical studies, I’ve found that no matter what people pursue–happiness or celebrity or money–they will just keep running into the same personality quagmires in new clothes.

You’re better off with the cookie or cigarette.

]]> By: alistair http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-17418 alistair Wed, 14 Jun 2006 12:27:15 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/#comment-17418 i have to qualify my statement about "choosing good feelings for no reason". this phrase is a sort of nlp joke really. it is a logical trap in that it is all the reasoning that gets us into a state of not doing things. if we can get outside of reason for a moment and use some methods that we are consciously aware of to generate good feelings then we can move towards making better choices now. we live in a consumer society and we need money to survive. a fair amount of our time is spent in getting money, or getting the means to get money..........so if there are simple sound methods for becoming more effiecient in that task, wouldn`t our lives improve? happy? we have to look at what happy means. to some happy means comfortable, to some happy means motivated, to some happy means miserable, so what we need to do first is to discover what we mean personally by happy. only then will we be able to move toward the state that we personally know as happy. i have to qualify my statement about “choosing good feelings for no reason”. this phrase is a sort of nlp joke really. it is a logical trap in that it is all the reasoning that gets us into a state of not doing things. if we can get outside of reason for a moment and use some methods that we are consciously aware of to generate good feelings then we can move towards making better choices now.
we live in a consumer society and we need money to survive. a fair amount of our time is spent in getting money, or getting the means to get money……….so if there are simple sound methods for becoming more effiecient in that task, wouldn`t our lives improve?
happy? we have to look at what happy means. to some happy means comfortable, to some happy means motivated, to some happy means miserable, so what we need to do first is to discover what we mean personally by happy. only then will we be able to move toward the state that we personally know as happy.

]]> By: Saltation http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-17415 Saltation Wed, 14 Jun 2006 10:34:35 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/#comment-17415 ah no, humans spend most of their life actively seeking UNhappiness. that makes them happy. don't believe me? i unreservedly recommend any menschenkenner save himself a few years of thought and buy this book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393310213/sr=8-1/qid=1150198363/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-7114292-8930552?%5Fencoding=UTF8" rel="nofollow">The Situation Is Hopeless, but Not Serious --The Pursuit of Unhappiness--</a> ah no, humans spend most of their life actively seeking UNhappiness. that makes them happy.

don’t believe me?

i unreservedly recommend any menschenkenner save himself a few years of thought and buy this book:
The Situation Is Hopeless, but Not Serious
–The Pursuit of Unhappiness–

]]> By: Thoth http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-17412 Thoth Wed, 14 Jun 2006 06:50:14 +0000 http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2006/06/13/the-pursuit-of-happiness/#comment-17412 "If we are never sad, then how do we know when we're happy?" I can't remember where that quote comes from, but I like it. “If we are never sad, then how do we know when we’re happy?”

I can’t remember where that quote comes from, but I like it.

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