Happiness. Khushi. La felicidad.
Throughout the world we identify this feeling through numerous names. It is
supposed to overwhelm us; keeping us cozy and warm. It is the supposed panacea
for all your problems. We are supposed to believe that turning on that smile
while make your life amazing (supposedly, your life will be filled with
rainbows, leprechauns, and unicorns).But if you ask Babara Ehrenreich, the
author of Bright-Sided: How Positive
Thinking Is Undermining America, she will say this is foolish, bogus and
simply crap. Ehrenreich believes that America is becoming over-optimistic. I
know. You probably are questioning what type of depressed person would want to
write a book which attacks positivity (aka the only thing that gives us hope in
our large, confusing world). Well, she
isn’t too crazy. We all know those over-optimistic people in our lives who
believe that being positive 24/7 is mandatory. Of course, most people find them
annoying. These puppeteers yank their strings to make our mouths stretch and
eventually conform into a gaping smile-type-expression. And this is what she is opposed to. Ehrenreich
has an overall valid point. Positivity is good. But not when optimism is forced
or exceeds its realistic boundaries.
What Barbara thinks
Forced Optimism?
But
then again, positivity and happiness are vital aspects of a successful life. In
the documentary Happy positivity and
happiness are described as essentials to life. These qualities are not achieved
by the material wealth you accumulate. But there is a point where it is important.
Once the basic needs, food, shelter, and clothes (for those valley girls this
is probably includes a Lamborghini, a mansion, and the handbag pup), are
fulfilled, it is truly your own sentiments that counts. The documentary argued
that happier people lived better lives. For example, take Japan (aka that country
where all the Toyotas, video games and computers come from). After the Second
World War, the Japanese government encouraged its people to improve their
circumstances. And within the 50 years they were able to maintain a country
with a powerful economy. However, this opportunity came at a high price. The Japanese
people turned out to be very unhappy people. Their lack of happiness was
attributed to their work ethic. Several people also suffered from karoshi,
which is the term they use for individuals who work themselves to death. So,
happiness is important in life.
Many
countries have figured this out. The documentary explored other areas where the
happiness was the greatest. The Bhutanese people are striving for growth.
Unlike their Japanese counterparts, they wish to attain their growth via the
spread of happiness. The documentary stated that the government was attempting to
increase its gross happiness. A similar situation is occurring in Okinawa,
Japan. This island of the coast of Japan is home to a vibrant community of
happy people. The Okinawans live in a mass community which enables them to
maintain a level of happiness. Through the spread of happiness, these people
are able to continue joyous lives.
The
documentary and the book approached this topic through different lenses. But I
believe that both include valid arguments. Ehrenreich is right that we are at times too
optimistic. We are not always rational while trying to achieve that maximum
happiness output. But this doesn’t mean that happiness is the root cause of all
our problems. Nor does this mean that pessimism is favorable when compared to
an optimistic perspective. And as the documentary displays we need happiness to
survive. I think the cartoons shown in the movie portray how a mechanical population
lacks happiness. Thus, they are unhappy. I enjoyed the various examples in the
movie which were able to keep enhancing the book’s argument as it went along.
But in Bright-sided I think the argument became weaker as the book progressed.
Basically
I think I have found the purpose of both these pieces. Be happy and optimistic,
but never over-optimistic or force your optimism on someone else.
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