Jordan Peterson: I Disagree. Why Experts Need a New Perspective on the Pursuit of Happiness
Several times this week, I have experienced experts bashing the idea of pursuing happiness. This trend isn’t helping anyone. Not only are they discouraging people from a concept that gives them hope to continue the journey, but they seem to have bought into the definition of happiness that the media has been serving for decades.
Can we agree to look at happiness in a different light? Authentic human happiness is not about giddiness, reactionary behavior, or external validation. That is what ads and media sell. Happiness is a mindset that comes from the practice of healthy thought habits. It derives from leading with love, having a purpose, being peacefully present, and choosing a healthy perception of life, regardless of current circumstances. This state better describes Jesus than the hype-driven media definition of happiness.
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I am a fan of Jordan Peterson. It is rare for me to agree with so much that one person says. However, I feel like he and a slew of other experts should consider that seeking is part of the journey of becoming. By seeking happiness, we are trying to manifest a different experience. Does seeking bring happiness? No. However, it keeps hope alive while someone is learning, experimenting, breaking, and growing. Sometimes, hope is all someone has to keep them moving forward.
A much better approach to teaching happiness would be redefining humanity’s perspective of happiness. I hardly think today’s media would describe Jesus as happy. That is the problem that needs fixing, redefining what happiness looks like in media and how it is spoken about by experts. Not the pursuit of happiness.
My pursuit of happiness broke me down and allowed me to change my entire life experience. It was seeking that finally brought me and many of my students to higher levels of consciousness. It was seeking happiness that allowed me to finally understand what the true state of happiness.
Happy Holidays,
Shaman Isis
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