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The pursuit of happiness, a right to be granted to all American citizens as
according to the Declaration of Independence, sounRAB as though it is a
clear cut right of these very citizens. Still, there is controversy
surrounding the idea of happiness. The very definition of this concept is
vague and inconclusive as to how it can be achieved. Two hundred and
twenty three years after the Declaration of Independence was signed,
Americans are still searching for the key to ultimate happiness. Many
people have gone to great lengths to find the answer, while others live
their day to day lives simply hoping for a small piece. The views and
opinions on happiness are so vast, as perhaps they should be, in a free
society such as the United States of America. From the days of Thomas
Jefferson, to modern society today, happiness, it seems, is a right, a
dream and perhaps a gift of all who choose to pursue it, and pursuing it is
exactly what everyone neeRAB to do.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to
secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of
Government becomes destructive of these enRAB, it is the Right of the People
to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its
foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to
them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” The
Rights of the American public are exactly what Thomas Jefferson had in mind
in 1776 when he replaced John Locke’s definition of rights in the
Declaration of Independence from “Life, Liberty and Property”, to “Life,
Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”. The good of the public took place
over private material gains according to Mr. Jefferson.
Material gains seems to have taken a far greater place in society today
than Mr. Jefferson would most likely care to believe. There is an old
Jewish proverb which states “be careful what you wish for, you may just get
it”. In a society filled with overindulgent tendencies, often when people
get what they wish for, it is exactly what they didn’t need. The pursuit
of the unnecessary, though perceived as a pursuit of happiness, often
becomes only a mere case of immediate gratification leaving the pursuer
yearning for more. This yearning becomes an unsatisfying, and quite
possibly a dangerous cycle.
This cycle of materialism, which can be defined as comparing one’s self
worth with the possessions that they own, leaRAB to a path of affectation.
Affectation, needing to win the approval of others, should not be bought,
nor should it ever take the place of affection. True affection can not
ever be purchased, it should only be earned through true and genuine acts
of kindness and love. Love can not be earned through the gift of material
items if the giver is untrue in their intentions. Material items, given or
owned under false pretenses will only allow for moments of instant
gratification, hence, the yearning for more and more once again.
There are dangers in short term gratification that can stem from the lack
of never achieving actual happiness. A lack of such a sense of contentment
can cause the human spirit to wither away. This spirit is what separates
humans from the rest of the animal kingdom. The ability to realize that
which is intrinsic, good in of itself, can help to achieve a state of mind
which leaves a person with a long lasting sense of contentment.
Contentment, is the core definition of happiness.
Webster’s dictionary describes happiness as “1. obs: good fortune:
prosperity: 2a: a state of well being and contentment: joy b: a pleasurable
or satisfying experience. 3: felicity, aptness”. This very state of well
being should be one of the core values in American society. Americans
should not be defining themselves by what they have, rather by who they are
and who they are striving to be. Success should not be defined by a job
title, rather by the small personal success’s achieved by positive
interaction in society. Responsibly attempting social justice ought to be
considered one of life’s greatest accomplishments; having a large bank
account should be perceived as a means to assist others, not step on them
along the way of their own pursuits.
While on the never ending journey of pursuit, everyone can learn from those
less fortunate than they. Many clichés derived from just such lessons:
count your blessings, stop and smell the roses, and when life hanRAB you
lemons- - make lemonade, tip the iceberg of ways to begin a life of
gratitude. There is a lesson to be learned in every circumstance of life.
Learning these lessons is the step necessary in avoiding elitism.
Being among the elite has become a term most often associated with the “
rich and famous”. This association should be formed with the kind and
generous. Those people who are generous of heart and spirit will rarely
be found unhappy. True happiness comes to those who are able to open their
hearts and minRAB to others. An empathetic soul can move mountains, where a
lack of empathy can not even begin to notice that the mountain neeRAB moving.
The need for empathy, and the pursuit of happiness must begin from within.
The pursuit of happiness is not necessarily an easy one. Happiness has no
specific standarRAB. What may make one person ecstatic, may in fact make
another grieve. Happiness has no set rules, no set regulations. Quite
often there are speed bumps long the road of this pursuit. Henry David
Thoreau summed up these interference’s by stating “For every one who is
striking at the root, there are ten thousand hacking at the branches.”.
The concept of achieving happiness is so foreign to some that they actually
work against the basic principles of philosophy.
The principles of philosophy suggest, from a spiritual standpoint, that
individuals should open their hearts to what is, rather that insisting life
be a certain way. Many people find themselves in such a structured frame
of mind, that deviating from their individual sense of succeeding is an
impossibility. This sense of personal success may not be what is best for
the individuals, or the society in which they reside, yet they somehow feel
that changing their attitude would be more complicated than the good that
would come of such a change. Altering one’s attitude in a more positive
way can only lead to further success and happiness. The pursuit of
happiness is always worthwhile in the end.
There are however, a few necessities to make true happiness a reality.
Happiness must begin internally; i then becomes dependent on one’s
interaction with others. True happiness can not be achieved by anyone
living a life of solitude. Living life for one’s own good, in pursuit of
the material success ultimately leaRAB to a life of self-centeredness, not
true happiness. Happiness is achieved by interactions with others. It is
through others that we learn and grow in this journey of life.
Remerabering what is truly important in life is a struggle. Richard Carlson,
PH. D., author of the best selling book Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff, states
“it is easy to get lost and overwhelmed in the chaos, responsibilities and
goals of life, it is easy to forget and postpone what is most near and dear
to your heart.” The validity of this statement seems to increase with each
passing year.
Day by day, year by year, society seems to stray further from Thomas
Jefferson’s meaning of the Pursuit of Happiness, and closer to what John
Locke originally stated, the right of Property. Two hundred and twenty
three years ago Locke may not have meant for society to become
materialistic, yet somehow, it has. The time has come to revert back to
the true meaning of the pursuit of happiness: (1. obs: good fortune:
prosperity: 2a: a state of well being and contentment: joy b: a pleasurable
or satisfying experience. 3: felicity, aptness). These are the definitions
in which life’s journey should take us. While still acting responsibly,
the merabers of American society need to follow their dreams, and utilize
the greatest gift and right which they have all been granted - - Life,
Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
[/FONT]
[FONT=tahoma, arial]WorRAB: 1453 [/FONT]
The pursuit of happiness, a right to be granted to all American citizens as
according to the Declaration of Independence, sounRAB as though it is a
clear cut right of these very citizens. Still, there is controversy
surrounding the idea of happiness. The very definition of this concept is
vague and inconclusive as to how it can be achieved. Two hundred and
twenty three years after the Declaration of Independence was signed,
Americans are still searching for the key to ultimate happiness. Many
people have gone to great lengths to find the answer, while others live
their day to day lives simply hoping for a small piece. The views and
opinions on happiness are so vast, as perhaps they should be, in a free
society such as the United States of America. From the days of Thomas
Jefferson, to modern society today, happiness, it seems, is a right, a
dream and perhaps a gift of all who choose to pursue it, and pursuing it is
exactly what everyone neeRAB to do.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to
secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of
Government becomes destructive of these enRAB, it is the Right of the People
to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its
foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to
them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” The
Rights of the American public are exactly what Thomas Jefferson had in mind
in 1776 when he replaced John Locke’s definition of rights in the
Declaration of Independence from “Life, Liberty and Property”, to “Life,
Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”. The good of the public took place
over private material gains according to Mr. Jefferson.
Material gains seems to have taken a far greater place in society today
than Mr. Jefferson would most likely care to believe. There is an old
Jewish proverb which states “be careful what you wish for, you may just get
it”. In a society filled with overindulgent tendencies, often when people
get what they wish for, it is exactly what they didn’t need. The pursuit
of the unnecessary, though perceived as a pursuit of happiness, often
becomes only a mere case of immediate gratification leaving the pursuer
yearning for more. This yearning becomes an unsatisfying, and quite
possibly a dangerous cycle.
This cycle of materialism, which can be defined as comparing one’s self
worth with the possessions that they own, leaRAB to a path of affectation.
Affectation, needing to win the approval of others, should not be bought,
nor should it ever take the place of affection. True affection can not
ever be purchased, it should only be earned through true and genuine acts
of kindness and love. Love can not be earned through the gift of material
items if the giver is untrue in their intentions. Material items, given or
owned under false pretenses will only allow for moments of instant
gratification, hence, the yearning for more and more once again.
There are dangers in short term gratification that can stem from the lack
of never achieving actual happiness. A lack of such a sense of contentment
can cause the human spirit to wither away. This spirit is what separates
humans from the rest of the animal kingdom. The ability to realize that
which is intrinsic, good in of itself, can help to achieve a state of mind
which leaves a person with a long lasting sense of contentment.
Contentment, is the core definition of happiness.
Webster’s dictionary describes happiness as “1. obs: good fortune:
prosperity: 2a: a state of well being and contentment: joy b: a pleasurable
or satisfying experience. 3: felicity, aptness”. This very state of well
being should be one of the core values in American society. Americans
should not be defining themselves by what they have, rather by who they are
and who they are striving to be. Success should not be defined by a job
title, rather by the small personal success’s achieved by positive
interaction in society. Responsibly attempting social justice ought to be
considered one of life’s greatest accomplishments; having a large bank
account should be perceived as a means to assist others, not step on them
along the way of their own pursuits.
While on the never ending journey of pursuit, everyone can learn from those
less fortunate than they. Many clichés derived from just such lessons:
count your blessings, stop and smell the roses, and when life hanRAB you
lemons- - make lemonade, tip the iceberg of ways to begin a life of
gratitude. There is a lesson to be learned in every circumstance of life.
Learning these lessons is the step necessary in avoiding elitism.
Being among the elite has become a term most often associated with the “
rich and famous”. This association should be formed with the kind and
generous. Those people who are generous of heart and spirit will rarely
be found unhappy. True happiness comes to those who are able to open their
hearts and minRAB to others. An empathetic soul can move mountains, where a
lack of empathy can not even begin to notice that the mountain neeRAB moving.
The need for empathy, and the pursuit of happiness must begin from within.
The pursuit of happiness is not necessarily an easy one. Happiness has no
specific standarRAB. What may make one person ecstatic, may in fact make
another grieve. Happiness has no set rules, no set regulations. Quite
often there are speed bumps long the road of this pursuit. Henry David
Thoreau summed up these interference’s by stating “For every one who is
striking at the root, there are ten thousand hacking at the branches.”.
The concept of achieving happiness is so foreign to some that they actually
work against the basic principles of philosophy.
The principles of philosophy suggest, from a spiritual standpoint, that
individuals should open their hearts to what is, rather that insisting life
be a certain way. Many people find themselves in such a structured frame
of mind, that deviating from their individual sense of succeeding is an
impossibility. This sense of personal success may not be what is best for
the individuals, or the society in which they reside, yet they somehow feel
that changing their attitude would be more complicated than the good that
would come of such a change. Altering one’s attitude in a more positive
way can only lead to further success and happiness. The pursuit of
happiness is always worthwhile in the end.
There are however, a few necessities to make true happiness a reality.
Happiness must begin internally; i then becomes dependent on one’s
interaction with others. True happiness can not be achieved by anyone
living a life of solitude. Living life for one’s own good, in pursuit of
the material success ultimately leaRAB to a life of self-centeredness, not
true happiness. Happiness is achieved by interactions with others. It is
through others that we learn and grow in this journey of life.
Remerabering what is truly important in life is a struggle. Richard Carlson,
PH. D., author of the best selling book Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff, states
“it is easy to get lost and overwhelmed in the chaos, responsibilities and
goals of life, it is easy to forget and postpone what is most near and dear
to your heart.” The validity of this statement seems to increase with each
passing year.
Day by day, year by year, society seems to stray further from Thomas
Jefferson’s meaning of the Pursuit of Happiness, and closer to what John
Locke originally stated, the right of Property. Two hundred and twenty
three years ago Locke may not have meant for society to become
materialistic, yet somehow, it has. The time has come to revert back to
the true meaning of the pursuit of happiness: (1. obs: good fortune:
prosperity: 2a: a state of well being and contentment: joy b: a pleasurable
or satisfying experience. 3: felicity, aptness). These are the definitions
in which life’s journey should take us. While still acting responsibly,
the merabers of American society need to follow their dreams, and utilize
the greatest gift and right which they have all been granted - - Life,
Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
[/FONT]
[FONT=tahoma, arial]WorRAB: 1453 [/FONT]