Do material things and possessions make us happy? Many of us use these worldly possessions, such as money or objects, to pacify us. However like Hadot, I don't believe that these things actually make us happy. I believe we have convinced ourselves that they will make us happy but it's only a temporary or superficial happiness.
However we decide to define wisdom, we do know that technology, possessions, fame, fortune, high grades, attractive figures, and disease-free years are not enough to make life meaningful. As attractive and pleasing as these things can be, nothing external can make us happy if being happy means more than satisfied or pleased. (Section 18-8 Pierre Hadot). I agree with Hadot believing that as pleasing as “things” can be they do not give us a long term feeling of happiness. As a society, we have defined our happiness based on materialistic and physical beauty. However, I do not believe that we find our ultimate happiness through these things. I believe they give us an instant gratification but nothing more. We constantly search for more, whether it be more beauty or buying more things, and it never ends because they never keep us happy for a long enough time.
True happiness is something that comes from within us not from material things. For example, I grew up on a farm in Mississippi. When I think back to our lifestyle, we did not have a lot at all. My father divorced my mother which caused us to leave Racine, WI. I can remember at the age of five, my mom and the kids packed up to move to Mississippi. We moved in with my grandmother and grandfather. The house was four bedroom but very crowded for addicting 4 more people to the home. My grandmother has 14 children so this house was always packed with aunts, uncles, and cousins. The closest store was a 45 minute drive. My grandparents pulled all vegetables out of the garden. My grandfather had cows, horses, pigs and chickens that helped provide food for us. They also had a catfish farm if we wanted fish for dinner. We rarely went to town for anything. For the life of me I could not believe how happy these people were. I was used to like electronics and TVs so, to me, it looked like they had nothing. I was very wrong for believing that. We shortly learned all about this simple farm life and being outside was our new playground. Life was so simple and, even though we did not have much, we were happy.
As I child, I felt so poor for living this lifestyle but, as I grew up, I realized having my family around me and working for what I want was more satisfying and made me happy than any electronic could make me feel. I was only happy with the materialistic things if I got what I wanted but then there was always something else I would want. It's an endless cycle of wanting, getting, being happy, then wanting again.
So I ask again is it things that make us happy? I truly agree with Pierre Hadot. Now, I feel I can buy things to provide for my children and travel. I have a family of my own that I can teach to know that you have to happy just living life than giving them all these materialistic things that society tells them will make them happy. I feel so happy with my life and now I get to share that with my family. I focus to continue to find that simple life in our society now; to have internal happiness is key.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDo material things and possessions make us happy? Many of us use these worldly possessions, such as money or objects, to pacify us. However like Hadot, I don't believe that these things actually make us happy. I believe we have convinced ourselves that they will make us happy but it's only a temporary or superficial happiness.
ReplyDeleteHowever we decide to define wisdom, we do know that technology, possessions, fame, fortune, high grades, attractive figures, and disease-free years are not enough to make life meaningful. As attractive and pleasing as these things can be, nothing external can make us happy if being happy means more than satisfied or pleased. (Section 18-8 Pierre Hadot). I agree with Hadot believing that as pleasing as “things” can be they do not give us a long term feeling of happiness. As a society, we have defined our happiness based on materialistic and physical beauty. However, I do not believe that we find our ultimate happiness through these things. I believe they give us an instant gratification but nothing more. We constantly search for more, whether it be more beauty or buying more things, and it never ends because they never keep us happy for a long enough time.
True happiness is something that comes from within us not from material things. For example, I grew up on a farm in Mississippi. When I think back to our lifestyle, we did not have a lot at all. My father divorced my mother which caused us to leave Racine, WI. I can remember at the age of five, my mom and the kids packed up to move to Mississippi. We moved in with my grandmother and grandfather. The house was four bedroom but very crowded for addicting <--[Wrong word?] 4 more people to the home.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother has 14 children so this house was always packed with aunts, uncles, and cousins. The closest store was a 45 minute drive. My grandparents pulled all vegetables out of the garden. My grandfather had cows, horses, pigs and chickens that helped provide food for us. They also had a catfish farm if we wanted fish for dinner. We rarely went to town for anything. For the life of me I could not believe how happy these people were. I was used to [things] like electronics and TVs so, to me, it looked like they had nothing. I was very wrong for believing that. We shortly learned all about this simple farm life and being outside was our new playground. Life was so simple and, even though we did not have much, we were happy.
As I child, I felt so poor for living this lifestyle but, as I grew up, I realized having my family around me and working for what I want was more satisfying and made me happ[ier] than any electronic could make me feel. I was only happy with the materialistic things if I got what I wanted but then there was always something else I would want. It's an endless cycle of wanting, getting, being happy, then wanting again.
So I ask again is it things that make us happy? I truly agree with Pierre Hadot. Now, I feel I can buy things to provide for my children and travel. I have a family of my own that I can teach to know that you have to happy just living life than giving them all these materialistic things that society tells them will make them happy. <--[Check the grammar of this sentence.]
I feel so happy with my life and now I get to share that with my family. I focus to continue to find that simple life in our society now; to have internal happiness is key.
[Overall, this is well written. Just a few places where a bit more proof-reading would have helped. Also, one question to think about: Do you think that it is impossible to live in a technological world and still be happy? Maybe, the problem is not with technology itself but with the way human beings have been using it. Perhaps there is a way in which we can use technology so as to truly make life a lot less stressful and a lot happier than we are using technology, including a way in which we can help and coexist with rather than harm the environment?]
Best wishes,
Dr. Mun