Think Happy!

Conrad Gempf questions whether it is helpful to speak of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as God-given rights.

‘We seem to want those rights to be fundamental to our relationships — the rules that they obey — rather than the other way round.’

Though I wouldn’t necessarilly agree with Conrad’s implication that happiness is tied-up with a relationship with God, I do think that it is helpful to question the language of ‘rights’ when it comes to happiness.

Happiness, it seems to me is a gift to receive and a prize to pursue. Yet, gifts come in packages and prizes take work. So, to use the concept of ‘rights’ when speaking of happiness gives the false impression that one can simply sit back and demand happiness.

It’s never worked that way for me!