looking at Emily’s background, it is clear why she thinks this way. she has a classic Westerner’s perspective in that she is convinced that happiness is mostly pursuing hedonistic values and meaning is mostly eudaimonic pursuits. however in reality, it is not so black and white. Happiness isnt for “takers” and meanig for “givers”. everyone derserves to be happy. and in order for us to make the world a better place, we must help ourselves first. we should never look for outside meaning to conquer the problems within. it is only when we change ourselves and become happy ourselves, can we truly help others. this article is a classic western ideal that we must search for something outside of ourselves to fill the void within. however this is the why so many westerners are unhappy and unfulfilled. we continue to grasp, reach and long for a purpose, but like a carrot on the end of a stick, it is always out of reach.
this article is trying to make a point, but unfortunately it is misleading. it tries to make people feel guilt for trying to enjoy life. it tries to get other people to constantly achieve some goal outside of themselves to find the happiness they are looking for. and this is incorrect.
meaning is self-given. it does not matter if you help 1 or 100 people, as long as you feel that you are helping. in reality, and westerners dont like to think this way because it causes them to abandon their incredibly narcisstic values that they are special and “one of a kind”, life has very little meaning. we are just specks in a vast universe that is constantly expanding. the point of all of this is to enjoy the ride.
a better conclusion to this article is that pursuing hedonistic pursuits is a way of pursuing happiness that just doesnt last. when we alter our focus away from ourselves, our problems shrink and pain and osuffering diminish. but to pursue meaning in place of happiness is silly, because this article states that the entire point of pursuing meaning is to make ourselves more fulfilled and happy. so it is contradictory.
western society, and this article as well, uses meaning as an avenue for self-improvement. but the problem with this is that it is actually a selfish motive. it is only when we look within, do we find real unconditional love that allows us to truly help others without any return.
On Feb 6, 2018 guy wrote:
looking at Emily’s background, it is clear why she thinks this way. she has a classic Westerner’s perspective in that she is convinced that happiness is mostly pursuing hedonistic values and meaning is mostly eudaimonic pursuits. however in reality, it is not so black and white. Happiness isnt for “takers” and meanig for “givers”. everyone derserves to be happy. and in order for us to make the world a better place, we must help ourselves first. we should never look for outside meaning to conquer the problems within. it is only when we change ourselves and become happy ourselves, can we truly help others. this article is a classic western ideal that we must search for something outside of ourselves to fill the void within. however this is the why so many westerners are unhappy and unfulfilled. we continue to grasp, reach and long for a purpose, but like a carrot on the end of a stick, it is always out of reach.
this article is trying to make a point, but unfortunately it is misleading. it tries to make people feel guilt for trying to enjoy life. it tries to get other people to constantly achieve some goal outside of themselves to find the happiness they are looking for. and this is incorrect.
meaning is self-given. it does not matter if you help 1 or 100 people, as long as you feel that you are helping. in reality, and westerners dont like to think this way because it causes them to abandon their incredibly narcisstic values that they are special and “one of a kind”, life has very little meaning. we are just specks in a vast universe that is constantly expanding. the point of all of this is to enjoy the ride.
a better conclusion to this article is that pursuing hedonistic pursuits is a way of pursuing happiness that just doesnt last. when we alter our focus away from ourselves, our problems shrink and pain and osuffering diminish. but to pursue meaning in place of happiness is silly, because this article states that the entire point of pursuing meaning is to make ourselves more fulfilled and happy. so it is contradictory.
western society, and this article as well, uses meaning as an avenue for self-improvement. but the problem with this is that it is actually a selfish motive. it is only when we look within, do we find real unconditional love that allows us to truly help others without any return.