Reality of the Pursuit of Happiness
... not maintain this pursuit sincerely, we may find ourselves to be unhappy. For some cultures or religions, this “unalienable right” sounds like a selfish way of living, defying respect and obedience to figures of authority. Of course they have the right to make their own assumptions, and they may very well be right. However, for myself, and many other Americans, this pursuit of happiness is one of the main priorities in life. It is probably the largest factor in my decision making process. Although sometimes my quest for happiness in life has produced unpleasant consequences, I rarely regret any choices I’ve made. I am careful to remain true to myself while making a decision and always do what I personally feel is right for me. I believe that we become unhappy when we take on something that is not true to us. It is not uncommon for people to have false notions of what their happiness should be according to what is attractive or desirable to society, or according to the expectations put on them by themselves and others. Other times, people may have a clear idea of what they need to achieve happiness, but then get sidetracked, or simply lazy and never actively pursue it. These people seem to fail to distinguish between heartfelt fulfillment and passive complacency. They often wind up doing things to please other people, and are never fully satisfied with the results. I am not saying that chasing your dream in the pursuit of happiness should cause a person to abandon morality or respect for others. For some people it may come down to such blatant hedonism, but everyone has the right to decide what brings them happiness. The divorce rate in America is astonishingly high in comparison to that of other countries, this indeed may be due to our approach to individual needs and our “right” to pursue happiness. I am not defending America’s apparent lack of effort to remain true to the vows they all proclaimed, but everyone can choose not to pursue something they’ve deemed fruitless. Hopefully, people who choose to make their life’s purpose the pursuit of happiness can do so in moderation and take into consideration the needs of those that they love as well. Happiness comes in many forms. Some people are motivated by achieving optimal physical fitness, some are driven by their career, or money. Beauty, love, family, adventure, and participating in music or art are all examples of some of the more common goals that people set to bring themselves ...