Happiness

THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS

The quest for happiness in life is something we all aim for. To be happy, is, according to the Greeks, not a temporary state of being, unrelated to our personal feelings, but more of an objective concept that comes from a completely rational state of mind. There are many philosophical schools of thought proclaiming to hold the definitive answers for exactly what happiness is and one can argue that a collective ethical approach - a moral code that benefits all, is the ultimate good - or a personal code of ethics, is the definitive path to take. I personally believe the latter to be the priority, for in order to benefit the greater good, one must be happy in their own moral conduct first and foremost.

Finding Purpose
We are all interconnected in the subtlest of ways. Our thoughts determine actions, which in turn cause reactions from others, which set off an infinite set of chain reactions.

We can choose how to act, only if we are aware of our mindset. Our intentions can be very powerful forces for creating both positive and negative outcomes. We soul search for meaning and a purpose in life and can become lost in the false belief that we have no reason to be here and no part to play in the greater scale of things. This reasoning can lead to a very low opinion of one's worth and depression quickly follows. But what many people who are questioning their self-worth, fail to realise, is how important they are in the collective role in life. Their paths are being crossed constantly with everything and everyone they come into contact with and their significance is valued in all kinds of intricate ways. If they are only to acknowledge their role, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem to them in their minds eye, they can be convinced of the beneficial role they play. Once they realise how important their influence and how much they impact on the lives of others, they can more clearly see their true value and their purpose in life can be actualised in that instant.

The Ultimate Good
One chain of thought for attaining happiness, is to be the best we can be by following our ethical duties. Our moral compass can help us decide on the right actions to take. Sets of rules have been established over the years which we have adapted into religions, questioned through philosophy and adopted to fit within our societies. Natural laws and human rights codes have determined which actions are for the greater good but it's ultimately our responsibility to act accordingly within our own sets of rules which are based on the best possible outcome for ourselves and/or the majority. I believe there are no definitive rules for making the right choices but by acting from a rational and honest state of mind, it will help us to choose the right course to take.

Philosopher W.D. Ross (1877 - 1971), argues that there are seven prima facie duties which need to be taken into consideration when deciding which duty should be acted upon:

Duty of beneficence - To help others to enjoy life and to grow into better people
Duty of non-maleficence - To avoid harming others
Duty of justice - To ensure people get what is deserving of them
Duty of self-improvement - To make improvements in ourselves
Duty of reparation - To recompense someone if we've acted wrongly
Duty of gratitude - To aid those who have benefited us
Duty of promise-keeping - To act according to explicit and implicit promises and to be honest about our actions

Selfish Worthiness
We cannot be responsible for the actions of others and there are paradoxical instances where there appears to be no right course of action to take. All we can do is to act in the best way possible and know that our rational thoughts for making decisions have been in accordance to our own sets of rules. Even wicked people, left unpunished, can feel guilt when they know to have done wrong. It is up to us to know right from wrong and to try and follow the right path for the ultimate good. Being and feeling good about ourselves, will bring happiness. And so it follows that a life of doing good, will fill us with purpose, and reward us with happiness and a greater sense of self-worth.

The ultimate gift we can award ourselves, is to take on 'selfless' charitable acts. The Delai Lama himself has actually declared that charity is a supremely selfish act — as what is charity but a reward for our soul — a feel-good self-rewarding gesture that ultimately benefits everyone it touches. This is where I want to be frank about my intentions for writing this book. My happiness is paramount and also obtained through donating my time collating these sets of ideas, which are all for the greater good. Therefore, charity, a selfish act for the ultimate good, paradoxically elevates me to be the happiest I can be.

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