The closest I get is a successful search for obscure and preferably failed media. I’ve shared a lot on here about my love of horror movies and books, but it goes further still than that I love all kinds of failed movies and books. If it killed someone’s career, it has a shot at brightening my day.
Those sort of fever dream media that allow for a deep dissociation from the horrors of daily life, no greater joy exists that I’ve found. So when I am down, the reflex just kicks in at this point that I start scratching at artists who I know made more stuff that just hasn’t seen the light of day.
Somewhere in the pile of discarded dreams, where everyone else saw trash, there lies a distraction worthwhile for me. Add extra points if most of the people involved are long dead. I spent so much of my early life in library stacks, trying to make discarded volumes of newsprint into stories worth reading.
Now I swim in a vast ocean of video and books including zany stories of demons and zombies, haunted houses and cannibals, and hapless teenagers who somehow never have the sense to go to the proper authorities. No joy greater, again that I have fouund. The world out there is bleak, but the carnival of the mind seems to go on regardless.
To add to Viking’s post…there are still some things I love about life and it keeps me going, like just being out in nature…driving in beautiful weather….I include rain and snow.
Good books, good movies, fun people in your life, all can bring some joy back…it is fleeting if the issues in your life are not resolved or if you don’t feel you’re where you should be in terms of success.
But it all goes back to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and getting all your basics met and reaching a better level where happiness is more easily attainable.
Without the basics in life, like stability, good health (mental/physical), without some friends/family in life…and having a nice home, then it’s hard to be happy.
Some people who are ‘spoiled’ in life and have everything, find reasons to mess it up through jealousy, fighting with others, etc… But for me, if I had the things I mentioned above I wouldn’t take it for granted like so many people in the ‘upper crust’ do.
I’m not a follower of any creed or particular philosophy, and in general I find much joy in the natural world. Like Viking, I also love horror and anything about the bleakness of existence (like works by Thomas Ligotti), as well as many forms of metal. But when I am feeling down on myself or other things, I found that the philosophy of Epicurus puts things in perspective. I’m not recommending it specifically — you can find your own — but for many people (like me) religion doesn’t cut it. Stoicism (the main rival of Epicureanism in ancient times) is much more popular today and I’m well-versed in that as well, but it’s also not for me. Anyway, it depends on one’s personality, but maybe have a look!
There are those who don’t plan out their lives, who sit inside all day playing video games, never doing anything worthwhile, wondering Why they’re so sad. And then there are those who do everything they should to complete their goals but have chemical imbalances. And then there are those who get fed up and just quit everything.
Happiness doesn’t come in a one-size-fits-all formula. There are things people can do to improve upon obtaining it, though. The biggest thing to look at is how you’re using your time.
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The closest I get is a successful search for obscure and preferably failed media. I’ve shared a lot on here about my love of horror movies and books, but it goes further still than that I love all kinds of failed movies and books. If it killed someone’s career, it has a shot at brightening my day.
Those sort of fever dream media that allow for a deep dissociation from the horrors of daily life, no greater joy exists that I’ve found. So when I am down, the reflex just kicks in at this point that I start scratching at artists who I know made more stuff that just hasn’t seen the light of day.
Somewhere in the pile of discarded dreams, where everyone else saw trash, there lies a distraction worthwhile for me. Add extra points if most of the people involved are long dead. I spent so much of my early life in library stacks, trying to make discarded volumes of newsprint into stories worth reading.
Now I swim in a vast ocean of video and books including zany stories of demons and zombies, haunted houses and cannibals, and hapless teenagers who somehow never have the sense to go to the proper authorities. No joy greater, again that I have fouund. The world out there is bleak, but the carnival of the mind seems to go on regardless.
To add to Viking’s post…there are still some things I love about life and it keeps me going, like just being out in nature…driving in beautiful weather….I include rain and snow.
Good books, good movies, fun people in your life, all can bring some joy back…it is fleeting if the issues in your life are not resolved or if you don’t feel you’re where you should be in terms of success.
But it all goes back to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and getting all your basics met and reaching a better level where happiness is more easily attainable.
Without the basics in life, like stability, good health (mental/physical), without some friends/family in life…and having a nice home, then it’s hard to be happy.
Some people who are ‘spoiled’ in life and have everything, find reasons to mess it up through jealousy, fighting with others, etc… But for me, if I had the things I mentioned above I wouldn’t take it for granted like so many people in the ‘upper crust’ do.
I’m not a follower of any creed or particular philosophy, and in general I find much joy in the natural world. Like Viking, I also love horror and anything about the bleakness of existence (like works by Thomas Ligotti), as well as many forms of metal. But when I am feeling down on myself or other things, I found that the philosophy of Epicurus puts things in perspective. I’m not recommending it specifically — you can find your own — but for many people (like me) religion doesn’t cut it. Stoicism (the main rival of Epicureanism in ancient times) is much more popular today and I’m well-versed in that as well, but it’s also not for me. Anyway, it depends on one’s personality, but maybe have a look!
There are those who don’t plan out their lives, who sit inside all day playing video games, never doing anything worthwhile, wondering Why they’re so sad. And then there are those who do everything they should to complete their goals but have chemical imbalances. And then there are those who get fed up and just quit everything.
Happiness doesn’t come in a one-size-fits-all formula. There are things people can do to improve upon obtaining it, though. The biggest thing to look at is how you’re using your time.