Titilating Essay

Conspiracy theories are for conspiracy theorists. The boys behind the Bush administration want to keep the middle east in a state of war, poverty, and increasing chaos for decades and centuries to come. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The liberals in Hollywood won't let up until traditional family values reside only in television reruns of Leave it to Beaver or The Cosby Show. Whatever.

Conspiracy theories and the big issues just don't matter. Individual suffering and malcontent should be our sole concern. Sure; law, taxation, and expenditures enacted by governments will affect the economic and financial health of this country and its people. Yes, welfare programs will bring comfort, stability, and hope to poor children and drug addicts alike. But these sorts of programs are a success thanks to the work of individuals caring for individuals through close and intimate contact. The subjects of welfare, aid, healthcare, and taxation are not big issues in the sense that the problems they seek to remedy are best addressed through the science of persons and not the sciences of ideology, government, international relations, and the like. The science of persons is what we should be concerned about.

I believe this science needs to be consolidated from the wisdom "of ages", from history, and especially from the study of human psychology.

What are some possible axioms of this science? How about, that to be a fully "realized" (self aware) and open to the gifts of this life, certain freedoms must be guaranteed to society. Like those we find in the Bill of Rights. More interesting is the subject of personal happiness. Some axioms regarding happiness might be: Happiness is contingent upon the absence of physical pain. Happiness is contingent upon a positive self image. Happiness is contingent upon positive social interaction. These, of course, are just the beginning of a "science" that I feel could have been useful a long time ago.

Has the goal of happiness ever really been taken seriously? Do churches really care about the happiness of their congregations? Yes; individual priests, nuns, bishops, etc, have infused a sort of humanist approach to their counsil, but religions concern themselves more with a harmonizing of religious ideas and lifestyles for the supreme goals of both "glory to god" and happiness in an afterlife. Religion does not focus on living, and does not take living seriously enough to bother forming a sort of science, or in depth study and application of the factors affecting personal happiness. The "world at large"-including governments and NGOs, both non profit and for profit-have alternative goals which often lead these groups to seek to gain control over individuals (by reaching into their pocket books or winning over their hearts and minds), instead of granting them the knowledge and tools to make the most of their existence.

What are the goals various groups and institutions have for us?? Schools would have us be financially successful, comfortable and familiar with the world around us, confident in ourselves, and free to operate harmoniously with the rest of society. All very noble goals which are conducive to happiness, but the means used are so indirect that one has to wonder if a quality education comes at all close to equalling a science of happiness. Of course, many schools fall short of their declared goals, and seem to be only concerned with making a profit. Consider also the number of students who are depressed. Schools are more than institutions that, for some, will help alumni become healthier and happier citizens. They also challenge students, and ultimately filter out those who can't make the grade. Here, a deeper concern for individuals' happiness seems to be lacking.

A goal that so much of the world has made for us is the purchasing of products. It goes without saying that a product which we chose to buy over many other similar products is not going to solve the world's greatest problem--that of individual emotional malcontent or misery.

Life is good. For me, that is. I don't lack good food or adequate shelter. I don't fear for my life. I'm in good health. I have an intimate emotional and physical bond with someone, a bond that is both healthy and enjoyable. I enjoy the luxuries and entertainment of modern living.

Though I feel a deep appreciation for the good things in my life, I am continually annoyed by things that occassionaly stand in the way of continued and greater happiness. For example, sometimes I feel anxiety. ...I need to do this, I need to do that....I'm not quite the person I want to be...I'm not as accomplished as I want to be...I'm going to have to make a choice or take some action soon...life seems to be going by so quickly...I don't want to end up living a conventional life and doing only conventional things...I don't want to screw up...What if things don't last?.... --those are the sorts of thoughts that seem to make me anxious. Other times, I can feel anxiety that can't be explained. Which is a fact that only causes me more anxiety. In addition to occassional feelings of anxiety, I'm not immune to feelings of self-consciousness or insecurity. ...That was a dumb thing to say...I'm not feeling very attractive today...I think I'm coming across as insecure or self-conscious... --those are the sorts of thoughts that can ruin any chance of feeling fully content at any given moment. Those are just a couple examples of barriers to my own personal happiness.

I should be concerned about the "small" issues. How do I remove my barriers? And, in the mean time, how can I build upon the good I've already got?

We should all be concerned with the small issues. How can we help others find contentment and happiness? What can we do to remove mental, physical, and emotional pain of those who suffer? Many answers and much of the science of happiness exists, its just a matter of gathering it all together, taking it seriously, teaching it, and doing it....