Happiness
‘Ask yourself when you are happy and you cease to be so’ – J.S. Mills
One of my phd supervisors recommended I read Flow (it is a really good read, about ‘the Psychology of Optimal Experience’) and well, firstly it explains that it is by being fully involved with every detail of our lives, whether good or bad, that we find happiness and not by trying to look for it directly. Viktor Frankl (an Austrian psychologist and Nazi camp survivor, who spent 3yrs in Auschwitz, Dachau and other concentration camps) summarised this thinking also in the preface of his book Man’s Search for Meaning “Don’t aim at success – the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue …. as the unintended side-effect of one’s personal dedication to a course greater than oneself.” A good thought for the day!
Second related thought to mention is that the ability to preserve despite obstacles and setbacks is the quality people most admire in others, and rightly so - it is probably the most important trait not only for succeeding in life, but for enjoying it as well! ;)
I suppose some of this relates to old saying ‘smile and the world smiles with you, cry and you cry alone.’
- Gosh I’m getting quite philosophical for a comp. eng.! Or, am not sure… should I start to question why my supervisor recommended I read the book??? ;)
ha ha! ;) - just to clarify, I'm creating a contextualised learning environment, hence students need to be 'in the flow’ and happy! ;)
posted by Connie @ 12:53 a.m.
3 Comments:
Heya, I like your thinking and agree totally.. someone crying/lonely/depressed is something that can and should not be ignored, but quite often expression of emotions, both good and bad, are often shielded from others.. (Perhaps it is this culture of not expressing emotions that is leading to many other social problems encountered.. Plus everyone is generally too busy with their own lives to really take time-out to truly care about others, especially those less fortunate..)
Not that I totally agree with the sentiment of the saying, I do feel there is some truth to it however - in society it is those who are depressed/sad/subdued that are generally ignored, or to a lesser extent involved in goings on.. as society leans towards the happy-go-lucky/active people who 'seem' to be enjoying life..
What I was trying to think-out and say is twofold – 1. Don’t look to the future to seek happiness, we should find happiness in all our lives daily. 2. Life is a battle/struggle, everyone has ups and downs, but its that ability to preserve and continue, and bring others along also, that is commendable (e.g. Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks..) But hey, I’m no psychologist and there are many different angles to this.. it was only a ‘thought for the day’! ;)
With regard to the contextualised learning environment/research – flow/happiness is only a sub-element.. but the thinking is, that if students (of HEI’s) are in a state of flow of learning and engagement they will accomplish more.
that book by victor frankl is fantastic, i often dip back into it - the social animal by elliot aronson is another great for reference. i love that sort of stuff....
what is it his basis for logotherapy is again? live each day as if living it already for the second time and act as wrongly as you did the first time as you are about to act now....gotta lvoe it!
agree it a fantastic book - just re-read it last week.. its one of those books everyone should read at least once!
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