MM#131--The How of Happiness

Welcome to the theory to action podcast, where we examine the timeless treasures of wisdom from the great books in less time to help you take action immediately, and ultimately to create and lead a flourishing life. Now, here's your host, David Kaiser.

Hello, I'm David and welcome back to another Mojo minute. In this year of 2022, the world has changed a great deal in the last 20 to 30 years. In fact, one could make the argument the world has changed a great deal in the last three years since COVID. But the United States dramatically changed in the last 20 to 30 years. To a much more secular country. A country that was expressly and vividly founded on Judeo Christian principles, is now a much more secular country than any time in its history. Obviously, there's pros and cons to this recent development. But one recent development is how the country looks towards the future, how it looks towards happiness at the high point of American Christendom in the 1950s, I would make the argument well, in fact, Christianity would make the eternal argument that happiness comes in the afterlife. One can certainly recall those famous words of Scripture from John 14 to and my father's house, there are many rooms. And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will take you to myself that where I am, you may also be so at this high point of American Christendom, the Christian church in America, and more importantly, the whole culture of America was paddling in the same direction. Now, that is obviously not the case, we are living in a very post Christian culture. The American culture oftentimes is paddling one way in the Christian church, for its most part is paddling the exact opposite way. 

So then this question of happiness, for its people gets very entangled. It's very hard to diagnose the many mixed messages that our culture and the Christian church in America are trying to unpack. And all this leads me to a fascinating book written by Sonya  lib mir ski.  Nope. I'm sorry, Sonya, Sonya Lyubomorski. And the title of the book is the how of happiness, a new approach to getting the life you want. And as always, let's go to the book for an opening poll quote. You may have picked up this book because you believe that you are not living up to your potential in your personal or working life. Or perhaps you are not as happy and fulfilled as you yearn to be. national representative samples of US adults indicate that slightly more than half of us slightly more than half of us 54% are quote moderately, mentally healthy, unquote, yet not flourishing. That is we lack great enthusiasm for life and are not actively and productively engaged with the world. Unquote. Let me stop here real quick. Did you catch that data point? 54% of us are moderately mentally healthy. And this is what I was trying to reference in the dramatic change in our culture over the last three decades. I'm curious, but I would bet I would bet that some three decades ago, over 60 to 70% of Americans would have answered greater than moderately mentally healthy.

 And also, did you catch that flourishing reference? We're always referencing flourishing here on the theory to action podcasts, especially these Mojo minutes. But the flourishing reference was this one, quote, yet not flourishing. That is we lack great enthusiasm for life and are not actively and productively productively engaging with the world. Yep, that is our key word flourishing. Just love that word. captures the essence of what we're trying to accomplish so well here.

But let's finish out this first poll quote from the Book, quote, this explains why the desire to be happy is felt not just by the clinically depressed, but by a wide range of us from those of us who are not as happy as we'd like to be, who sense that we're not quite thriving to those of us who may be doing quite well yet want more, more joy, more meaning in life, more stimulating relationships and jobs. And finally, some of us may have once known true happiness, but feel powerless to bring that moment back. Unquote. So that is a very compelling opening to the book. And that's why I thought it'd be a super interesting read. And Sonya closes with this sentence, and I just jumped out to me, so I wanted to share it. 

Quote, The How of happiness describes an ongoing happiness enhancing program, the you might choose to begin today and undertake for the rest of your life. The only person who has the power to make it happen is you. Unquote. That's fantastic. Just fantastic. Because of we are no longer dictated by our circumstances, which a great deal of American culture is constantly breathlessly shoving in our face. If this is the case, that the only person who has the power to make it happen, the only person who has the power to create for us the howl of happiness is us. That's terrific news. Because we are in fact liberated and if liberated, we are free. And if free then we are not a victim. 

So in today's Mojo minute, let's remember that that we're not a victim. And that we can and all of us could become more happier. Check out Sonja's book for more details. But in our next Mojo minute, we will explore the deeper how of happiness and what is called a happiness set point. But for now, just for now, please know we have an untapped potential and choosing precise behaviors and habits and thoughts. We can fashion a happier life. We are not a victim of our circumstances we can fashion a happier life and a happier life leads to a flourishing life. So let's go Mojo.

Thank you for joining us. We hope you enjoyed this theory to action podcast. Be sure to check out our show page at T Mojo academy.com where we have everything we discussed in this podcast as well as other great resources. Until next time, keep getting your mojo on