Do you believe people make happiness, or stumble upon it?

[Coyote_Dynamo]

I think both are true. Life is what you make it, but you can also stop and appreciate what you have now, but don't settle.

[Stereotypical Nerd]

Technically money can't buy you happiness. It's the act of buying things you want that makes you happy. :P

[zombieoverkill12]

Happiness is a worthless emotion.....

[ParaChomp]

We create our own happiness which can be stumbled upon. However, the same can be said about many other emotions, especially madness...

[Dryzera]

Happiness is a worthless emotion.....

Being a sociopath is cool.

Happiness... is there really such a thing?

Oh shut up. I swear when I read things this stupid I want to bang my head on my computer over and over.

Oh, right. Your username is "Poetry" It figures.

In other news, money buys happiness.

[KiaAsakura]

Fulfilment of desires generally leads to happiness.

Most of the times we need to accomplish that ourselves, however, there are cases where it can happen without our active pursuit.

I usually feel a sense of general contentment with my life. My life is awesome. First world country and all, I have had the chance to be able to pursue my happiness, and have it mostly be in my control.

If you follow Maslow's Hierarchy of needs (Which I am doing in my definition of 'happiness' just for simplification purposes), some people only need the bottom part satisfied in order to be happy, because to them, that is what is attainable. You can make your happiness by reaching and achieving goals, which leads to a sense of self-respect and worth, or you can live life day to day without direction and still be complacent. I don't really think you end up completely happy to your fullest ability.

[FrostStorm]

You don't make or stumble upon happiness. We must strive to be better, pursue our dreams. There is no easy path.

[Charizard_Rulez84]

it can happen either way really, u can put urself out there n find happiness n also can stumble across it when you least expect it

[The Wallflower]

Both happen. But we shouldn't rely on stumbling or coming upon stuff to make us happy all the time, we've got to make it too; do things that make us happy because that is more consistent than the former. But randomly stumbling upon stuff that makes us happy is nice too ^^'

[Plus side down side]

I believe that there isn't really an answer to this question because people are so vast and different. Some people are what I call "materially happy," because they need tangible proof of their accomplishments in order to feel fullfillment. Some people don't need things to be happy, and feel fullfillment within their selves, and see materials as a result (many artists are like this). While others just sort of move through life and do whatever makes them happy. There isn't just one way to feel joy.

[nekomi]

Everyone is different. However, I think people can be happy if they choose to be. There are people who have gone through a lot of things and are still happy because they choose not to let bad things affect the way they feel. I don't think people really stumble upon happiness because you can't wait for things to happen in your favor, you have to go out and make things happen.

[-Umbreon-Latias-]

you make your own happiness and you are the only person that can take it away. if someone makes you upset it is your choice to get upset instead of brushing it off and remaining happy.

[AquaWarrior]

You cannot make happiness. Nor stumble upon it.

[Nyarlathotep]

you make your own happiness

Not really. I don't think one is responsible or capable of making their own happiness.

[Zenotwapal]

Honestly, I believe happiness is something you have to choose to find. I mean, of course, everyone has their bad days and gets down, but you can;t go around in life expecting other or something to pick you up and make you happy again. You have to choose to be happy. You have to want it. Waiting on happiness to come to you will get you nowhere but down. Optimism I believe is key to a fruitful and successful life.

[-Umbreon-Latias-]

Not really. I don't think one is responsible or capable of making their own happiness.

you can make decisions that will make you happy... i count that as making happiness :P

[Blood Red Absol]

BOTH! you can make yourself happy in many ways, there are also many things that can happen unexpectedly that will make you happy <3

[DizzyCobraMew]

I believe only you can make your own happiness, only you can set your self up with people, and only other people can help you along the way, never try to be happy JUST by yourself, share it with as many people as you can

[Aquanova]

I think you make happiness If you want happiness, you have to go out and get it, if you sit and wait for it to stumble upon you, you might never get it. Oftentimes you have to work for what you want. Im not saying you cant stumble upon happiness but you cant depend on that. If you want something, you have to go out and get it.

[Spudnugget1]

Happiness is a fuzzy concept - it means many things to many people. One individual might find joy in the misery of millions, and another might find the same pleasure in liberating the other man's regiment.

Fitting with the question of the OP, I believe personally that Happiness is a construct of one's intent. I have yet to achieve full bliss in the lightest sense of the term - sure, a television and a nice CRPG make me emotionally subdued from the raging depression, but until I invent the perfect intelligence, I won't truly be "Happy."

So I suppose I ask the thread this as a counterbalance: Is happiness merely an emotional state of which most strive to feel, or is it an objectively ethereal state of being that the lot of us seek to achieve one way or another - a state of "Pseudo-Nirvana" if you will? By that extent, how would you define it? Is it a measurable chemical state of the mind, or the natural end state of the soul that all humanity seeks to reach?