The Pursuit of Happiness

The following article is from the Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-gottlieb-phd/is-happiness-necessary_b_770560.html

(Note: I do NOT claim ownership)

The author of this article, Dr. Dan Gottlieb, contends that the metrics people use to gauge their success in achieving happiness in life, (good health, successful children, wealth, etc.) are rather superficial. Dr. Gottlieb also asserts that people should abandon their quest for “happiness” and instead seek well-being, as we don’t truly know what “happiness” is nor how to achieve it. I don’t entirely agree with the author’s argument. First of all, I feel he makes too sweeping an argument in suggesting that almost all people use superficial metrics to gauge their pursuit of happiness in life, I know I certainly don’t. Secondly, I believe Dr. Gottlieb contradicts himself by advocating people abandon their search for happiness and instead pursue “well-being,” as the very metrics he decries as superficial (e.g. wealth, good health, having successful children, etc.) are in my mind critical to attaining well-being and are far from superficial. A far more accurate list of measures of “happiness” (or “well-being”) that would be truly superficial in my mind should include the desire for fame, wealth acquired through accident of birth not through perspiration and intellect, and pining for any number of materialistic items (e.g. sports cars, mansions, etc.). Wanting for health for one’s self and success for one’s children are not superficial, in any sense of the word. Lastly, while I agree that living a financially stable, relatively healthy life and raising intelligent children are not by themselves the keys to well-being, they’re certainly superior to being broke, sick and burdened with lazy and unintelligent children.