The Pursuit of Happiness: Are We Responsible?
The search for happiness is back.
Increasingly chronicled in newspapers, blogs, books and TV, finding your bliss is finding its way once again into our conversations and our consciousness.
“Many of us think we have a responsibility to be happy, but that’s insane,” says Eric Weiner, author of The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World. “It’s why we Americans suffer from what’s called ‘the unhappiness of not being happy.’”
Nonetheless, mountains have been trekked, wisdom imparted, and the source of our current distress identified: “Greed. Insatiable human greed.”
That anti-Gordon Gekko echo comes from the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, where the Prime Minister has declared greed to be the cause of the current global economic meltdown, and by extension, our great global unhappiness. “We need to think Gross National Happiness,” insists the Prime Minister.
Gross National Happiness is the Bhutanese government’s official alternative to what it considers the “broken promise” of Gross National Product, the traditional measure of a country’s economic output and worth.
Last year, Bhutan adopted a new Constitution centered on Gross National Happiness, with agriculture, transportation, and foreign trade programs now being judged not by their economic benefits, but by the happiness they produce.
“Essentially, I agree with the Bhutanese Prime Minister,” says Eric Weiner, who visited Bhutan to learn about GNH first-hand. “But I think that the source of our unhappiness is expectations. Greed fulfilled makes us ‘happy’ for awhile, but when our expectations are no longer met, we’re miserable.”
That same sentiment was also expressed by the actor Michael J. Fox, who traveled to Bhutan for his TV special, “Adventures of an Incurable Optimist.” Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease 18 years ago, Fox was intrigued by Gross National Happiness, and offered his own take on personal happiness: “Your happiness grows in direct proportion to your acceptance, and in inverse proportion to your expectations.”
Tell us what you think: Do we have a responsibility to be happy? Is human greed really the cause of our discontent? Would an official policy of Gross National Happiness work in the U.S.?
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Principal Business Analyst
Happiness is not only something that you feel but that which you share. Being content, having a positive attitude and living life according to the Golden Rule: “Treat others as you expect to be treated” is the foundation to finding and sharing happiness. Therefore, it is within anyone’s reach and is definitely 100% an individual’s responsibility.
Janice Brown | 6 months, 1 week ago
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Dentist
Happiness has solely to do with the state of our mind/thoughts.
whether one can control the thought or not, that is a key to establishing happiness for ourselves. But it is easier to say than done. Thoughts are like one is in the middle of the ocean on an small boat and the waves constantly shakes him/her to right, left, back and fort, up and down. How one can be expected to sit still and straight without any shaking? you see how difficult it seems to be? That is why mumanity as a whole has problem with it (our thoughts). Gens, upbringing, society, you name it, all has an effect on our thoughts. If one get his/het thoughts under control, then, only then one can see sign of true happiness. That is my view, I welcom yours!
Jay Monsef | 6 months ago
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happiness yeah right
i agree with him how can we be happy with things when there are people strving and losing there houses and family by greed of the worlds money i am young but i know what happiness is and this isn’t it!!!
lizzy crenshaw | 5 months, 4 weeks ago
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Owner, Life Coach, Big Fat Happiness
Unhappiness is the state we experience when we make the decision to let temporary dissapointment cause us to give up our dreams. We have lost the ability to be steadfast and diligent in the pursuit of our dreams. While attachment to anything not realized can create unhappy feelings it the giving up and the unwillingness to do our work in relationship to all that is going around us that defeats. With instand stars from reality TV and lottery winners every week we have a tendency to want something for nothing. If we could learn from the faith of a farmer in relationship to the land we would see that you must do the work first in faith before the blessing and happiness comes. Happiness is only true happiness when you know you have cooperated with life. Find you life passion, get some feedback that you are on target and never give up your persuit regardless of the many temporary failures. Find the joy in doing what you know you are to be doing and stop measuring your happiness based on short term wins and losses.
David Ruch | 5 months, 3 weeks ago
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human being
Wow. This search for the opposite of misery or unhappiness is no different than saying “up” instead of “down.” How about “content?” I believe it would be more realistic to acquire inner peace and contentment than be on a constant high of happiness which is totally unhealthy, and unbalanced. This world surly is a world of opposites and causalities – therefore, accept that each day brings both. If you ate filet Mignon every day – it would eventually become boring. But if it was once in a while, it would be a happy treat. How would you know the difference or appreciate happiness if you didn’t experience it’s opposite? Therefore, being content is something each individual would have to work at, while accepting the unlimited possibilities of the wonder of this world.
Sunny | 5 months, 2 weeks ago
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I'm embarrassed to say...
that, although I know I am responsibe for my own happiness – at times I don’t know where to find my true happines. Happiness seems to be alive within others I see. Yet most of the time I feel devoid of this feeling and its ever lasting embodiment in my heart and soul. I get very lonely (even in a crowd of people)and although I want to be a giving person, do not know where to turn to project such influence that I can’t seem to find in my natual nature. My selfish behavior takes over. Even when I’m doing nothing I am hard pressed to enjoy and be happy, feeling sorry for myself and wallowing in self destructive thought pattterns. I lack patience and a natural kindness that others seem to possess. I ask God to heal my head (filled with negitive and self beating thinking) and my heart. I know that without the daily spiritual exercise (I need to stay healthy – just like excercising, keeping my body healthy) I will never come to a true healing of these patterns I produce over and over, which I know are not empowering yet designs the outcome of my exsistance. I am born again (meaning I beleive in God and deeply want to live a life that emulates Christ.
Yet I am constantly am battling my bad, inappropriate behavior – talking to much, boosting, lying about success or failures to keep others from thinking ill of me. Joyce Meyers saids that without giving to others, without taking the selfish focus off yourself and doing for another you can never really be happy & free. I know she is correct. What keeps me from this consistant act. I do it sometimes, feel better and then slack off. I’m not a lazy person yet find that deep within me my beleif is that I’m never really going to change or get better. I’m so embarrassed to say… Yet the embarrassment is keeping me from healing this burdensome beast. I’m off to a Christian fellowship seminar entitled “Regaining Hope & Healing” – I pray it touches and changes me.
Guy D. | 5 months, 2 weeks ago
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Golden Age
I came from the far east. When I was young my view of America was that her people were very kind and very charitable. I think she then became more involved with judging other countries and less on judging herself. The VW and the Hippy movement were two of the turning points. Who will say that the place they live does not influence their thinking? Judge youself before you judge others.
LZhang | 5 months, 1 week ago
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PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
Happiness is one of the most celebrated words in the history of humanity. Happiness is one of the most desirable words in the privacy of every home.
Pursuit of Happiness is one of the prodding motives for the entrenchment of the Universal Declaration of human rights. It is more or less a natural right to be happy. It is a personal duty to pursue happiness, not only in the personal sense as individuals; but as members of one another. Individual happiness can engender peace, progress and ultimate development.
Pursuit of happiness requires several demanding efforts, ranging from ambition to achievement. The means to happiness is an issue that is seemingly very elusive. Individuals, must appreciate the need to be conscious and aware of other peoples’ interests in the course of pursuing happiness. It is believed that happiness should be sought through legitimate means to prevent acts that will occassion other peoples’ sadness.
Sadness is the dreaded antonym of happiness. All and sundry especially the youths must avoid sadists and all traits of sadism, thereby preparing an enabling atmosphere to pursue and attain happiness. To taste happiness is to overcome sadness.
International Governments and National Governments are obliged to pursue policies that will offer happiness. The truth is that most programmes are intended to grant happiness to the people, but due care and regard must be had to policies that are so stringent and rigid that application of the policies eventually erode happiness and frustrate persons that are prospective beneficiaries of the programme.
To pursue happiness is our common and mutual responsibility. Implementation of existing fundamental human rights and humanitarian laws can guarantee happiness. Universal application and promotion of the rights and the laws can offer individuals happiness. Development and balanced growth can lend assistance to our global pursuit of happiness.
INITIATOR.
Emollience | 5 months ago
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happiness
the continous struggle n contentment with the results keeps the man happy.
saleemullah farooq | 4 months, 4 weeks ago
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none
Happiness – We are the happiest people on the planet. We don’t need u or anyone else telling us what happiness is.
Mr. Phillips | 4 months, 2 weeks ago
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