By Dr Neil Flanagan -
The pursuit of happiness is a life-long quest for most of us. If we believe what we?re bombarded with by advertisers, you could be excused for concluding that all it requires is acquiring stuff-cars, houses, a beautiful body, a particular brand of shoes, and so on. If only?
The pursuit is hardly recent. To highlight what he considered essential for happiness, Epicurus (341-270 BC)-the same bloke who reckoned that a cucumber sandwich was good tucker-divided our needs into three classes. He identified the desires that are natural and necessary-basic food, shelter, clothes, friends, and freedom. Then there are others that are natural but unnecessary-a big house, a new car, and the latest in fashion. And there are those desires that are neither natural nor necessary-power, fame, status, and all that who?s-got-the-biggest stuff. Epicurus reckoned that if we want to be truly happy, we must satisfy the desires that are natural and necessary. Money, therefore, was important only in so far as it provided the means to purchase things that are natural and necessary.
Even before Epicurus? time, the role of money in delivering happiness was under the microscope (or its BC-equivalent). Aristotle?s two-bob?s worth was, ?? it?s difficult to do fine deeds without resources?. While we know that money alone may not bring happiness, there are two often-quoted sentiments that strike a chord with many people. First, there?s Mae West?s ?I?ve been rich and I?ve been poor. And rich is better?. Then there?s Spike Milligan?s plea: ?All I ask is a chance to prove that money can?t make you happy?.
As we acquire the wisdom that seems to come with grey, blue, or no hair, there is an acceptance of John Ruskin?s view that there is no wealth but life.
The ongoing pursuit of happiness has uncovered agreement about two ?must-do?s?. The first is to remove clutterbits from our lives. Clutterbits are all the stuff that we can live without-just like Epicurus alerted us to a couple thousand years ago. The other is to focus our energies on appreciating what we have rather than what we don?t have. As we age, we come to realize that the main reason the grass on the other side of the fence is greener is because we keep watering it.
In addition to single malt whisky, the Scotts gave us this great proverb: ?Be happy while you?re living, for you?re a long time dead?.
If you?d like to progress any of the issues raised in this article, just go to http://www.neil.com.au and join-in the blog, talk to Neil on Facebook, and so on.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Neil_Flanagan
http://EzineArticles.com/?Two-Steps-Toward-Happiness&id=7246026
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Two Steps Toward Happiness
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Two Steps Toward Happiness
By Dr Neil Flanagan
The pursuit of happiness is a life-long quest for most of us. If we believe what we?re bombarded with by advertisers, you could be excused for concluding that all it requires is acquiring stuff-cars, houses, a beautiful body, a particular brand of shoes, and so on. If only?
The pursuit is hardly recent. To highlight what he considered essential for happiness, Epicurus (341-270 BC)-the same bloke who reckoned that a cucumber sandwich was good tucker-divided our needs into three classes. He identified the desires that are natural and necessary-basic food, shelter, clothes, friends, and freedom. Then there are others that are natural but unnecessary-a big house, a new car, and the latest in fashion. And there are those desires that are neither natural nor necessary-power, fame, status, and all that who?s-got-the-biggest stuff. Epicurus reckoned that if we want to be truly happy, we must satisfy the desires that are natural and necessary. Money, therefore, was important only in so far as it provided the means to purchase things that are natural and necessary.
Even before Epicurus? time, the role of money in delivering happiness was under the microscope (or its BC-equivalent). Aristotle?s two-bob?s worth was, ?? it?s difficult to do fine deeds without resources?. While we know that money alone may not bring happiness, there are two often-quoted sentiments that strike a chord with many people. First, there?s Mae West?s ?I?ve been rich and I?ve been poor. And rich is better?. Then there?s Spike Milligan?s plea: ?All I ask is a chance to prove that money can?t make you happy?.
As we acquire the wisdom that seems to come with grey, blue, or no hair, there is an acceptance of John Ruskin?s view that there is no wealth but life.
The ongoing pursuit of happiness has uncovered agreement about two ?must-do?s?. The first is to remove clutterbits from our lives. Clutterbits are all the stuff that we can live without-just like Epicurus alerted us to a couple thousand years ago. The other is to focus our energies on appreciating what we have rather than what we don?t have. As we age, we come to realise that the main reason the grass on the other side of the fence is greener is because we keep watering it.
In addition to single malt whisky, the Scotts gave us this great proverb: ?Be happy while you?re living, for you?re a long time dead?.
If you?d like to progress any of the issues raised in this article, just go to http://www.neil.com.au and join-in the blog, talk to Neil on Facebook, and so on.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Neil_Flanagan
http://EzineArticles.com/?Two-Steps-Toward-Happiness&id=7246026
?
Two Steps Toward Happiness
?
Two Steps Toward Happiness
By Dr Neil Flanagan
The pursuit of happiness is a life-long quest for most of us. If we believe what we?re bombarded with by advertisers, you could be excused for concluding that all it requires is acquiring stuff-cars, houses, a beautiful body, a particular brand of shoes, and so on. If only?
The pursuit is hardly recent. To highlight what he considered essential for happiness, Epicurus (341-270 BC)-the same bloke who reckoned that a cucumber sandwich was good tucker-divided our needs into three classes. He identified the desires that are natural and necessary-basic food, shelter, clothes, friends, and freedom. Then there are others that are natural but unnecessary-a big house, a new car, and the latest in fashion. And there are those desires that are neither natural nor necessary-power, fame, status, and all that who?s-got-the-biggest stuff. Epicurus reckoned that if we want to be truly happy, we must satisfy the desires that are natural and necessary. Money, therefore, was important only in so far as it provided the means to purchase things that are natural and necessary.
Even before Epicurus? time, the role of money in delivering happiness was under the microscope (or its BC-equivalent). Aristotle?s two-bob?s worth was, ?? it?s difficult to do fine deeds without resources?. While we know that money alone may not bring happiness, there are two often-quoted sentiments that strike a chord with many people. First, there?s Mae West?s ?I?ve been rich and I?ve been poor. And rich is better?. Then there?s Spike Milligan?s plea: ?All I ask is a chance to prove that money can?t make you happy?.
As we acquire the wisdom that seems to come with grey, blue, or no hair, there is an acceptance of John Ruskin?s view that there is no wealth but life.
The ongoing pursuit of happiness has uncovered agreement about two ?must-do?s?. The first is to remove clutterbits from our lives. Clutterbits are all the stuff that we can live without-just like Epicurus alerted us to a couple thousand years ago. The other is to focus our energies on appreciating what we have rather than what we don?t have. As we age, we come to realise that the main reason the grass on the other side of the fence is greener is because we keep watering it.
In addition to single malt whisky, the Scotts gave us this great proverb: ?Be happy while you?re living, for you?re a long time dead?.
If you?d like to progress any of the issues raised in this article, just go to http://www.neil.com.au and join-in the blog, talk to Neil on Facebook, and so on.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Neil_Flanagan
http://EzineArticles.com/?Two-Steps-Toward-Happiness&id=7246026
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Source: http://theselfimprovementblog.com/self-improvement/happiness/two-steps-toward-happiness/
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