We get into ruts for all kinds of reasons – busy schedules to extremes like natural disasters. Sometimes the way we think about things can help us get out of a rut. I want to consider the the differences between the way we look at things in the West and the way people in the… Continue reading How To Get Out of a Rut: Perspective Matters
Category: Happiness
Psychology of Effectiveness: Starting the New Year Well
Merry New Year (tomorrow)! If you were expecting JustHeath to talk about New Year’s resolutions, then I’m afraid that I’m going to have to disappoint you. You see, I do not make them…never have, never plan on doing so in the future. I’m certainly not against them or the concept, but my personal decision is… Continue reading Psychology of Effectiveness: Starting the New Year Well
6 Healthy Holiday Comforts and Traditions
Rather unintentionally, there has been a lot of talk about holiday traditions and comforts here at Philosophy Matters. It began with a discussion of Black Friday shopping, and was recently followed by discussions on comfort food and comfort TV. Talking to LKAwesome, we realized that these comforts, while comforting and certainly interesting to think about, all focused… Continue reading 6 Healthy Holiday Comforts and Traditions
The Epicurean Problem with YOLO: Short Term vs. Long Term Happiness
You’re 16 years old, your hormones are raging, and you’re finally making out with that hot girl from 4th period, hoping to push things to the next level. The last thing on your mind is the possible long-term consequences of that next level. Instead of pausing to think about sexually transmitted infections or the responsibilities… Continue reading The Epicurean Problem with YOLO: Short Term vs. Long Term Happiness
The Effects of TV: How To Be Happy and Live the Good Life
A new book explores the impact that a person’s media viewing habits can have on the quality of their life and ability to achieve happiness. WEBWIRE – Thursday, November 15, 2012 Meridian, Mississippi, USA – This November, author J.J. Sylvia IV has released the book “The Effects of TV: How To Be Happy and Live the Good… Continue reading The Effects of TV: How To Be Happy and Live the Good Life
PSA for trampolines, puppies and symphonies
How do we know if we’re happy? How do we know if we’ve “made it”? We’ve been discussing happiness a lot over here at Philosophy Matters and to each of us it seems to mean something different. We can easily define what happiness isn’t (stress at work, loss of a job, debt, death in the family,… Continue reading PSA for trampolines, puppies and symphonies
Why Aren’t We Good At Predicting What Will Make Us Happy?
It’s easy to view happiness like it’s a quest that we’re on. We can see it lurking around the next corner: I’ll be happy once I get that promotion, once I pay off that debt, once I have kids, once I… you fill in the blank. But there’s always a new corner to turn. This… Continue reading Why Aren’t We Good At Predicting What Will Make Us Happy?
5 Reasons Happiness Is Hard To Discuss
My last posted ended with the question: if we can choose to be happy no matter our circumstances, what motivation does that leave us to improve our lives? Personally, I have realized that I’ve been stuck on this question for several years now, and it has impacted decisions I have made in my life. I’m… Continue reading 5 Reasons Happiness Is Hard To Discuss
Choosing Happiness
The past month or so has felt a lot like those times where life throws you a curveball. My grandmother passed away and work has been in one of it’s more stressful cycles. All of this has culminated in my coming face-to-face with some of the struggles that have been a recurring theme in my… Continue reading Choosing Happiness
Hurricane Katrina: 7 years later
Hurricane Isaac will be making landfall 7 years to the date of the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. I was three months into owning my first home when Katrina struck and rendered it unlivable for the next four months. Several things still stand out very strongly to me since then: Devastation emphasizes the importance of community. After… Continue reading Hurricane Katrina: 7 years later