Happiness can be tricky to figure out. Some have the belief that being happy means never facing challenges or that success automatically brings joy. But the real key to happiness is less about external things and more about internal factors like contentment, faith, and living according to divine wisdom. (Proverbs 16:20).
I recently discovered and have been enjoying the writings of Arthur C. Brooks, an American author, public speaker, and academic. Brooks serves as Professor of the Practice of Nonprofit and Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and is also a Faculty Fellow at the Harvard Business School.
In today’s featured article, Brooks explores some myths and some truths about how to have a happy life. I hope you find it as insightful and encouraging as I have.
Today’s Theme: Happiness
Quote(s)
“If you want happiness for an hour—take a nap. If you want happiness for a day—go fishing. If you want happiness for a year—inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime—help someone else.” —Chinese Proverb
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” ―J.R.R. Tolkien
“The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be.” ―Marcel Pagnol
“Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” – Psalm 144:15
Article
Three Myths and Four Truths About How to Get Happier
By Arthur C. Brooks
What do we actually mean when we say we just want to be happy? Usually, that we want to achieve and keep certain feelings—of joy or simple cheerfulness—but that some obstacle prevents this. “I just want to be happy” is almost always followed by naming a source of unhappiness, such as money problems, relationship problems, health problems—or real tragedies.
What a cruel paradox: We are wired to desire happiness yet seemingly doomed to a life of struggle that makes it unattainable. [READ MORE]
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/09/happiness-truths-myths/675283
Questions
- Reflecting on your own life experiences, what moments or periods stand out as the happiest, and what factors contributed to that feeling?
- Think of times when you sacrificed happiness for other goals or priorities, and how did you navigate that trade-off?
- If you could impart one key lesson or insight about happiness to future generations, what would it be?
Conclusion
I love what Arthur Brooks says, “happiness is not a destination but a direction.” I wonder what would happen if each of us embraced that thought and began living it out day by day? I wonder how much different our world would be? I wonder what effect it would have on our relationships whether across the street or around the world?
Thanks for reading!