What do you need in order to be happy? - Get picky with this one. Give details. Elaborate. Carry on at length. Name names. etc…
I need some time to think about this one, I’ll post later.
What do I need in order to be happy?
Not putting conditions on becoming happy or being happy, as happiness comes from within. Still a work in progress though.
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To learn to separate those things I actually need from those things I want. Confusing wants with needs leads to despair.
10-96
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I’m still working with this one. I’ve been high, euphoric, giddy, manic… but that’s not normal happiness.
I’ve been working towards satisfaction and content. Because then I’m not trying to find the “happiness” I’ve felt in my youth… the over the top artificial happiness that is in overly bright colors.
To make myself happy… or things that make me happy… I need a bit of calm nostalgia. I need to re-live some of the more simple and real things from my past that haven’t changed. That gives me an anchor. I need blueberry pancakes at the odd old diner on the west beach. I used to do that as a kid.
I need times with my family or friends that just seem mundane and silly… stuff that has nothing to with mental illness. Watching my 6 year old niece chase bubbles around the park… kite flying with my nephew… (little kids get so joyful over simple things)
Or… sticky popcorn dinners with my sis while watching The Princess Bride… AGAIN. Teaching my girlfriend how to swim and surf and watching her get better at it…
Stuff like this makes me want to get better and keep getting better. Those to me are the simple highlights that keep me going. That is what I need I think. Simple things that keep reminding me… this is why you take your meds… and go to therapy… and stay away from pot and XTC.
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Totally smokes pot.
It is difficult for me to achieve happiness - I mean happiness is usually a fleeting type experience - a passing feeling.
I have gotten euphoric, and I sometimes feel contentment - being content is different than being happy.
If you ask me the word happy is over used - I can feel good and I can get content - you know its difficult for me to be happy when my baseline is low grade depressed
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I become so happy through the arts and music. I’m not a great artist or musician, yet I can’t help to keep trying to create things when I’m not a home maker. BUT, without my girlfriend I’d be one helluva mess.
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happy
happy
happy
happy
happy
happy
i think i am being a bit ocd !
happy
happy
happy
happy
happy.
take care
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Today I am very happy because after recently going through hell, my ECT treatment took away my psychotic symptoms and suicidal feelings. Also, because Jason took me to my appointment I got to spend the day with him. Jason makes me very happy, although he sometimes gets on my nerves, but I still love him. When we were slow dancing at my cousin’s wedding, we were looking into each other’s eyes as he sang the lyrics to the love song playing. It felt like every word was how he felt about me, and everyone in the room faded away and it was just him and I. I never felt happier. But I can only appreciate him because I have felt what it is like to feel alone. I only know happiness because I have felt pain and sorrow. In the Buddhism I practice it teaches that chanting will bring you true happiness. We believe that world peace can be achieved by everyone finding happiness in their own lives. 
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Another thing that makes me happy is when people I hope for feel better.
I’m glad to see that full sun at the end of your post.
Congratulations for holding on to what ever corner of strength you had and getting to your ECT appointment.
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comfortably interacting with people
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the little simple things make me happy, a new haircut, a fresh glass of lemonade, fresh cut grass, thank you cards, etc
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I need to simply accept things as they are and just observe as it happens, rather than disect every incident/event trying to make sense of it.
Nothing worse than driving myself crazy looking for something that isn’t there.
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Having good relationships with those closest to me is a biggie and sometimes a tough one especially when there is a lot of politics and power struggles going on in the family. It makes it hard when there are people that just don’t get along and you try not to take sides and make any more enemies for yourself. It’s very difficult when people blame each other for years and years and just don’t let go of their anger and resentment. I have to remind myself to let go of some of my grudges too.
For me, breaking the chains of addiction to cigarettes is a big plus…this is day one, and for the first time ever while quitting…I feel “happy”. All those smoky rooms of the years of my life…so much damage, so much money…perhaps you could cut down or stop something in your life that makes you feel depressed about? Lightening the load?
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Happiness and schizophrenia are alike in the sense that they both have “risk factors” 
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I need family and friends and also inner strength to pull me through, life is a constant journey and in order to get from a to b and c to d I need to be able to cope, cope with symptoms & side effects and health problems and just living basically, if I couldnt cope my world would come crashing down around me and there would be no happiness,
So I would say that to me happiness is only possible when we can cope with all the crap we get and smile
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