Regular Happiness…
a.k.a. Materialistic Happiness
This story sets the context of our current, unwritten but most common (mis)understanding of happiness. In other words “regular happiness” as we see it all around us in its many shapes and forms. Cause the majority of the people (hence the term “regular”) pursuits a rather “materialistic” form of happiness. A happiness which is mainly sought in “external” factors and is driven by our ego which craves pleasure and reduces suffering. In the story “reaching full potential” more details on our “ego-drivers”. Drivers which do not only include the stereotypical lifestyle of the “bourgeoisie” but especially include the regular lifestyle of common people choosing certainty, comfort and “standard” as projected on them by the outside world.
Now then, let’s elaborate on regular happiness using the six principles composing my definition of happiness as described in the previous story:
- Regular Happiness is obtaining a “positive” and pleasant state of mind as much, many, direct, long, easy and intense as possible, that’s the main mantra! In the current world regular happiness and getting pleasure is considered to be something for sale, something you can get on demand and off-the-shelve. Moreover, regular happiness is seen as a quick fix, whether you buy pleasure or buy-off suffering, money (still) seems to be the pancreas of pancreas. It conversely makes the “pursuit for happiness” equal to “capitalism and consumerism”. In fact, it is like a never-ending rat race which always goes for more, better, faster, higher, harder but will never be satisfactory after all.
- Regular Happiness is maximizing positive and minimizing negative “feelings” or in other words ultimate hedonism. Therefore the holy grail of regular happiness is to infinitely feel good and eradicate any bad feelings, if possible. Obviously, without bad feelings one wouldn’t now what a good feeling is and is a ‘bad’ feeling really ‘bad’ or perhaps a necessary meaningful or unnecessary meaningless feeling?
- Regular Happiness is a “permanent destination” to go to! No one will admit it but many people tends to have a rather atomistic[1] view and belief that if something is reached or achieved they will (finally) be happy ever after. Caused based on our past and present traumas, beliefs and experiences and as presented by the world around us, we have a clear picture of how our future happiness can be achieve with more “pleasure” and less “suffering”. Regular happiness opposes the famous quote “there is no path to happiness, happiness is the path” since considers the path a necessity to ultimately reach happiness.
[1] Atomistic is the antonym (opposite) of Holistic, it emphasizes a singular elements in isolation and separated from the whole.
- Regular Happiness is “simple”, just follow your education, belief the media, be rational about life and try to do better than your parents. The story “Let’s say: First Work, Second Hobbies” best illustrates how simple “regular happiness” can be. Whether it is counterproductive and short-lived is of secondary concern.
- Regular Happiness is “external rigid reality”. Regular happiness depends on events and causes happening outside of us, we either have no control or should take control of it. Our past and present events have shaped rigid expectations and assumptions of the future and delineate future actions and behavior. As victims we accept life as it (does not) come or in contrast feel entitled to appropriate “external” happiness of any kind.
- Regular Happiness is “universal” as one can see all around. Just copy the smiling what the smiling faces on TV, in your family and among your friends do, say, buy, possess and claim and you will be happy too! In fact, doing the opposite is quiet risky business, nobody to compare, no or contrasting support from your surrounding and an unknown and uncertain future ahead of you. In other words, for regular happiness, just be normal like anybody else and all will be good! The “A Triple A” story provides some good additional information to this principle.
In short, regular happiness or we might as well say materialistic happiness is ego-driven, short-term and counterproductive on the long-term. On the short run you might indulge yourself in “pleasure” and exclude the “suffering” but on the long run it deteriorates your mental and physical health, development, drive, creativity, connection, passion and sense of meaning – in other words it is not sustainable. In the next story a sustainable form of happiness will be introduced!