Identity and Fulfillment: Happy-nomics! by Howard Fischer

Happy-nomics! Identity and Fulfillment

As this generation grapples with the pursuit of identity and fulfilment, we miss the fact that someone, somewhere has smuggled in a formula into our thinking.  We accept that we deserve to be happy!  Happiness has been smuggled in!  Happiness is now the “true north” on the compass of our lives.  And hence, success or failure in life, is now defined by the levels of happiness we feel!

What an utterly dangerous philosophy to live by… or illusion to be under!

Happiness… is based upon what happens.  Thus, there will always need to be an external stimulus.  What drives the economy of happiness in your life?  Consider the following questions… Does money bring happiness?  Can poor people be happy?  Does being in a relationship bring happiness?  Are single people happy?  A new car?  A new house?  A diamond ring?  What will satisfy?

With the continuous acceleration of social media, we are pressured into living our lives in images, on display.  But, we must only live our best moments in the public eye… we have to show that we are really happy or happier, or really hurting… because those get attention and likes!

Pressurised to post “the daily me”!  And the number of likes or emoticons, will guide us into the types of updates we must continue to post.  And, we play to the audience, because their approval of us will determine our levels of happiness.  Sadly, there comes a point where we sever ourselves from our roots… never mind the cost. I have to be liked, so I post whatever gets me my happiness fix!

I have, over time, realised that happiness is a by-product of what happens.  Happiness is a means to an end, never an end in itself.  It is not to be pursued, but is found in the pursuit of other goals and challenges.

Here is some older-world wisdom for life…

The Serenity Prayer,  by Reinholdt Neibuhr (exerpt)

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time,

Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace…

…So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,

And supremely happy with You forever in the next”

 

The Perfect High, by Shel Silverstein, ends with these infamous lines…

“It’s always the same, whether old men or bright-eyed youth;

It’s always easier to sell them some sh#§, than it is to tell them the truth.”

 

We often find our true selves in struggle and hardship, not in comfort and ease, like Nelson Mandela.  Keep walking toward freedom.  Live well!