Agreed. It is hard to determine if intrinsic happiness exists in another because behavior does not always tell the story. Some people engage in behaviors that were I to do them would be an indicator that I was unhappy and yet does not mean the same thing to them.
I worked with a lady who always needed to "stir the pot." I initially took this as a sign of her unhappiness ~ until I noticed that she gave off tiny signals of being the most content and satisfied when the rest of us were agitated. If I'd paid attention only to her blatant behavior, I would have missed it. But I had lots of years to study this woman, and the signs became unmistakable.
I guess that may be the idea behind "toxic" people ~ those who are happiest when others are not.
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ninetydegrees
(no subject)
I worked with a lady who always needed to "stir the pot." I initially took this as a sign of her unhappiness ~ until I noticed that she gave off tiny signals of being the most content and satisfied when the rest of us were agitated. If I'd paid attention only to her blatant behavior, I would have missed it. But I had lots of years to study this woman, and the signs became unmistakable.
I guess that may be the idea behind "toxic" people ~ those who are happiest when others are not.