Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Happiness is a must

In his talk the other day Hugh Mackay spoke of the 'happiness' industry that seduces us with the idea of happiness as a right and the default position for adults. We try for it using food, drugs, alcohol and legal and illegal drugs. Or we may seek it through such means as mindfulness, meditation and yoga.
I recently completed a 6 week online Mindfulness course from Monash University.
 There was quite a lot about loving-kindness toward yourself and others (and maybe more of this later) but I did query the bit where you should send kind thoughts to others including that they be happy. I wondered whether this was what was the  best thing to wish for people. Health, happiness, peace? Or wholeness or??? Maybe it's natural to wish happiness for those we love but it's obvious there will also be pain. How do we deal with this? Should we wish for ourselves and others the resilience to cope, and the deep peace that comes even in the face of huge challenges? A peace that defies all comprehension and comes from drawing on the strength of the divine beyond ourselves.
I also struggle with the theology that suggests that if you are properly following the Christian Way then you will be prosperous and happy. And I find it a bit  (well a lo,t actually) off putting when people are always on top of the world. Are they real? Am I a failure because I have down days?
I was heartened that Hugh Mackay suggested that as humans we have a full spectrum of emotions with which to respond. And all are valid.We can only experience happiness because we experience the other emotions. And that we grow through sadness and pain and loss. Mind you I've always maintained that I don't want to learn and grow if it involves pain and suffering, but there really doesn't seem to be much choice if we are honest about how we feel.
Hugh suggests we are being pushed to aim for  being rich and happy rather than  kind and compassionate. And Jesus had stuff to say about that too.

2 comments:

  1. Indeed I do agree with your doubts on happiness. Wholeness? Contentment? Contributing and resilient? Connected? There are so many other posssibilities to consider.

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    1. I've struggled to come up with a word that works and appreciate yours. Maybe there is no one word that completely says what the human person longs to be.

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