Joy is more than it is made out to be in today’s society. How to we get to point where we consider ourselves happy? Is it when we have the ability to do what we want? Is it when we get what we want? I think that is the common belief. Thus, if we had the freedom to do what we want, then we will be happy. What keeps us from doing what we want? Our responsibilities. The absence of responsibility is how we obtain freedom, which leads to us being happy. This idea often takes the form of nostalgia, because when we were only children, there was no responsibility, and we could do whatever our little hearts pleased. Were we happier then? Is it naïve to think that way? No, not at all, it is very typical. However, it uses momentary pleasure as a guideline for joy. This concept is, in a word, wrong.
To prove this, imagine that you could do what you wanted right now. It doesn’t matter what it is. Now think of yourself only able to do that thing for the next 100 years. The next 1,000 years. The next 1,000,000 years. Would this activity still be appealing? Most likely not. That is because the activities we want to do individually are based on momentary pleasure, pleasure that is fleeting. Anything we do alone will eventually drive us insane, because we are corporate beings; we need community; we need social interaction.
So what action or thing or substance will bring us eternal joy? Here is the thing: there is no one action or thing or substance or thought that can be produced in this world to satisfy us. Our souls beg for more. What does it matter if one is the wisest among all men, for he will reach the same inevitable fate as the fool? What accomplishment is meaningful in this life if it cannot be guaranteed after the accomplisher’s passing? What will last? What will satisfy?
This joy can come from many places, but to generalize, it is investment in others. For a father, supporting his family, raising his children, which will bring joy. For the missionary, it is serving his or her communities. For the average person it is spending time with their friends, learning, loving, talking, investing in each other. All these things take responsibility.
Isn’t it funny how all of this flips around? That the one thing we often believe is keeping us from joy is the one thing that will actually bring it? This paradox in our society is making people run after all of the wrong things! This change in mentality is vital to our existence as individuals, because our desires of self-interest are hopeless, but investment in others has purpose.
To prove this, imagine that you could do what you wanted right now. It doesn’t matter what it is. Now think of yourself only able to do that thing for the next 100 years. The next 1,000 years. The next 1,000,000 years. Would this activity still be appealing? Most likely not. That is because the activities we want to do individually are based on momentary pleasure, pleasure that is fleeting. Anything we do alone will eventually drive us insane, because we are corporate beings; we need community; we need social interaction.
So what action or thing or substance will bring us eternal joy? Here is the thing: there is no one action or thing or substance or thought that can be produced in this world to satisfy us. Our souls beg for more. What does it matter if one is the wisest among all men, for he will reach the same inevitable fate as the fool? What accomplishment is meaningful in this life if it cannot be guaranteed after the accomplisher’s passing? What will last? What will satisfy?
This joy can come from many places, but to generalize, it is investment in others. For a father, supporting his family, raising his children, which will bring joy. For the missionary, it is serving his or her communities. For the average person it is spending time with their friends, learning, loving, talking, investing in each other. All these things take responsibility.
Isn’t it funny how all of this flips around? That the one thing we often believe is keeping us from joy is the one thing that will actually bring it? This paradox in our society is making people run after all of the wrong things! This change in mentality is vital to our existence as individuals, because our desires of self-interest are hopeless, but investment in others has purpose.