So today i'm in a really good mood. Life is going really well for me right now. It's not quite perfect at the moment but it's on the right path all around
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I've noticed this as well. I'm obviously doing the "oh, I'm in a bad mood, my perception is skewed and it will pass" thing lately. I do think I've started thinking a bit in terms of optimism possibly skewing things too, though- Spent too many times on projects being like "Hey, this is awesome! We're gonna get it done in a month and be rich!" and then that completely not happening.
Hahahahaha, now I'm remembering hearing about this theory, not sure if I agree with it, but it is somewhat amusing. Or depressing. Not sure: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depressive_realism
Yeah, your recent post is actually what got me thinking about it. For me though the optimism never seems to have bad consequences later like not getting stuff done.
That article is pretty much it. I don't quite agree with it though. I don't think either end of the mood spectrum is delusional. If i'm in a good mood, i don't think the bads don't exist, i just don't focus on them. Same the other way around. It's all part of reality.
Also, though a persons mood affects how they look at things, how they look at things also affects their mood and i think that's the more important causality. Since the goal in life is to be happy (in a good mood) not to see the good side of bad things.
While I think good moods can be counterproductive because they make you feel complacent during times you could be making a positive change to prevent a bad mood. I think bad moods are inherently worse and more unreasonable.
Take Boltzmann for example. One of the founding fathers of thermodynamics, he was a regular genius and had steady employment. He was however, also seriously depressed. When his wife noticed he was getting really low (defending his theory against his peers), she proposed that they go on a cruise together. He hung himself while on vacation with his loving wife and daughter.
So, whenever I feel like I'm not living up to my standards, idols and role models, I think of Boltzmann, who had everything I would have wanted but was unfortunately still unhappy. Because unhappiness is a state of mind that can focus on the most superficial of things and ignore the most important.
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Hahahahaha, now I'm remembering hearing about this theory, not sure if I agree with it, but it is somewhat amusing. Or depressing. Not sure:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depressive_realism
Reply
That article is pretty much it. I don't quite agree with it though. I don't think either end of the mood spectrum is delusional. If i'm in a good mood, i don't think the bads don't exist, i just don't focus on them. Same the other way around. It's all part of reality.
Also, though a persons mood affects how they look at things, how they look at things also affects their mood and i think that's the more important causality. Since the goal in life is to be happy (in a good mood) not to see the good side of bad things.
Reply
Take Boltzmann for example. One of the founding fathers of thermodynamics, he was a regular genius and had steady employment. He was however, also seriously depressed. When his wife noticed he was getting really low (defending his theory against his peers), she proposed that they go on a cruise together. He hung himself while on vacation with his loving wife and daughter.
So, whenever I feel like I'm not living up to my standards, idols and role models, I think of Boltzmann, who had everything I would have wanted but was unfortunately still unhappy. Because unhappiness is a state of mind that can focus on the most superficial of things and ignore the most important.
Reply
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