004 | The Great Happiness Debate
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Today’s Topic: The Great “Happiness" Debate
Is there really a debate over happiness?
Types of happiness
How TH views happiness
// 1 IS THERE REALLY A DEBATE?
As I researched happiness, I began to see a pattern. Most of the articles I found seemed to fall into one of these buckets:
Pop Psychology/Self Help Articles
“More Enlightened” Pop Psychology/Self Help Articles (Often delving into the spiritual or mystical)
Christian Articles
Examples: Though highly stereotyped just to help get my point across…
Pop Psychology: "6 Steps to Achieving Happiness.”
Article would offer ideas like “take time for yourself” “focus on the positive” “start a gratitude journal” “treat yourself each week" etc.
“Enlightened" Pop Psychology (Spiritual): "Why Pursuing Happiness Might Not Be the Best Course of Action."
Article would go on to suggest that focusing on goals, or family for instance would be a better route - and that happiness will typically follow as a byproduct of the other behaviors
Christian Articles: "Happiness is Not the Point of the Christian Life.”
This seems to be pretty common. Articles suggesting we aren’t here to be happy, we’re here to live a life dedicated to living out our faith…
After doing the research, it appears there is little debate in the first two buckets. Why?
Well, it could be because there is no “higher purpose” or “external moral code” impacting your life
At the end of the day you are your "higher purpose”
The world tends to revolve around you, and it’s up to you to get the most out of the one life you have
After all, nobody is going to do it for you right?
In pop psychology and enlightened pop psychology, happiness seems to be a worthy goal that everyone is chasing
So because of this, I didn’t really find articles that argued that point - most simply offer their take on how to find true happiness
A lot of articles had lists, and there were common themes: eat well, exercise, take time for yourself, find a few close friends, focus on the positive vs. the negative, give back, pay it forward, etc.
And there is nothing bad about these things! In fact, if we all did a bit more in these areas, the world would be a better place!
So basically, the “happiness debate” occurs in the last bucket - when the articles are written by and for Christians:
Funny enough, when you throw God, Christianity, or a moral code of some sort into the mix, a debate is sure to break out...
Why you ask?
Well, most likely, it’s because we have added a new ingredient into the recipe. It’s no longer just about you or me. Christianity suggests there is a higher purpose than us and so starts the debate...
But this shouldn’t surprise us...
Within Christianity there is a spectrum of beliefs from liberal to conservative - so too:
There are Christians that believe happiness is a priority - something to be sought after
And there are Christians who believe happiness is not why we are here - that it should NOT be a priority in life
So the debate is really over the importance or lack of importance we place on happiness
There are probably denominational differences - where an entire denomination might fall one side of the other in the debate
And there are probably preachers who base their view on what they learned in seminary
But at the end of the day, it may be even more personal than that. We all might have a slightly different take on happiness and how important it is to us
// 2 TYPES OF HAPPINESS
Let’s dig a bit deeper into what happiness is:
The world of psychology suggests that happiness can fall into two categories: https://www.awaken.com/2018/07/the-happiness-debate/
Hedonic: positive feelings associated with pleasure or goal fulfillment
Eudaimonic: positive feelings derived from pursuing meaning
So different in their approach, and yet both of categories have happiness as the focal point. For example, Hedonistic people go out of their way to create, or find experiences, or pursue goals in life in order to make themselves happy. Eudaimonistic people go out of their way to find meaning - which they hope will help them find happiness. See the similarity? Even though the approach is different - happiness is the ultimate goal.
But keep in mind this is a “worldly” definition of happiness - a definition where everyone is on the same page - where there is no debate.
So do we just throw out these definitions? NO! Of course not.
In fact, the Eudaimonic version of happiness is on the right track. After all, isn’t that what Transcend Human suggests? That we search for a higher purpose, or higher meaning from which to operate in life?
The answer is “yes.” But don’t miss the subtle difference:
In Eudaimonic happiness - happiness is still the goal
When we Transcend Human - finding truth, and purpose is the goal - regardless whether it brings us happiness or not
// 3 HOW TRANSCEND HUMAN VIEWS HAPPINESS
Let’s go back to the debate in the Christian world. There seems to be a lot of momentum in both directions.
There are large, popular churches preaching the more worldly view of happiness:
If you attend a church like this, you might hear entire messages on how to be happier. And the lists presented might sound a lot like the lists pop psychology offers
There is a focus on self, and happiness is ultimately something we’re all trying to achieve
And on the other side of the aisle, you have more traditional/conservative church leaders quoting Fathers of the Faith like C.S. Lewis who said of happiness:
"We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” C.S. Lewis
On this side of the debate, happiness can almost be viewed as sinful. The goal is to live the stoic, almost monastic lifestyle
So who’s right? Who’s wrong?
Maybe it isn’t as simple as that. Maybe the problem is that we’re too focused on the word itself. Maybe “happiness” is the problem…
Transcend Human suggests that instead of focusing on the word “happiness,” we need to back up a bit, and get some perspective. With a wider view, we see that happiness is only one piece of a larger puzzle.
So let’s look at a few other puzzle pieces:
We’ll talk about three in today’s conversation. Not that there are only three, but these three do seem pretty solid:
Happiness: Momentary, transient emotion or feeling. And there is nothing wrong with that! As long as you don’t make it the ultimate goalie life
Example: The other day I experienced a great deal of happiness when the hockey team I play on won the championship game in the Anaheim Ducks Throwback Classic. It was sooooo much fun, and for a hot minute we were on top of the world… Happiness all around!
However, winning the hockey tournament didn’t sustain my level of happiness. In two weeks my emotional state will be based on what’s going on in two weeks
Because happiness is highly situational
Joy: Now joy is a word that is used a lot in the Bible, but unlike happiness, it seems to suggest a state of emotional stability and good feeling that can last a while. In fact, it sounds like you can have joy even when things don’t go your way - which you don’t typically hear said of happiness...
Example: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3
Strange - right? So this joy thing isn’t a situational feeling based on something good happening to you...
It is a good feeling that you have because of something you know, and understand. The knowledge that you are actually growing as a person, that there is meaning in your life even when you experience difficulties
You’ve head this before. Those crazy stories we hear from time to time. The person who just lost their job. The person in the middle of financial crisis. The person with a terminal illness. And yet when you talk to them they seem to be positive, almost joyful. What’s that about? It just seems so contrary to how the world works
Undoubtedly these people understand the big picture - that joy is much deeper than happiness...
Contentment: Transcend Human suggests there is something even deeper than happiness and joy - and that is contentment:
To review:
Happiness is a situational and often momentary good feeling based on something good happening to you
Joy is a good feeling based on an understanding of our place in the world - which can last longer that happiness
Contentment is a long lasting state of being that transcends both happiness and joy
So how do we reach this pinnacle - this transcendent state of being?
Well, most likely in the following way:
First: Understanding that a controversy exists on Earth - a battle between God and Satan (between good and evil) over the hearts of every person past, present and future (Controversy Theory)
Second: Understanding that this controversy has a direct impact on us. This is the Human Condition. Simply put, it is the totality of our life experiences, our medical issues and our state of mental health throughout our lifetimes
Third: It involves making a decision in the controversy. I would suggest Team God - which ultimately leads to a sense of safety and security no matter what you face in life. An understanding that death is not the end - eternity awaits
Finally: While we are on Earth - choosing to Transcend Human in everyday life. Living on purpose, proactively so that we are part of the solution, not part of the problem
That said, let’s land the plane on this whole happiness debate then:
In Summary:
Happiness is great, and I hope you experience many happy moments in your life. Just don’t make it your ultimate goal. Next, choose joy in every situation - understanding that you can be joyful even when times are hard. And finally, seek contentment overall. Seek to understand your place in the world, your choice in the controversy, and how having a secured future can make you content with what you have in life and what you’re here to accomplish.
Thanks for joining us!
Have a great week and keep Transcending Human...
A few more articles from this episode: