A word with
a thousand definitions – happiness, could there be any other REAL pursuit in
our lives? What are we all really trying to achieve in our lives; to graduate from
a college, get a degree, buy a fancy car, get married, buy jewellery and the list
does go one. At the end of attaining ANY or ALL of these things -there is just ONE thing in common and that is Happiness!
a thousand definitions – happiness, could there be any other REAL pursuit in
our lives? What are we all really trying to achieve in our lives; to graduate from
a college, get a degree, buy a fancy car, get married, buy jewellery and the list
does go one. At the end of attaining ANY or ALL of these things -there is just ONE thing in common and that is Happiness!
Its history
dates back to the insights of thinkers from China, India, and Greece that goes
back to 2,500 years ago and more. There have been many pioneers of happiness;
one of the earliest being Zhuangzi who wrote a book titled Perfect Happiness
and Aristotle who wrote a book called Happiness as a Purpose of Life; both written at the same time but on opposite sides of the earth. Of course they didn’t know each other but there was a striking similarity in what Zhuangzi professed in his book Perfect Happiness and
Aristotle in his book, Happiness as a Purpose of Life.
Besides them, Buddha, Socrates,
Confucius, Epicurus, Abraham Maslow, William James, John Locke, Al Ghazali,
Mencius, Thomas Aquinas and Ed Diener were the other eastern and western
pioneers of happiness. As the years go by, the pioneers of the East and West only
increase.
dates back to the insights of thinkers from China, India, and Greece that goes
back to 2,500 years ago and more. There have been many pioneers of happiness;
one of the earliest being Zhuangzi who wrote a book titled Perfect Happiness
and Aristotle who wrote a book called Happiness as a Purpose of Life; both written at the same time but on opposite sides of the earth. Of course they didn’t know each other but there was a striking similarity in what Zhuangzi professed in his book Perfect Happiness and
Aristotle in his book, Happiness as a Purpose of Life.
Besides them, Buddha, Socrates,
Confucius, Epicurus, Abraham Maslow, William James, John Locke, Al Ghazali,
Mencius, Thomas Aquinas and Ed Diener were the other eastern and western
pioneers of happiness. As the years go by, the pioneers of the East and West only
increase.
Happiness
for most people means a positive emotion, or even a positive effect. However,
the very same word means satisfaction for life or general well being. We could also equate the emotion of happiness
to joy, although joy is often considered to be of a more spiritual word than
happiness.
for most people means a positive emotion, or even a positive effect. However,
the very same word means satisfaction for life or general well being. We could also equate the emotion of happiness
to joy, although joy is often considered to be of a more spiritual word than
happiness.
This is why
the amount of stimulus required needs to constantly increase so that we can
feel the same amount of pleasure. Its actually known as the ‘hedonic
treadmill’. Pretty interesting, isn’t it? In this he spoke about the two types
of happiness; the craving for material things and the other being a desire for
internal things.
the amount of stimulus required needs to constantly increase so that we can
feel the same amount of pleasure. Its actually known as the ‘hedonic
treadmill’. Pretty interesting, isn’t it? In this he spoke about the two types
of happiness; the craving for material things and the other being a desire for
internal things.
In Christain
philosophy, one often turned to ‘blessedness’ to describe happiness. In East
Asian religion and philosophy, Daoism and Confucianism, the only way to live a
life of joy and fulfillment was by following the Dao or “the way”.
philosophy, one often turned to ‘blessedness’ to describe happiness. In East
Asian religion and philosophy, Daoism and Confucianism, the only way to live a
life of joy and fulfillment was by following the Dao or “the way”.
This was a
spontaneous way of living and was conferred by a practitioner, liberation from
all daily stress factors and even a sense of belonging to a greater concern. The
Confucius view of happiness was neither an emotion nor the attainment of
material objects; it was an ethical response to the features of the world.
spontaneous way of living and was conferred by a practitioner, liberation from
all daily stress factors and even a sense of belonging to a greater concern. The
Confucius view of happiness was neither an emotion nor the attainment of
material objects; it was an ethical response to the features of the world.
Happiness
has a lot of synonyms and they can be used and even differ in meaning across religion,
culture and region. However, in most of the cases, happiness is associated with
pleasure and hedonism then prone to adaptation that occurs across time.
has a lot of synonyms and they can be used and even differ in meaning across religion,
culture and region. However, in most of the cases, happiness is associated with
pleasure and hedonism then prone to adaptation that occurs across time.
Aristotle
had a special word that he used, to describe happiness – eudaimonia. This word
described happiness as the experience of a good life through virtuous actions.
had a special word that he used, to describe happiness – eudaimonia. This word
described happiness as the experience of a good life through virtuous actions.
Aristotle: “Happiness is the meaning and the
purpose of life, the whole aim and the end of human existence.” Or at
the very least, it is the end of the other ends we seek, even
today.
purpose of life, the whole aim and the end of human existence.” Or at
the very least, it is the end of the other ends we seek, even
today.
However,
what does it take to really be happy in today’s fast-paced times that are so
digitised and technologically connected, with less human interaction but more
social media interaction? The culture everywhere, by and far has become far
more individualist than ever before and feelings of loneliness are at a high.
Instead of seeking happiness form within ourselves we constantly look for
happiness outside us.
what does it take to really be happy in today’s fast-paced times that are so
digitised and technologically connected, with less human interaction but more
social media interaction? The culture everywhere, by and far has become far
more individualist than ever before and feelings of loneliness are at a high.
Instead of seeking happiness form within ourselves we constantly look for
happiness outside us.
We all want
the ‘happy life’ or the ‘good life’ don’t we? Its also even referred to as the
choice worthy life. It is just a regular life that incorporates all the goods
that we would choose for ourselves, including ethic and virtues. Daniel
Haybron, an
Associate Professor in the Philosophy Department at Saint Louis University is
of the belief that life satisfaction and hedonism are not the only two great
standards of life.
the ‘happy life’ or the ‘good life’ don’t we? Its also even referred to as the
choice worthy life. It is just a regular life that incorporates all the goods
that we would choose for ourselves, including ethic and virtues. Daniel
Haybron, an
Associate Professor in the Philosophy Department at Saint Louis University is
of the belief that life satisfaction and hedonism are not the only two great
standards of life.
For him, it is only in the area of psychological state
well being that a person can get a commonness affirmation of why happiness
even matters. A lot of this has got to do with one’s overall emotional
well-being. This is referred to as psychic flourishing and the
Director of Education and Senior Scholar in Positive Psychology,James
Pawelski reminds us that happiness is both a goal and a construct of culture. We
are constantly creating what happiness is through the fruits of culture.
well being that a person can get a commonness affirmation of why happiness
even matters. A lot of this has got to do with one’s overall emotional
well-being. This is referred to as psychic flourishing and the
Director of Education and Senior Scholar in Positive Psychology,James
Pawelski reminds us that happiness is both a goal and a construct of culture. We
are constantly creating what happiness is through the fruits of culture.
There has
constantly been a heated debate around happiness: is it self-centered or is it
selflessness? What are the dimensions of happiness? Happiness can be measured
from its fluctuating states to an authentic state of durability. However,
happiness is never permanent but remains a constant problem solving process and
it is in this process itself that we can sustain some sort of durability to our
happiness.
constantly been a heated debate around happiness: is it self-centered or is it
selflessness? What are the dimensions of happiness? Happiness can be measured
from its fluctuating states to an authentic state of durability. However,
happiness is never permanent but remains a constant problem solving process and
it is in this process itself that we can sustain some sort of durability to our
happiness.
· 20th
March International Day of Happiness (known as Happiness Day)- Founded on
June 28, 2012 with the purpose being the pursuit of happiness as a human right and a “fundamental human
goal.”
March International Day of Happiness (known as Happiness Day)- Founded on
June 28, 2012 with the purpose being the pursuit of happiness as a human right and a “fundamental human
goal.”
Even
neuroscientist and Buddhist monk, Matthieu Ricard teaches that durable happiness,
as a way of life requires a lot of training of the mind and development of
certain qualities such as inner peace, altruistic love and mindfulness. The
Dalai Lama holds the view that happiness is a skill which requires a lot of
time and effort to develop and a deep understanding of the true nature of
reality.
neuroscientist and Buddhist monk, Matthieu Ricard teaches that durable happiness,
as a way of life requires a lot of training of the mind and development of
certain qualities such as inner peace, altruistic love and mindfulness. The
Dalai Lama holds the view that happiness is a skill which requires a lot of
time and effort to develop and a deep understanding of the true nature of
reality.
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However, why
do we make happiness so very hard to attain? Isn’t happiness within our own
control?
do we make happiness so very hard to attain? Isn’t happiness within our own
control?
