Should we pursue happiness?
I watched a very witty graduation speech by an Australian comedian called Tim Minchin. In it, he listed the 9 principles that he thought one should live their life by:
1. You don't have to have a dream.
2. Don't seek happiness.
3. Remember, it's all luck.
4. Exercise.
5. Be hard on your opinions.
6. Be a teacher.
7. Define yourself by what you love.
8. Respect people with less power than you.
9. Don't rush.
The one that caught my eye the most was Don’t seek happiness. This interested me in its diametric opposition to the American 'ideal' which we know as ‘The Pursuit of Happiness.'
‘The Pursuit of Happiness' is a principle, an ideal that I have admired without reservation in the past. This is probably because other sets of ideals and principles set out by nation states were always ‘weighty’ and of very 'high' morality and worthiness. Witness similar initial stipulations proposed by post revolutionary France, and the Marxist inspired protocols of Russia, USA's future cold war enemy (in its incarnation as the USSR). If there was an argument for America as a more attractive destination for those seeking a new life, I thought to myself, surely then this "Happiness clause" was it?
John Lennon, of course, famously got in trouble at school for answering the question "what do you want to be when you grow up" with the answer "to be happy".
I watched a very witty graduation speech by an Australian comedian called Tim Minchin. In it, he listed the 9 principles that he thought one should live their life by:
1. You don't have to have a dream.
2. Don't seek happiness.
3. Remember, it's all luck.
4. Exercise.
5. Be hard on your opinions.
6. Be a teacher.
7. Define yourself by what you love.
8. Respect people with less power than you.
9. Don't rush.
The one that caught my eye the most was Don’t seek happiness. This interested me in its diametric opposition to the American 'ideal' which we know as ‘The Pursuit of Happiness.'
‘The Pursuit of Happiness' is a principle, an ideal that I have admired without reservation in the past. This is probably because other sets of ideals and principles set out by nation states were always ‘weighty’ and of very 'high' morality and worthiness. Witness similar initial stipulations proposed by post revolutionary France, and the Marxist inspired protocols of Russia, USA's future cold war enemy (in its incarnation as the USSR). If there was an argument for America as a more attractive destination for those seeking a new life, I thought to myself, surely then this "Happiness clause" was it?
John Lennon, of course, famously got in trouble at school for answering the question "what do you want to be when you grow up" with the answer "to be happy".
On the other hand the legendary motor racing driver Niki Lauda, declared that "happiness is the enemy". Who is right, I wonder?
The answer, possibly, lies between the urge to 'act' and the contentment to simply 'be'. Should we try to change the world or should we be content to simply wonder at it? There's your existential conundrum for the day.
The Gamut of Emotions
Gamut?! Gamut?! What kind of stupid word is that anyway? Can't we just say range?! Anyway... let's take a look at my handy gamutometor of emotion...
The answer, possibly, lies between the urge to 'act' and the contentment to simply 'be'. Should we try to change the world or should we be content to simply wonder at it? There's your existential conundrum for the day.
The Gamut of Emotions
Gamut?! Gamut?! What kind of stupid word is that anyway? Can't we just say range?! Anyway... let's take a look at my handy gamutometor of emotion...
Note that madness lies both above ecstasy, below despair and off the scale at either end of the gamutometer. Now, considering madness goes hand in hand with genius, we must logically conclude that one must ride a wave of intense emotion in order to express whatever world changing idea is in one's genius's locker. And it's okay Mr Spock, you can still be a genius despite your emotion free outlook. You're half alien.
Ever Changing Moods
I have generally spent life at the mercy of mood swings. The lyric "I'm up and down like a bride's nightie, I'm up and down and I don't know why, ooh, I'm happy and then I'm blue" has applied to me almost constantly. I've learned that when you're up, accept the situation and be grateful, and that when you're down, it can sometimes be useful to locate the source of your despondency, as you may be able to correct the situation and cheer yourself up.
Of course sometimes there is no real reason for your funk. You're trapped inside the ageing skin of a mortal human that is hurtling through an endless uncaring cosmos on a mote of dust. You could fill this vacuum inside you with gratuitous eating, sex, violence or blog writing. Or you could simply appreciate the notion that if this is the worst quandary on your mind, you're probably not trapped in a famine, a natural disaster or a war zone.
Or you could get out there and pursue some happiness...
Ever Changing Moods
I have generally spent life at the mercy of mood swings. The lyric "I'm up and down like a bride's nightie, I'm up and down and I don't know why, ooh, I'm happy and then I'm blue" has applied to me almost constantly. I've learned that when you're up, accept the situation and be grateful, and that when you're down, it can sometimes be useful to locate the source of your despondency, as you may be able to correct the situation and cheer yourself up.
Of course sometimes there is no real reason for your funk. You're trapped inside the ageing skin of a mortal human that is hurtling through an endless uncaring cosmos on a mote of dust. You could fill this vacuum inside you with gratuitous eating, sex, violence or blog writing. Or you could simply appreciate the notion that if this is the worst quandary on your mind, you're probably not trapped in a famine, a natural disaster or a war zone.
Or you could get out there and pursue some happiness...
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