“Stumbling On Happiness”
I’m on my second time through the book Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert. I would go into a little more detail about the book but it’s been a couple of years since I read it, and my memory for those kinds of things just isn’t all that great. In fact I can go back and read my old blog posts and be just as entertained as you probably are reading them for the first time… that is assuming I actually like what I’ve written.
In the first few pages of the book Mr. Gilbert talks about our insatiable need to seek happiness. Philosopher Robert Nozick concluded that if there were a machine we could hook up to ourselves that would create a state of complete happiness, while conveniently causing us to forget we were hooked to a machine, no one would choose to be hooked up for the rest of their life. It seems that humans, unlike happiness seeking pigs, value both the experiences of free will and happiness, not just happiness.
As humans we choose to think rather than simply feel. I think seeking a feeling of happiness is a worthy goal, yet I too still want the experience of free will. It seems there is a bit of disconnect here for us non-pig-like humans. We want to happy but we don’t want anyone doing it for us. I believe there is an answer here, of sorts.
How do you feel when you practice tai chi? I’m going to go out on a limb here and say you probably feel at least a bit happier than before you started to practice. That is assuming you’re not running the problems of the day through your head at the same time. A very difficult task while doing tai chi I might add, but possible none the less. If you’re doing that… stop it, stop it right now!
Try this little experiment. Think about something you like, some thing you want. Now think only about that thing and don’t concern yourself with how you’re going to have the actual experience. How do you feel? It’s interesting how we feel happy without actually achieving what it is we want. All we really need to do is think about it. Do you think this is a possible key to happiness?
OK back to tai chi. Think about a time when you were practicing, your mind was on only your movements and your body, and you felt bad. I’m going to go out on a limb here again. Don’t worry about me; it’s a big fat sturdy limb. You can’t do it can you? Think maybe tai chi really is another key to happiness?
Your thoughts?
John
P.S. I found this pic on Flickr.com: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29033384@N00/880987415
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May 23, 2009 - 09:05:49There have been many times over the years when tai chi practice did not “rescue” me from a lousy mood, or runaway thinking. However, I can’t think of even one occasion when practicing made me feel worse. And it always affects the general “quality” of the day for the better. It’s the most useful tool in that regard I’ve ever found.
Personally, I aim more for “satisfaction” than what’s generally thought of as “happiness,” but that’s just me …
Walt,
I agree that tai chi is one of the most useful tools I’ve found as well. As far as happiness and satisfaction, I prefer to think of them as siblings.
John
Happiness is a state of mind that really depends how we see the situations in our lives each day. you can have all the riches in the world but still see it as a lonely place.;~-
Ethan,
I you’ve got it. Happiness and money are not really connected. We can be happy whether we have a little or a lot of anything. It’s all in the attitude… and tai chi of course.
John