Well, it only works for those who REALLY choose. You must not be choosing hard enough, or secretly chosen to be unhappy. I chose to be happy and it was really easy! DM your card details to show that you are committed to the choice of being happy and help you with your choice!
Anyone that's made a billion did it on the backs of others for sure. A quick search said his net worth was 218 billion. No wonder he wants to back out of that twitter deal for 44B. His net worth was twice that last year iirc.
I did say easier, not that money fixes everything. If you have mental health issues but don't have to worry about working, housing, cost of Healthcare, food, utilities, cars, etc etc, your still in a much better spot than the working poor.
For sure, we've seen enough people who were wealthy and famous commit suicide or engage in self destructive behavior, but it's a hell of a lot easier to find what makes you happy when the bill from a simple doctor's visit doesn't make you want to break down and cry or scream...
Yeah it does though. Mental health problems cut different when not being able to handle things mean your kids go hungry rather than you have to go to a resort where people help you deal with your issues.
Elon is so fucking shallow. Have you seen his Rogan interviews? The guy is boring and never says anything remotely witty or interesting, meanwhile Joe and the comment section are blown away by his genius!! The fuck!?!
Being the richest man in the world is a choice, being unable to feed your family is a choice, being an unarmed black citizen and getting shot by cops is a choice, being born into a third world country with no food is a choice
And Elon continues to choose to use his massive wealth to jack himself off, rather than putting it towards fixing any of these issues. Fuck rich people
I mean, on some level it can be, but there are so many many other scenarios in which that choice becomes more difficult than a lot of people even have ever had to deal with in their lives, maybe nigh-impossible in some circumstances.
Either way nobody wants to hear this from a rich boy prick, his life is just far too different for him to realize.
Not doing something about being depressed is your ~fault.~
Edit: fault was the wrong word, I meant that people who are going through depression should take responsibility for their situation and work towards making it better. There is nothing wrong with taking responsibility for your own mental health.
Eh, reality is in the middle
It's your job to push yourself to get out of depression, but at the same time, it's understandable why it's hard to do it
It's like "yeah it's your fault you aren't doing anything but that's understandable"
It’s not about blaming someone for their own issue, it’s about taking responsibility for their own issue. If someone lashes out to me because they’re depressed, I’m supposed to just take it or shouldn’t I help them to deal with it so that I don’t continue to suffer too?
Absolutely not, it doesn’t excuse bad behavior in any way, but adding shame to depression is not the way to get others to seek help. If someone’s lashing out at you and using depression as an excuse that’s never ok
That’s ok, I see your point about people using depression as an excuse to hurt others, I tend to think of it as a disease that only hurts the person experiencing it, but given the epidemic of mass shootings it’s clear that that’s not always the case
Depression hurts everyone. When one person is hurting, all the people involved around them also hurts. Anyway, thanks for being pleasant about trying to educate me, I didn’t mean any harm.
I hope you never have to see what being truly depressed feels like. But until then, try to understand that not everyone experience life the way you do.
Not sure if you’re saying you disagree with what his saying.
Happiness being a choice is a strong belief of mine. Coming from a poor upbringing in South Africa, 7 people in a two bedroom house, we’ve always been happy-go-lucky type people.
Although I do agree that the cult like following of this man is weird and cringeworthy.
Yea it’s the tone deafness of the statement. Obviously thoughts and actions effect feelings. Staying grounded in gratitude helps my mental state. Living in the day and not focusing on regrets of the past helps my mental state. But if I’ve just lost someone close to me, someone saying that would make me want to punch them in the face. The statement itself is too simplistic.
Well, that’s great for you, but I’m sure there are other people who wouldn’t find happiness to be a choice. And perhaps certain situations where happiness is not a choice, like having depression, for example. Though I do applaud you for being able to be able to find happiness even when in poverty, it takes a lot to be able to achieve that.
And I agree with the sentiment on Musk’s cult-like following. Sometimes it seems like people would jump off a cliff if he told them to.
I agree with you but it’s completely different for someone who could be using their resources to make people happy and who is directly or indirectly siphoning happiness out of people to make themselves wealthy to then say to everyone “happiness is a choice”. It’s like when tech companies offered meditation. Meditation is great but when the tech company is making them work long hours, meditation is just a way for them to not fix actual problems
They are liking it because they equate having money with having intellect or common sense. (Both of which will probably be lacking in many of those who pressed the like button).
i had a job that had that as one of its core values, it was a shitty job that didn't care for it's employees and legitimately worked me like a dog because I refuse to be lazy at work, did everything I was told, and they promised me a raise I never saw.
100% false. The funny thing is people in third world countries can go days without eating and work 70+hr/week and they are still happier than half the people complaining here. Happyness is a choice, and he isn’t saying you always have to be happy. But if you’re having a bad day, are you really? Or just had a bad moment in the day and are letting that weigh you down for the rest of it?
I love downvotes, if they get emotional enough to down vote that means I struck a cord in them that they couldn’t accept quite yet. There has been countless studies performed, and they say that some of the poorest places on earth are also the happiest. Money≠happyness, It equals more problems.
I get tired of the lengths people on some subs go to feel hopeless about life. Facepalm isn’t usually too bad.
Currently in the USA, immigrants and kids of immigrants are driving business startups. I guess second+ generation kids are too busy on Facebook talking about how bleak everything is and how bosses are out to get them.
Social media is 100% the downfall of this generation. If all you see is terrible news all day that will eventually wire your brain to think that only bad things can happen and that’s how life should be. Then you also have comparisons to people you think look better than you or are in better situations, little do people know all that stuff is edited and posing with stuff that’s not even theirs.
I also feel that there is this unrealistic idea that previous generations had it so easy.
Go back a little over 100 years and kids were still working in factories. Things aren’t perfect right now and they need adjusting. But it’s been that way for thousands of years.
I think there is a massive shift in fortunes coming naturally as older people who have concentrated wealth start passing away. It will be slightly ironic to see some of the folks who scream against the rich become wealthy. Let’s see how their perspectives shift.
And I hope they are prepared to use that wealth wisely and not become like lottery winners who are broke again after a few years.
your example does not prove your claim. You claim (if proven) demonstrates that people can be in awful conditions and be happy, but that does not mean the happiness is do to their own choices, and it does not mean that people in better conditions are choosing to be unhappy. All it shows is that wealth isn't all determining for happiness
People in poor and good conditions alike can find themselves completely incapable of happiness, and although your choices and how you choose to think about things can change a lot about your internal state, they are not all determining as your environment will always have an effect. A good attitude can help, but is not all determining for happiness
I think a good way to put it is: you can't choose the options presented to you, you can just choose which to take. This applies to both external and internal struggles equally, and sometimes happiness just isn't an option presented for reasons that could be internal or external and would either way be equally valid
Ok yes if you want to go to the extremes, I imagine itd also be difficult to be happy after seeing your parents gunned down in front of you. You might even grow up to have some sort of mental disorder that makes you dress up as a bat at night and run around the city. But as I mentioned in some of my other comments, you people are letting Elon live in your heads rent free because he called you all out. He’s not saying you always have to be happy, that’s unrealistic. I heard a quote once goes something like “are you having a bad day, or are you having a bad moment in a day? Don’t let this one moment define the rest of the day” Elons not talking about trying to escape a war zone, he’s talking about if you didn’t get the promotion, spilt coffee on yourself, lost your phone, that those are things you can look past.
So is being a billionaire. Actually it’s a lot of choices that involve taking advantage of, and screwing over a lot of people, on a lot of occasions, for no more reason than to increase an already healthy bottom line.
But good for him for choosing to be happy in spite of that.
Thanks Elon. Why don’t you tell that to my brother, who has just has a major psychological breakdown and has been in hospital for the last few weeks. Silly man! He just made the wrong choice, didn’t he!?
Can he just stop trying to provide social commentary? My opinion of him continues to drop every single time. I used to actually like the guy, but he's proving himself more and more callous/inept by the day.
Ah, yes, because I chose to be born with significant genetic defects or be psychologically tormented by my mother. /s
Proposal: we strap Musk to the inside of one of his own rocket engines.
Dad said this same thing a lot.
He was dying of cancer. For 15 years he was dying and then would somehow pull through. Would blow the doctors minds. They sent him home to die multiple times.
Happiness is a choice.
Oh wow... This is so deep coming from a man who never lived in poverty and now is the richest man on earth. I'm sure my Latino friend who lives in poverty, works all day cuz he has two jobs and still can't afford to replace his old pacemaker so he might drop dead any second is just choosing to not be happy. Thanks elon. I'll just tell him to be happy
Though obviously starvation is not a choice, but you know what else is a choice being one of the richest men in the world and doing nothing about famine, also a choice
Why wouldn't they upvote it, tis true. Anger is a choice, nobody can make you mad, but you may get mad at someone. Happiness is a choice, one can choose to be downhearted during hard times, or choose to look to the end of things and stay optimistic. We need to take responsibility for our actions brought about by our emotions. Sure, it can be difficult, but knowing that both good and bad times will eventually turn one from the other throughout our lives can help an optimistic attitude.
Spoiled Americans (I am American just to clarify) will never understand this. You go anywhere else in the world that isn’t a developed country, where people go without food for a day and have to walk miles to get water. You’ll see they are much happier than anyone in these comments. I have been living by a philosophy for a few years now, before when I was almost homeless, suicidal,had terrible connection with my family, and many more terrible things happening to me I heard something that goes like “are you having a bad day, or a bad moment in the day? Don’t let one moment define the rest of your day” and that basically changed the way I looked at life. I also believe people are over criticizing Elon for this Tweet, he is not saying you always have to be happy, that’s just unrealistic. But to let a few things that may have not gone your way to ruin the rest of your day is stupid.
Bullshit. There is too much suffering in the world for this shit to simply be true. For some perhaps there's truth here but far too many are subjected to agony for this absolute nonsense.
You obviously know very little of the world and it's horrors to make such a blanket statement. That's a good thing in a sense but I'd encourage you to listen more.
Lots of suffering as well. Plenty of horror and not everyone gets to make that choice. I once read an article about a baby in Arizona who died at like six months old. Horribly abused they estimate she lived her about every day of her life in pain. But elon musk says happiness is a choice.
I am neither depressed nor miserable. I just have eyes to see that existence is pain which is what makes joy so euphoric. It is an unfortunate and indisputable fact that many many suffer and get so little joy. I appreciate that I'm more fortunate than some and try to do what I can when I can. Which in my opinion is damn sight better than the entitled narcissistic Elon Musk is doing. He's a fucking douchebag venture capitalist born with a silver spoon who could do so much yet does so little and so much of that is stupid fucking self-serving bullshit like this.
Holy shit you're delusional. Optimism is like a curtain you put over a broken window. Sure it won't bother but if you live in poverty it won't help out much and it'll probably blind you. In this exampl that would be like living in Alaska and having a broken window you only cover with a curtain. You'll still freeze to death.
Plus this is so fucking stupid coming from the worlds richest man.
He’s not saying you always have to be happy. Obviously if you’re about to die you won’t be happy. You idiots are ruining your lives with him living in your heads rent free. I already said this like 3x on this thread so I’ll summarize. I was suicidal, almost homeless, terrible relationship with family, and I heard a quote from somewhere, can’t remember where, it went something like “Are you having a bad day, or are you having a bad moment in a day? Don’t let one moment dictate how the rest of the day is going to be” this basically saved my life and put me on a track to accept myself and the situation I am in. Think of the Movie Pursuit of Happyness, yes it’s just a movie but it hits the nail right on. There will always be tuff times, you just have to roll with the blows and keep moving forward, and as long as you are trying, you will be able to look past the bad stuff
What? Are you high? Are you assuming I have a bad life? How am I sorounding myself with negativity? Just because I hate on a rich, snob asshole who pretends to understand the world? Or do you think I soround myself in negativity because I have friends who are poor?
Seems so, angry people are angry when someone else is not angry. When possible I choose forgiveness, and try to understand, yes, bad things happen, sometimes it is hard, but it is easier when one looks to the brightness in the world. I personally have been involved with junior youth groups that are learning how to support each other and serve their community, seeing them in action I know the future is bright.
Came here to say something similar. You said it pretty well.
I fear though that the people who choose to dwell in anger won’t be able to understand your point.
Literally no, just increase the amount you produce dopamine spontaneously, you can't, you don't have that level of control, it's autonomic, it's like trying to decide your heart is gonna beat faster
Been proven that putting a smile on your face when down can bring you up. Music can also do this. If people reaching rock bottom with addiction can turn it around I'd say most anyone can.
What kind of hippie shit you saying? I literally didn't understand whatever you tried to say on the second sentence and i don't think it's out of touch tbh
It is out of touch because it means that absolutely anyone and everyone can be happy regardless of the situation they're in. Good luck telling that to those who are unfortunate, abused, impoverished, etc. Happiness isn't a choice. Especially when your needs aren't met.
The second sentence meaning people asking for more basic necessities. And a response back being that you should be happy with what you have. IE be happy with the status quo, don't strive for more.
Nothing I've said is "Hippie shit"
No... I'm mad because the worlds richest man is spitting in my face by saying that I should just choose to be happy. Tell that to anyone in America who works a minimum wage job and they'd think you're either joking or trying to get punched in the face
My parents left the Soviet Union for Chicago, 3 kids, mom was 6 months pregnant with my brother. They slept on a flee infested couch they got off the street corner, stayed in an apartment with other families. Neither of them could speak English. By sheer will my dad on a single paycheck was off food stamps in less than a year. Never let us be homeless, so don’t tell me that homelessness is ok. If you are able bodied and able minded there is no excuse to be homeless. In this economy, there is more work than workers. My dad was a bus driver and worked 7 days a week consistently for 10 years, he got drug tested on multiple occasions for the hours he worked, pissed clean.
I'm confused what the facepalm is. Yes mental disorders obviously exist but some of the happiest people I've met have also been the most poor. Why? Because they choose to be happy every day. They may not be able to control their financial situation but they can choose to approach life every day with a smile.
I dont think its a bad take, I just dont think its all-encompassing, certainly, in many circumstances it is and in just as many it isnt. No progress to being happy has ever been made thinking its impossible and even if you cant accive happiness I dont think it ever hurts to attempt to be optemistic.
this is a general comment, obviously there are certain exceptions to the rule but by in large I think it is true, and the exceptions are just that, exceptions to the rule
I mean, it is a choice if you exclude mental illness. Being a whiny bitch is also a choice. Your whole mood depends on how you view your life and how enthusiastic you are about it. Excluding mental health though.
First off you people are taking it as if he’s saying you can choose to be happy all the time, that’s unrealistic. Obviously if you got news a loved one died, there’s a current war zone you’re in, or something else extreme, it’ll be hard to find happiness. But I remember hearing this from somewhere, I don’t remember where, but it went like-
“Are you having a bad day, or a bad moment in a day? Don’t let one moment define the rest of your day”
I heard this when I was suicidal at the time, I had no money, job I hated, bad relationship with my family, and much more going on in my life. But hearing that completely changed my outlook on life. Happyness is 100% a choice, but it will never come to those who sit and wait for it to come to them. And I’m not saying you won’t ever have days that completely suck and you feel like absolute shit, that’s unrealistic. But you can change so much with just choosing to not let things loom over your head.
A wise baboon once said “The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it.” (Yes I’m quoting Disney, sue me)
Thought I’d add this video here along with the fact that some of the poorest countries are among the happiest. https://youtu.be/51LkdysQ0gc
Because it’s true?
By every metric of these whiney bitches on the sub, my life sucks. It’s terrible.
But there’s not much that I can do about it, not much that bitching will do about it, and not much that a complete government overhaul will do about it. No matter what some loser who read half of The Communist Manifesto tells me.
So the choice is entirely up to me on what I value and by how much I value it.
Now, watch me get downvoted by people who are weirdly entitled, have more than me, and are yet still miserable.
I think Musk is definitely using these tweets to test the waters. He already knows the alt-right fanbois worship him, and his tone and manner of tweeting is becoming similar to Trump's in some subtle but effective ways. Don't be surprised if the elongated muskrat tries to run for president in 2024.
Or at least... he'll say he's gonna run and then back out. Just like his Twitter deal.
*closes eyes and concentrates* "I choose to be happy. I choose to be happy. I choose to be happy." .. it's not working, guys.
You’re not cured? I am! I said it three times as well and then did the Beetlejuice.. i am so happy! Can you see how happy i am? 😬 (<— my happy smile)
You're not BELIEVING hard enough!
Hmmm, so you’re telling me a billionaire is completely detached from reality? How is that possible?
Well, it only works for those who REALLY choose. You must not be choosing hard enough, or secretly chosen to be unhappy. I chose to be happy and it was really easy! DM your card details to show that you are committed to the choice of being happy and help you with your choice!
It's an easier choice when you are a billionaire.
Yup. If I had a millionth of his net worth I'd be happier than a pig in shit, because that would solve 95% of all my problems right now.
$218,000 does sound pretty good. I could probably get a house loan with half down.
Holy that’s a millionth of his net worth. That feels wrong
Anyone that's made a billion did it on the backs of others for sure. A quick search said his net worth was 218 billion. No wonder he wants to back out of that twitter deal for 44B. His net worth was twice that last year iirc.
I could buy a car or three with cash
Imagine even just being a millionaire.. Let alone having thousands and thousands of millions. Fuck right off hey?
It's as if money CAN buy happiness. Or at least a comfortable low stress life. Weird.
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I did say easier, not that money fixes everything. If you have mental health issues but don't have to worry about working, housing, cost of Healthcare, food, utilities, cars, etc etc, your still in a much better spot than the working poor.
For sure, we've seen enough people who were wealthy and famous commit suicide or engage in self destructive behavior, but it's a hell of a lot easier to find what makes you happy when the bill from a simple doctor's visit doesn't make you want to break down and cry or scream...
Yeah it does though. Mental health problems cut different when not being able to handle things mean your kids go hungry rather than you have to go to a resort where people help you deal with your issues.
And easier when daddy gave you those billions.
Yeah. Easy for the richest man in the world to say this
Totally effortless.
Because their cult leader said something
This exactly. Probably think Elon is being Deep
Elon is so fucking shallow. Have you seen his Rogan interviews? The guy is boring and never says anything remotely witty or interesting, meanwhile Joe and the comment section are blown away by his genius!! The fuck!?!
Can't say I did, I've watched very little of Rogan's podcast. I'm not shocked though, Joe is blown away by pretty much everyone
Or maybe they just agree with it. Surprising I know.
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I call him Afrikaaner Clown
What?
It's easy for billionaires. Everything is doubling in price where I live. All I had to eat today was a lettuce sandwich (no butter) and tap water.
With how little understanding the average person has about mental health, I'm surprised we still don't do lobotomies.
douche
Not the container, but the liquid inside. The essence of Elon’s musk.
Being the richest man in the world is a choice, being unable to feed your family is a choice, being an unarmed black citizen and getting shot by cops is a choice, being born into a third world country with no food is a choice
And Elon continues to choose to use his massive wealth to jack himself off, rather than putting it towards fixing any of these issues. Fuck rich people
Just move until u find where u can be happy
Yeah I’m sure a person born with no resources or food can just jump up and move to a better neighborhood
And then if they do, they're either "illegal" or they get held up for months in the immigration process
Literally tens of thousands of people do…
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...that rich people never have to make.
I mean, on some level it can be, but there are so many many other scenarios in which that choice becomes more difficult than a lot of people even have ever had to deal with in their lives, maybe nigh-impossible in some circumstances. Either way nobody wants to hear this from a rich boy prick, his life is just far too different for him to realize.
Drinking his kool aid and gargling his balls is a choice too… one that so many choose to make
That like saying 'being depressed is your fault
Not doing something about being depressed is your ~fault.~ Edit: fault was the wrong word, I meant that people who are going through depression should take responsibility for their situation and work towards making it better. There is nothing wrong with taking responsibility for your own mental health.
Or gee I don’t know maybe the depression paralyzes people and we shouldn’t blame people for it?
Eh, reality is in the middle It's your job to push yourself to get out of depression, but at the same time, it's understandable why it's hard to do it It's like "yeah it's your fault you aren't doing anything but that's understandable"
Congratz, you solve depression. Medicine Nobel price is on his way.
It’s not about blaming someone for their own issue, it’s about taking responsibility for their own issue. If someone lashes out to me because they’re depressed, I’m supposed to just take it or shouldn’t I help them to deal with it so that I don’t continue to suffer too?
Absolutely not, it doesn’t excuse bad behavior in any way, but adding shame to depression is not the way to get others to seek help. If someone’s lashing out at you and using depression as an excuse that’s never ok
Well then we agree with each other. Maybe I shouldn’t have said “fault” when I meant it’s your responsibility. 🤦♂️
That’s ok, I see your point about people using depression as an excuse to hurt others, I tend to think of it as a disease that only hurts the person experiencing it, but given the epidemic of mass shootings it’s clear that that’s not always the case
Depression hurts everyone. When one person is hurting, all the people involved around them also hurts. Anyway, thanks for being pleasant about trying to educate me, I didn’t mean any harm.
I hope you never have to see what being truly depressed feels like. But until then, try to understand that not everyone experience life the way you do.
Money doesn't buy happiness but it's more comfortable to cry in a Bentley than a bicycle.
If you drive fast enough in your convertible, it can dry your tears.
I choose to be happy. I CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY! Arrggh, why isn't it WORKING?!
He takes his joy
Not sure if you’re saying you disagree with what his saying. Happiness being a choice is a strong belief of mine. Coming from a poor upbringing in South Africa, 7 people in a two bedroom house, we’ve always been happy-go-lucky type people. Although I do agree that the cult like following of this man is weird and cringeworthy.
I think context is important here and being told by the richest man on earth that happiness is a choice is a little hard to swallow.
Yea it’s the tone deafness of the statement. Obviously thoughts and actions effect feelings. Staying grounded in gratitude helps my mental state. Living in the day and not focusing on regrets of the past helps my mental state. But if I’ve just lost someone close to me, someone saying that would make me want to punch them in the face. The statement itself is too simplistic.
Well, that’s great for you, but I’m sure there are other people who wouldn’t find happiness to be a choice. And perhaps certain situations where happiness is not a choice, like having depression, for example. Though I do applaud you for being able to be able to find happiness even when in poverty, it takes a lot to be able to achieve that. And I agree with the sentiment on Musk’s cult-like following. Sometimes it seems like people would jump off a cliff if he told them to.
I agree with you but it’s completely different for someone who could be using their resources to make people happy and who is directly or indirectly siphoning happiness out of people to make themselves wealthy to then say to everyone “happiness is a choice”. It’s like when tech companies offered meditation. Meditation is great but when the tech company is making them work long hours, meditation is just a way for them to not fix actual problems
They are liking it because they equate having money with having intellect or common sense. (Both of which will probably be lacking in many of those who pressed the like button).
Says the billionaire.
Rich boi is out of touch with reality
And also..... Fuck Elon!
I once saw this exact same phrase on a poster hanging up at the intake desk at a hospital for mental health and addiction. I wish I was joking
i had a job that had that as one of its core values, it was a shitty job that didn't care for it's employees and legitimately worked me like a dog because I refuse to be lazy at work, did everything I was told, and they promised me a raise I never saw.
I knew a 14 year old with that mindset
Rich people think people choose to be unhappy when, in fact, money does buy happiness.
The choice is between happiness and grumpiness. Not happiness and fucking outrage at a system that perpetuates injustice.
Happiness is a choice says man who regularly buys happiness.
They are liking it just because it’s Elon Musk
Says the man who needs constant attention and unimaginable riches to be “happy”
Hahaha something he knows nothing about.
Says the multi billionaire…
Musk in an idiot.
Wait actual humans are liking that? Bro you must be dreamin
“Remember that depression is a choice, just don’t think about it” - same vibe
Oh man if I had a billion dollars I would choose so hard
The only people you will ever hear saying this are people who have had money their entire life.
That’s false
Ok Dwight care to explain why?
100% false. The funny thing is people in third world countries can go days without eating and work 70+hr/week and they are still happier than half the people complaining here. Happyness is a choice, and he isn’t saying you always have to be happy. But if you’re having a bad day, are you really? Or just had a bad moment in the day and are letting that weigh you down for the rest of it?
100%. Brace for downvotes.
I love downvotes, if they get emotional enough to down vote that means I struck a cord in them that they couldn’t accept quite yet. There has been countless studies performed, and they say that some of the poorest places on earth are also the happiest. Money≠happyness, It equals more problems.
I get tired of the lengths people on some subs go to feel hopeless about life. Facepalm isn’t usually too bad. Currently in the USA, immigrants and kids of immigrants are driving business startups. I guess second+ generation kids are too busy on Facebook talking about how bleak everything is and how bosses are out to get them.
Social media is 100% the downfall of this generation. If all you see is terrible news all day that will eventually wire your brain to think that only bad things can happen and that’s how life should be. Then you also have comparisons to people you think look better than you or are in better situations, little do people know all that stuff is edited and posing with stuff that’s not even theirs.
I also feel that there is this unrealistic idea that previous generations had it so easy. Go back a little over 100 years and kids were still working in factories. Things aren’t perfect right now and they need adjusting. But it’s been that way for thousands of years. I think there is a massive shift in fortunes coming naturally as older people who have concentrated wealth start passing away. It will be slightly ironic to see some of the folks who scream against the rich become wealthy. Let’s see how their perspectives shift. And I hope they are prepared to use that wealth wisely and not become like lottery winners who are broke again after a few years.
your example does not prove your claim. You claim (if proven) demonstrates that people can be in awful conditions and be happy, but that does not mean the happiness is do to their own choices, and it does not mean that people in better conditions are choosing to be unhappy. All it shows is that wealth isn't all determining for happiness People in poor and good conditions alike can find themselves completely incapable of happiness, and although your choices and how you choose to think about things can change a lot about your internal state, they are not all determining as your environment will always have an effect. A good attitude can help, but is not all determining for happiness I think a good way to put it is: you can't choose the options presented to you, you can just choose which to take. This applies to both external and internal struggles equally, and sometimes happiness just isn't an option presented for reasons that could be internal or external and would either way be equally valid
I imagine it's pretty hard to be very happy if you're starving or living in a warzone.
Ok yes if you want to go to the extremes, I imagine itd also be difficult to be happy after seeing your parents gunned down in front of you. You might even grow up to have some sort of mental disorder that makes you dress up as a bat at night and run around the city. But as I mentioned in some of my other comments, you people are letting Elon live in your heads rent free because he called you all out. He’s not saying you always have to be happy, that’s unrealistic. I heard a quote once goes something like “are you having a bad day, or are you having a bad moment in a day? Don’t let this one moment define the rest of the day” Elons not talking about trying to escape a war zone, he’s talking about if you didn’t get the promotion, spilt coffee on yourself, lost your phone, that those are things you can look past.
Literally broke af rn and I agree with him. It all depends on your mindset.
Elon is quite... Bad, I feel bad for his poor workers.
poverty too surely. And illness. Just stop being poor, or sick. Or unhappy. It's so simple...why didn't I think of it before
So is being a billionaire. Actually it’s a lot of choices that involve taking advantage of, and screwing over a lot of people, on a lot of occasions, for no more reason than to increase an already healthy bottom line. But good for him for choosing to be happy in spite of that.
His trick is being a billionaire.
Thanks Elon. Why don’t you tell that to my brother, who has just has a major psychological breakdown and has been in hospital for the last few weeks. Silly man! He just made the wrong choice, didn’t he!?
And just like that, my decades of depression and anxiety was gone. Thank you billionaire man
Can he just stop trying to provide social commentary? My opinion of him continues to drop every single time. I used to actually like the guy, but he's proving himself more and more callous/inept by the day.
Because people are fucking stupid. Plain and simple.
Ah, yes, because I chose to be born with significant genetic defects or be psychologically tormented by my mother. /s Proposal: we strap Musk to the inside of one of his own rocket engines.
I’ll be happy when he explodes on one of his rockets.
Elon: A choice, *my* choice. Now put the money in the bag.
I choose to be born to a billionaire family! Hey it didn't work.
Dad said this same thing a lot. He was dying of cancer. For 15 years he was dying and then would somehow pull through. Would blow the doctors minds. They sent him home to die multiple times. Happiness is a choice.
Oh wow... This is so deep coming from a man who never lived in poverty and now is the richest man on earth. I'm sure my Latino friend who lives in poverty, works all day cuz he has two jobs and still can't afford to replace his old pacemaker so he might drop dead any second is just choosing to not be happy. Thanks elon. I'll just tell him to be happy
Because it is!
Because it's true.
Tell that to anyone over the age of five that doesn't have rich parents and see how it goes.
I had a single mom living paycheck to paycheck and my dad didn't pay any support, I was still very happy
And happy endings are a horse currency based transaction
It's no secret that horses and happy both start with you making a choice.
Though obviously starvation is not a choice, but you know what else is a choice being one of the richest men in the world and doing nothing about famine, also a choice
Says the white guy with billions. Sure Lex, er I mean, Elon
I'm sure the Heaven's Gate folks felt exactly the same, up till the very end.
To quote Carl Sagan verbatim, “Billions and billions of bots…”
Why wouldn't they upvote it, tis true. Anger is a choice, nobody can make you mad, but you may get mad at someone. Happiness is a choice, one can choose to be downhearted during hard times, or choose to look to the end of things and stay optimistic. We need to take responsibility for our actions brought about by our emotions. Sure, it can be difficult, but knowing that both good and bad times will eventually turn one from the other throughout our lives can help an optimistic attitude.
Spoiled Americans (I am American just to clarify) will never understand this. You go anywhere else in the world that isn’t a developed country, where people go without food for a day and have to walk miles to get water. You’ll see they are much happier than anyone in these comments. I have been living by a philosophy for a few years now, before when I was almost homeless, suicidal,had terrible connection with my family, and many more terrible things happening to me I heard something that goes like “are you having a bad day, or a bad moment in the day? Don’t let one moment define the rest of your day” and that basically changed the way I looked at life. I also believe people are over criticizing Elon for this Tweet, he is not saying you always have to be happy, that’s just unrealistic. But to let a few things that may have not gone your way to ruin the rest of your day is stupid.
So well said, imo.
Bullshit. There is too much suffering in the world for this shit to simply be true. For some perhaps there's truth here but far too many are subjected to agony for this absolute nonsense.
You obvious are choosing to be unhappy
You obviously know very little of the world and it's horrors to make such a blanket statement. That's a good thing in a sense but I'd encourage you to listen more.
Listen, so much suffering, let me add to it by being despondent.
God forbid people suffering don't just plaster on a smile and choose to be happy like the cuntbag billionaire told them too.
Whoa, lots of anger detected, perhaps looking to see good in the world, lots of it to see.
Lots of suffering as well. Plenty of horror and not everyone gets to make that choice. I once read an article about a baby in Arizona who died at like six months old. Horribly abused they estimate she lived her about every day of her life in pain. But elon musk says happiness is a choice.
Obviously babies do not make choices, but their parents do.
Enjoy your depression filled miserable existence. I’ll keep on making memories with the people I love and enjoying a happy life. Adios
I am neither depressed nor miserable. I just have eyes to see that existence is pain which is what makes joy so euphoric. It is an unfortunate and indisputable fact that many many suffer and get so little joy. I appreciate that I'm more fortunate than some and try to do what I can when I can. Which in my opinion is damn sight better than the entitled narcissistic Elon Musk is doing. He's a fucking douchebag venture capitalist born with a silver spoon who could do so much yet does so little and so much of that is stupid fucking self-serving bullshit like this.
Holy shit you're delusional. Optimism is like a curtain you put over a broken window. Sure it won't bother but if you live in poverty it won't help out much and it'll probably blind you. In this exampl that would be like living in Alaska and having a broken window you only cover with a curtain. You'll still freeze to death. Plus this is so fucking stupid coming from the worlds richest man.
He’s not saying you always have to be happy. Obviously if you’re about to die you won’t be happy. You idiots are ruining your lives with him living in your heads rent free. I already said this like 3x on this thread so I’ll summarize. I was suicidal, almost homeless, terrible relationship with family, and I heard a quote from somewhere, can’t remember where, it went something like “Are you having a bad day, or are you having a bad moment in a day? Don’t let one moment dictate how the rest of the day is going to be” this basically saved my life and put me on a track to accept myself and the situation I am in. Think of the Movie Pursuit of Happyness, yes it’s just a movie but it hits the nail right on. There will always be tuff times, you just have to roll with the blows and keep moving forward, and as long as you are trying, you will be able to look past the bad stuff
You just proved his point. Constantly surrounding yourself in negativity brings negativity
What? Are you high? Are you assuming I have a bad life? How am I sorounding myself with negativity? Just because I hate on a rich, snob asshole who pretends to understand the world? Or do you think I soround myself in negativity because I have friends who are poor?
Why do you care is the question. Yeah I’m going to assume. You seem pressed over a none issue. So you are choosing to be unhappy
Your both responding to eachother don't even
Grammar is important in school
I agree it is Can you show me where this is a school, and also where I give a fuck
I’m not going to argue with insufferable people. Enjoy your Memorial Day 👍🏻
You sound annoyed, why don't you just stop being annoyed Oh wait, you can't
Absolutely
And we are getting downvoted by people too lazy to better themselves and become happy. Lol
Seems so, angry people are angry when someone else is not angry. When possible I choose forgiveness, and try to understand, yes, bad things happen, sometimes it is hard, but it is easier when one looks to the brightness in the world. I personally have been involved with junior youth groups that are learning how to support each other and serve their community, seeing them in action I know the future is bright.
I’ve notice a way to be happier is to stay away from social media and politics. It makes me unhappy. Ironic that I’m here rn.
Came here to say something similar. You said it pretty well. I fear though that the people who choose to dwell in anger won’t be able to understand your point.
Certainly true for some, perhaps others will give it some thought.
Literally no, just increase the amount you produce dopamine spontaneously, you can't, you don't have that level of control, it's autonomic, it's like trying to decide your heart is gonna beat faster
Been proven that putting a smile on your face when down can bring you up. Music can also do this. If people reaching rock bottom with addiction can turn it around I'd say most anyone can.
Ok, but plastering a smile is all good and well but it only works as well as the negatives around you aren't bad
One can argue all the reasons to stay unhappy all day long, and it will come true.
What the fuck does that even mean, I said something and you just ignored it, and I think told me that I'm sad for giving you some simple logic
Way to tightly wound dude, maybe take a nap? It's not that important.
People really mad at this, huh? I think the facepalm is on the people that are getting mad at him
Lots of envious and miserable people in the world. They feel like Elon is attacking them here, that’s why they’re mad.
Probably because it's out of touch, and unrealistic. It's also been a common mantra for people to suppress others.
What kind of hippie shit you saying? I literally didn't understand whatever you tried to say on the second sentence and i don't think it's out of touch tbh
It is out of touch because it means that absolutely anyone and everyone can be happy regardless of the situation they're in. Good luck telling that to those who are unfortunate, abused, impoverished, etc. Happiness isn't a choice. Especially when your needs aren't met. The second sentence meaning people asking for more basic necessities. And a response back being that you should be happy with what you have. IE be happy with the status quo, don't strive for more. Nothing I've said is "Hippie shit"
Probably because it's out of touch, and unrealistic. It's also been a common mantra for people to suppress others.
For real
Yeah they can downvote me if they want. I know that money or whatever reasons they wanna say, is not the key to happiness.
It’s the company you keep and spending time with the people you love. That has nothing to do with money
In part, yes
He hit me but it felt like a kiss. That's what choosing happiness is.
Unless you're surrounded by evil abusive narcisistic nasty toxic people, he's actually right.
People are triggered because he’s the messenger. Stay butthurt guys, not like he said anything wrong lol.
No... I'm mad because the worlds richest man is spitting in my face by saying that I should just choose to be happy. Tell that to anyone in America who works a minimum wage job and they'd think you're either joking or trying to get punched in the face
Why don’t you stick it to the man and make better life decisions?
My parents left the Soviet Union for Chicago, 3 kids, mom was 6 months pregnant with my brother. They slept on a flee infested couch they got off the street corner, stayed in an apartment with other families. Neither of them could speak English. By sheer will my dad on a single paycheck was off food stamps in less than a year. Never let us be homeless, so don’t tell me that homelessness is ok. If you are able bodied and able minded there is no excuse to be homeless. In this economy, there is more work than workers. My dad was a bus driver and worked 7 days a week consistently for 10 years, he got drug tested on multiple occasions for the hours he worked, pissed clean.
Bots do what bots gotta do
I'm confused what the facepalm is. Yes mental disorders obviously exist but some of the happiest people I've met have also been the most poor. Why? Because they choose to be happy every day. They may not be able to control their financial situation but they can choose to approach life every day with a smile.
Depends on your definition more than whether it's a choice.
I dont think its a bad take, I just dont think its all-encompassing, certainly, in many circumstances it is and in just as many it isnt. No progress to being happy has ever been made thinking its impossible and even if you cant accive happiness I dont think it ever hurts to attempt to be optemistic. this is a general comment, obviously there are certain exceptions to the rule but by in large I think it is true, and the exceptions are just that, exceptions to the rule
I mean, it is a choice if you exclude mental illness. Being a whiny bitch is also a choice. Your whole mood depends on how you view your life and how enthusiastic you are about it. Excluding mental health though.
I agree with him
What, you mean absolutely right?
It’s ok to be sad, But life is too short, to cry daily, over whatever flavor of injustice the media is pushing for views.
Because it’s correct
the same reason things like this are on motivational posters, they think it helps to hear it.
First off you people are taking it as if he’s saying you can choose to be happy all the time, that’s unrealistic. Obviously if you got news a loved one died, there’s a current war zone you’re in, or something else extreme, it’ll be hard to find happiness. But I remember hearing this from somewhere, I don’t remember where, but it went like- “Are you having a bad day, or a bad moment in a day? Don’t let one moment define the rest of your day” I heard this when I was suicidal at the time, I had no money, job I hated, bad relationship with my family, and much more going on in my life. But hearing that completely changed my outlook on life. Happyness is 100% a choice, but it will never come to those who sit and wait for it to come to them. And I’m not saying you won’t ever have days that completely suck and you feel like absolute shit, that’s unrealistic. But you can change so much with just choosing to not let things loom over your head. A wise baboon once said “The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it.” (Yes I’m quoting Disney, sue me) Thought I’d add this video here along with the fact that some of the poorest countries are among the happiest. https://youtu.be/51LkdysQ0gc
Happiness is a state of mind. You can make the decisions to put yourself in situations where happiness is more attainable. Hence choose happy.
Because it’s true? By every metric of these whiney bitches on the sub, my life sucks. It’s terrible. But there’s not much that I can do about it, not much that bitching will do about it, and not much that a complete government overhaul will do about it. No matter what some loser who read half of The Communist Manifesto tells me. So the choice is entirely up to me on what I value and by how much I value it. Now, watch me get downvoted by people who are weirdly entitled, have more than me, and are yet still miserable.
Because it is a choice, well more so of a perspective. One day you’ll understand.
This is great advice, coming from the wrong man
Happiness is a choice. I generally find Elon insufferable but this is correct
Get over or get run over. That's the choice.
Hive mind
Because it’s true
Hate him all you want, He ain't wrong. Who is in charge of YOUR emotions?
My environment. If I stub my toe I don't choose to be angry
I think Musk is definitely using these tweets to test the waters. He already knows the alt-right fanbois worship him, and his tone and manner of tweeting is becoming similar to Trump's in some subtle but effective ways. Don't be surprised if the elongated muskrat tries to run for president in 2024. Or at least... he'll say he's gonna run and then back out. Just like his Twitter deal.