Seeking Happiness

Another thought from my 10th grade geometry teacher.

You should have such a 10th grade geometry teacher.

John saw Jory Farr's new "culturewise" column in Columbus Monthly — "The Art of Being Artie Isaac"  — and offered another thought for my repertoire. This idea comes from another mathematician, Blaise Pascal:

All people seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. They will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every person, even those who hang themselves.

Is Happiness Enough?
Some might think this — the idea that we are merely happiness seekers — to be small. They complain that we are more altruistic, more noble.

I disagree. I find some comfort in the idea.

And I recognize my own hunger for happiness. It leads me toward both the noble and the ignoble.

Where's The Comfort In That?
There is much clarity. After all, once we know that we are seeking happiness, we have a vision for the future.

Which makes our mission clearer: we know what education to seek — and what to offer to the next generation. We would learn how to learn:

• What induces happiness?
• What Happiness Inducers are healthy for us and for our neighbors (over the fence and around the world)?
• How might we incent ourselves — more happiness, no doubt — to pick and pursue the Happiness Inducers that serve the greatest good?

I'm Happy.
And filled with gratitude for Jory Farr's article.

Friends have called to say that he really nailed it. Or me.

Indeed, he energetically and intelligently researched this one: calling several friends (Jonathan, Diane, Matt, Rob) first to ask them about me, then meeting me to ask me about what I'm doing. That order of interviews was peculiar, and peculiarly effective.

Thanks, Jory.

Comments

[Pam McClung/@Dieverdog]

It's true that we all seek happiness - though I wager most or many of us often don't really know what it is that will make us happy. Many set goals and then find once they are met we aren't nearly as happy or satisfied as we thought we would be - if I only had X, I would be happy.

Happiness is more of a process I think, a way of looking at life than a destination to be arrived at. But, as you say, everyone is seeking it in their own way - even the founding fathers put "the pursuit of happiness" in the Constitution so it was on their minds as well.

There was recently a show on PBS about Happiness that I hope they replay because I only caught the tail end of it - and it looked like it was pretty good. I guess to sum up I will use the words of Joseph Campbell - "follow your bliss."

[Artie Isaac]

Perhaps my reading Elements of Style explains why I would preposterously claim that To Kill A Mockingbird is the greatest novel ever written.

[Leigh Householder]

Artie, are you really reading Elements of Style? Apologies, but I've been thrown entirely off track by your right rail. That does not reading material make. Perhaps you ought to rethink the TV decision. Or, alternately, I have a shiny new operations manual for my vacuum I might lend you.

(Truly, though, lovely article. You inspire even the most cynical among us ... and, in the AVLT land, that's actually me!)

[Artie Isaac]

[This comes from a long-time reader, John Huston:]

But the underlying premise that folks know happiness when they find it is flawed, and much research shows this to be so.

A better construct is not to maximize your happiness, but to diminish your unhappiness. Why? Because we are much better at articulating what is making us unhappy and ill at ease. Besides, this approach provides more concrete action steps. E.g.: "I am unhappy I cannot read more history." is easier to fix than “I will be happy if I have a red Ferrari in the garage.”

A better example: “I will be happy if everyone in my family loves me.” It is so much easier to think in the reverse, and I think more often leads to taking action.”I will be less unhappy if I strengthen the relationship I have with sister Nellie.”

In my opinion, this 180 degree approach is a fun concept. There are some concepts better understood in the obverse or in their negative, rather than their positive.