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Americans can get happier by changing how we pursue happiness - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times ^ | July 5, 2024 | Stephanie Harrison

Posted on 07/05/2024 9:53:13 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

When Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence that our unalienable rights include life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, he had a very specific definition of happiness in mind. He believed that happiness was the result of living virtuously — that becoming a fully happy human required devoting yourself to service to your fellow beings.

His words galvanized generations of Americans to seek out their own personal well-being. Yet the happiness we pursue today is a far cry from that which Jefferson envisioned. It’s putting us in conflict with ourselves, and with others.

Modern Americans have been conditioned to believe that happiness is something that we get for ourselves, by ourselves, through achieving material wealth, personal success and individual gratification. I call this belief Old Happy. It is powered by systems of individualism, capitalism and domination that have fueled our culture for generations.

Growing up in this individualistic culture, we are taught to see ourselves as separate from other people. We’re taught that happiness comes from focusing more and more on ourselves and that we can perfect and grow this happiness through personal achievement. This does not work. In one 2015 study, researchers tried to understand why Americans who aggressively pursued happiness were, in fact, more likely to be lonely and depressed. It was because they believed that focusing on themselves was the secret to finding happiness.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: chat; notnews
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To: Jonty30

More government and less freedom is certainly NOT the solution to finding happiness. However, Americans in general are too obsessed with wealth, technology and material possessions, and are missing out on the true sources of happiness and fulfillment. God, family and community. This why liberals are so miserable, and they are trying to tear down the sources of our happiness.


41 posted on 07/05/2024 10:31:31 AM PDT by ETCM (“There is no security, no safety, in the appeasement of evil.” — Ronald Reagan)
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To: larrytown

Socialist Bernie spewing the age old leftist spittle envy and blame the rich class warfare crap. Leftist victim mentality and envy against the ‘rich’ is for losers in life. The American dream has been that one can work hard and aspirations to accomplish goals even modest ones as to live a good life with enough funds to get by if that’s all one wants. We should only despise the rich if they engage in oppressing others to achieve their own devious ends like George Soros.


42 posted on 07/05/2024 10:33:43 AM PDT by tflabo (Truth or tyranny)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Oh, I’m so glad you posted this article from The Los Angeles Times on how to secure happiness.

I plan to read every word. Twice. And put into practice what they say to do.

Thanks comrade.


43 posted on 07/05/2024 10:35:45 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (A truth that’s told with bad intent, Beats all the lies you can invent ~ Wm. Blake)
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To: NWFree

Yeah, I am happy when nothing is meddling and restricting my freedom.

These people can go to hell.


44 posted on 07/05/2024 10:37:21 AM PDT by dforest ( )
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To: rlmorel

Well said. The collectivists will oppose anything that enhances personal freedom and enjoyment. Be it land use , private property, personal autos, real food, air conditioning, creative and critical expression, etc etc, the inherently miserable collectivists do all they can to stop you.


45 posted on 07/05/2024 10:40:22 AM PDT by allendale
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To: Responsibility2nd

Did you read comment #1, Comrade?


46 posted on 07/05/2024 10:40:24 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (The worst thing about censorship is █████ ██ ████ ████ ████ █ ███████ ████. FJB.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

“True happiness is collective.”


47 posted on 07/05/2024 10:42:17 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: TexasFreeper2009

There is truth in that. I no longer feel interested, compelled, or even comfortable being around people I know nothing about. If I go to an event where I know the people, even if it is in the hundreds or thousands, I have no problem.

But going to a sporting event, outdoor festival, even going into a city and walking around, I am not interested. I used to do all those things.

Now, I am more inclined to go into my private back yard, lay in my hammock, and read a book.

No doubt, for people like me, that is just what the Elites have in mind.


48 posted on 07/05/2024 10:43:02 AM PDT by rlmorel (In Today's Democrat America, The $5 Dollar Bill is the New $1 Dollar Bill.)
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To: SaveFerris

Yes...EXACTLY like them.

Exactly.

And they have a lot of people following them who don’t get that, and sheep-like, follow them blindly. Or ignorantly.


49 posted on 07/05/2024 10:44:01 AM PDT by rlmorel (In Today's Democrat America, The $5 Dollar Bill is the New $1 Dollar Bill.)
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To: rlmorel

Collectivism aka Communist


50 posted on 07/05/2024 10:46:09 AM PDT by NWFree (Somebody has to say it 🤪)
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To: monkeyshine

LA Times article reads like it was written by Kamalalala Harris!


51 posted on 07/05/2024 10:46:41 AM PDT by milagro (There is no peace in appeasement! There)
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To: rlmorel

exactly, everyone I know lives their lives like that (if they can afford to)

Their homes have all been turned into safe havens they never have to leave.

Their yards have everyone from pools, to swings, to zip lines, slides, home theaters, game rooms, pool tables, etc etc. They even have groceries and other food brought to them (again, if they have the money)

And if they leave... it is to visit a friends home that has the same things.


52 posted on 07/05/2024 10:50:28 AM PDT by TexasFreeper2009
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

“Americans can get happier by changing how we pursue happiness.....”

Sounds like a start of an meandering, non sensical speech by the Cackling Co-Pilot aka Willie Brown’s beaotch.


53 posted on 07/05/2024 10:51:19 AM PDT by DAC21
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To: rlmorel

You CANNOT have Personal Freedom without Economic Freedom, and you cannot have Economic Freedom without Personal Freedom.


The sad bit is that some do not want personal freedom and economic freedom.

when we have more of these than the other, then...........................

The cure is tough times. History has shown this leads to slavery or freedom.


54 posted on 07/05/2024 10:56:01 AM PDT by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Odd that she didn’t mention that Jefferson derived his statement from John Locke’s “life, liberty and property”. I don’t have a reference, but I have seen where some authors have stated that Jefferson modified Locke’s phase to avoid the issue of slaves as property.


55 posted on 07/05/2024 10:58:50 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (Democrats' version of MAGA: Making America the Gulag Archipelago. Now with "Formal Deprogramming")
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

My experience has taught me that the acquisition of things is not the key to happiness but freedom is absolutely indispensable. Telling me that I will find happiness by being less selfish, which really means serving the state, is bull crap.


56 posted on 07/05/2024 11:00:21 AM PDT by Spok
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To: aquila48

Her hippiness is her happiness...Boink!


57 posted on 07/05/2024 11:02:46 AM PDT by equaviator (If 60 is the new 40, then 35 must be the new 15.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
I'm sorry. I forget some people cannot recognize sarcasm.

Here. This is just for you...

 

/SARC


58 posted on 07/05/2024 11:03:28 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (A truth that’s told with bad intent, Beats all the lies you can invent ~ Wm. Blake)
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To: Responsibility2nd

Sorry.


59 posted on 07/05/2024 11:07:19 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (The worst thing about censorship is █████ ██ ████ ████ ████ █ ███████ ████. FJB.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Jefferson was just paraphrasing Locke’s original equation of happiness = property. I suppose he thought the ‘pursuit of happiness’ sounded a little softer than the ‘pursuit of property’; his judgement was properly correct. But if Jefferson had no place telling us property equals happiness, the Times has equally no business telling us it doesn’t.


60 posted on 07/05/2024 11:16:08 AM PDT by eclecticEel ("The petty man forsakes what lies within his power and longs for what lies with Heaven." - Xunzi)
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