I once read an advice by a therapist don't chase happiness in your life. It is better to strive for contentment. Not sure whether my translation is perfect.
Obviously being happy is something good. But some people have the notion that happiness was the only thing that counts in life. I see where they are coming from. And happiness is one of the most important things in life. Though, always chasing happiness doesn't really mean you become actually happy. Like Slavoj Zizek says we are often not all that aware what we really want. Sometimes we strive for something and exactly not getting it lets us remain in a condition where we idealize something feeling satisfied. Whereas when we achieve it we realize it wasn't exactly what dreamed about. It doesn't actually bring happiness. In some way this is in my opinion a story similar to "The journey is the reward."Maybe the comparison isn't perfect.
Some people in our capitalistic society think getting what we want was the main goal in life. And getting everything immeditately without work or principles was the greatest thing of all. One pillar of a content life are principles and values though. And people that get what they want without any work or exercise often tend to lack traits like discipline or a basic understanding of ethics/morality. Look at the Epstein class and people like primce Andrew from UK. (Sorry Brits for using this example...)
if we evalute all of our actions on questions like will this make me happy it is in some form slavery. It is a life lived for achieving shortterm goals. We can eat what we want. We can take drugs like we want. We can enjoy gambling. Though, we will pay a price for that when the consequences are showing. Some think a fast life is what they are striving for. And in some way my thoughts also seem to imply a life of a monk or stoic. I think they shouldn't be considered the absolutely right life. Everyone has a different view of life. And when one is on the edge of suicide I fully understand to be in a survivial mode only trying to make it to the next day. I think this is also not an advice for people who are extremely unhappy for systemic reasons. If there are roots for deep existential pain this statement can even sound cynical. But the notion also can be comforting. The people you see on social media often lie to themselves. They portray a happy life but often they are not actually happy. Some of them are imprisoned in cage where they have to pretend to be happy. Because in our society it is punished to show vulnerability and express your existential pain in life. Capitalism pretends every problem could be solved by buying something. The truth is you cannot purchase everything for example when the one thing you don't have is health.
What do you think?
Obviously being happy is something good. But some people have the notion that happiness was the only thing that counts in life. I see where they are coming from. And happiness is one of the most important things in life. Though, always chasing happiness doesn't really mean you become actually happy. Like Slavoj Zizek says we are often not all that aware what we really want. Sometimes we strive for something and exactly not getting it lets us remain in a condition where we idealize something feeling satisfied. Whereas when we achieve it we realize it wasn't exactly what dreamed about. It doesn't actually bring happiness. In some way this is in my opinion a story similar to "The journey is the reward."Maybe the comparison isn't perfect.
Some people in our capitalistic society think getting what we want was the main goal in life. And getting everything immeditately without work or principles was the greatest thing of all. One pillar of a content life are principles and values though. And people that get what they want without any work or exercise often tend to lack traits like discipline or a basic understanding of ethics/morality. Look at the Epstein class and people like primce Andrew from UK. (Sorry Brits for using this example...)
if we evalute all of our actions on questions like will this make me happy it is in some form slavery. It is a life lived for achieving shortterm goals. We can eat what we want. We can take drugs like we want. We can enjoy gambling. Though, we will pay a price for that when the consequences are showing. Some think a fast life is what they are striving for. And in some way my thoughts also seem to imply a life of a monk or stoic. I think they shouldn't be considered the absolutely right life. Everyone has a different view of life. And when one is on the edge of suicide I fully understand to be in a survivial mode only trying to make it to the next day. I think this is also not an advice for people who are extremely unhappy for systemic reasons. If there are roots for deep existential pain this statement can even sound cynical. But the notion also can be comforting. The people you see on social media often lie to themselves. They portray a happy life but often they are not actually happy. Some of them are imprisoned in cage where they have to pretend to be happy. Because in our society it is punished to show vulnerability and express your existential pain in life. Capitalism pretends every problem could be solved by buying something. The truth is you cannot purchase everything for example when the one thing you don't have is health.
What do you think?
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