Some people say we place too much emphasis on Happiness. I've sat and talked with stoic people who think that happiness is a selfish and shallow goal, and there seems to be some scientific evidence for that*. Psychology professor and writer William Schultz also thinks happiness may be overrated. In a recent publication for Psychology Today he wrote, that he couldn't complain about the times he's been happy, but thinks he'd "rather be other things more." I have to disagree.
To put a twist on a cliche, I've been happy and I've been unhappy--and happy is better. You and I have also been around happy people and unhappy people. Isn't it nicer to be around happy people? Don't we feel more accepted, contented, and just plain OK around happy people?
I love waking up ready to face my day with enthusiasm and vigor. I really like it when the challenges before me seem like adventures rather than oppression. And, trust me, I've had plenty of times when I found it hard to feel this way. In the words of lyricist Don Mclean, "yes, I know how lonely life can be." I absolutely do not like the sad times (that necessarily visit everyone occasionally), and fortunately I've gotten fairly good over the years at not letting such moods hang around.
I endorse lasting happiness and true joy as one of the main purposes of life. I believe we were put on this planet in order to have joy, and even being in a world where bad things happen doesn't change that. Happy people are more productive, energetic, and creative than sad people. Happy people tend to have better health and better relationships too. Sad people want to figure out how to be happy.
People who have been sad for a long time start to believe that there is no way for them to be happy. Often unhappy people--people who are distressed by long-lasting personal or relationship problems for example--feel like there is no navigable pathway to happiness, that you can't get there from here.
But usually people haven't actually tried absolutely everything. One of the most rewarding experiences in my life is to watch people come alive who previously thought happiness was out of reach for them. I get to see it regularly. I believe in it, and I believe it is a wonderful, beautiful thing.
Now to be completely fair to Dr. Schultz, the things he mentions in his article that are more important to him than happiness--things like being good at loving and serving others--actually tend to give people a lot of happiness themselves. There are other things people can do--anyone can do--to increase their happiness. The right thing for you to do will very depending on who you are and in what circumstances you live. If not me, find someone who can mentor you along your journey to happiness.
It's worth it.
Please share this post on your networking site. Someone you care about could use some encouragement.
