Hello, is there anybody out there? (Reposted from 8.31.11)

Hello, is there anybody out there?

Posted August 31, 2011 by osopher in happiness, secret of life. 6 Comments | Edit

Is anybody else here? Post your short personal bios and replies to the question about whether you’ve found or are seeking a secret, the secret, or no secrets to happiness.

(UPDATED 5 pm Wednesday) The bios aren’t exactly rolling in, there must be a technical glitch we’ll need to address in class if most of you are still unable to post. But go ahead and respond to the first-day questions on your index cards and be prepared to discuss your general view of the search for Happy secrets… then we’ll turn our attention to Thursday’s syllabus listing,

“BS Intro, ch1. “Smile or Die” – Positive thinking in America, Positive Psychology”

That’s Barbara Ehrenreich’s “Bright-sided,” thru ch.1. Are we too manically driven by the “pursuit of happiness”?

We’ll talk about the general stuff first, I’ll answer your questions about the course and syllabus, then we’ll split into five small discussion groups. You’ll pick a leader, talk, listen, talk, repeat…

JPO

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1. 
   Posted by tkmershon on August 31, 2011 at 10:13 am  edit

   My name is Taylor Mershon, I’m a Junior, and I am fairly certain that I am a Philosophy major…After graduating from MTSU, I plan to acquire a M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee. I am from Dallas, Texas, but have lived in Murfreesboro for ten years.

   I think that I have found a secret to happiness, but I’m only 23, so I might be wrong. I do not believe the opposite of happiness is sadness, necessarily, but boredom. Boredom, as I understand it, is another term for discontentment. I try to remain content in whatever situation I am in, and chase boredom away in whatever way I can.

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2. 
   Posted by kcr2n on August 31, 2011 at 3:51 pm  edit

   So first of all, let me know if I’m posting this on the blog properly, please. I may not be navigating this site properly.
   My name is Claire Randolph. I’m double majoring in philosophy and psychology. I’m not exactly positive of how I’d like to use either of those majors. I’m interested in attending culinary school (with imaginary money, at this point) as a break between a bachelor’s degree and, hopefully, a Ph.D. I’m from a small town in West TN that you’ve most likely not heard of and hopefully will never be so unfortunate to visit. I’m not entirely sure of what sort of facts about myself related to happiness to include. My only sentiments on happiness that I’ve formed so far is that I have experienced it. I think that happiness is not some tangible place that we reach, and there is no secret to pertaining it. I think that it does not “come” to us or that we can “find” it, but that we feel happiness after fleeting seconds where things feel comfortable and safe, we feel in control (if not in control, then satisfied with our position), and we’re near someone/people that we can identify with, discuss, and feel compassionately towards. I don’t believe that there is some “secret” that we can use as a tool to unlock some mystical door into complete happiness/utopia or whatever word you want to use; I think that we stumble into when we’re not necessarily thinking about finding it. This is a vague interpretation, I think so far, but I could change my mind; it’s just what I’ve understood so far.
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3. 
   Posted by callmehcoco on August 31, 2011 at 5:13 pm  edit

   Whew only one other comment, okay.
   Well I’m Colton Durham currently a sophmore pursuing a dual major in Psychology and Philosophy and when I graduate my plans are to attend a yet to be decided graduate school and study Psychology.

   It’s hard to think of what could be the one secret to being happy when there are so many cultures in the world with so many different ideas on what happy is. Therefore I would have to say that I don’t think there is one secret way to being happy, but instead multiple (this could be hundreds or thousands or hundreds of thousand!) “secrets” if they can even be called that anymore to be happy.
   Now am I actively searching for these secrets? No, but I am taking notes on ways that seem to make me and the people around me happier.

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   • 
     Posted by rebekah48 on September 1, 2011 at 9:16 pm  edit

     I think it’s cool you’re noting the ways other people appear to find happiness. A lot of times that is something that is overlooked – happiness is relative. Religion is often something people turn to, particularly those devastated by socio-economic conditions or natural disasters… just think about the rise of religion in third-world countries. Now whether religion can lead to happiness, or even a sense of peace, is subjective; but I believe the crucial point here is that happiness cannot be singularly defined. It is great to observe other people, to respect their ways of being and finding their own path to contentment/happiness, but at some point we have to realize that we are individuals who right or wrong are responsible for ourselves alone. We have to reconcile with the choices we make, the lives we live. Who am I to judge what makes another person happy? (An obvious exception being murder!)

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4. 
   Posted by rebekah48 on September 1, 2011 at 9:29 pm  edit

   Hi, I’m Rebekah Horton soon to be Rebekah Cochran… I am a senior this year, double major in Philosophy and Pre-Law. Originally I was also a Instrumental Performance major (trombone); things change and I still am not sure exactly what I want to do with my life! After graduating next fall (fingers crossed!) I hope to get into an amazing, super awesome masters program in which I can pursue Political Theory/Philosophy.

   As far as happiness goes, I personally have struggled with this my entire life. There is a difference between being “happy” and “feeling happy.” You can have the most amazing life, but if you perceive things in a negative way (even unintentionally, unknowingly) it is very difficult to find happiness.

   I believe another huge contributor to this happiness dilemma is the materialistic culture in which we live. Instant gratification makes us happy, buying that new computer makes us happy, that chocolate cake you wake up thinking about makes you happy (when you finally eat it!). I don’t think there is a secret to happiness, but to find any sense of meaning in the word I think we have to realize what artificial, THINGS, we use to fill this void. I believe true happiness comes from clarity, not necessarily knowing or understanding everything, but having faith in yourself and in the possibility of possibility (if that makes sense). I’ve been thinking about what Dr. Oliver mentioned Tuesday about the walking a mile in any direction – that is clarity. Sometimes your mind can lead you to question things too much, but at the same time I think this awareness of yourself, separated from the anxieties and stresses of life and the world, is essential to finding happiness.

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5. 
   Posted by osopher on September 2, 2011 at 6:50 am  edit

   Actually I think I’m happier anticipating and remembering my chocolate cake than eating it. Anyone else that way? But the trick is to enjoy the maximum benefit of both having and eating.

   Congrats on the impending nuptials, Rebekah! Hope you’ll both be very happy…

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