Modern man, and probably mostly Americans, place happiness at the top of their goals in life, for themselves and their children. But happiness is almost always taken for granted to be an emotion. But that kind of happiness is very elusive and transitory. And it's a very modern understanding of happiness.
From our Founding Fathers to Aristotle, happiness was a virtue that was much more deep-seated in our soul and therefore much more attainable. New research is showing that this older definition is much more atuned to our natures and attained by being more other-oriented, engaged in meaningful activities rather than being focused on our own gratification.
A piece by Betsy Hart sums this up:
"[T]he growing study of human happiness suggests it is appropriate for us to deliberately focus our thoughts on what broadens us, elevates us and connects us to others. And the result may be that focus helps bring us the greatest satisfaction and happiness.
"But, is this really news? Almost 2000 years ago the Apostle Paul wrote, as he instructed Christians to be joyful in all things, "Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8.)
"No wonder. Scripture also tells us there is nothing new under the sun."
