TED Conversations

José Carlos Pons

WWF Mexico

This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »

Wouldn't happiness bring about professional and personal stagnation?

I have not met a human being who does not want to be happy. However, following the argument brought forward by Shawn Anchor, unhappiness is the main driver for continuous personal and professional development, i.e. we are never satisfied with what we have.
In this scenario, would't happiness bring about professional and personal stagnation.

Related Talks:
Topics: Habits of happiness happiness personal development personal succes
+2
Share:

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.

  • thumb

    Alexander Koch

    • +1
    Aug 5 2012: For some reason, I can't figure out how to respond directly to James Zhang's comment concerning time efficiency. So here it is as a general post: The notion of this 100% versus the 93% was a poor analogy on my part, because many of the pursuits through which we discover happiness, and in which that happiness in turn drives us to succeed, are not measured numerically and thus have no level of "perfection" (i.e. 100/100). In this sense, we ourselves define what we see to be as the ultimate goal, meaning that whether it is an active decision or not, we have some measure of control over our happiness. If nothing else, this tells us that happiness and satisfaction are completely relative. While I'm not saying that environmental pressures such as societal expectations and cultural values don't play a significant role in determining personal choice, I feel that at least some small degree of self-determination is exercised in the pursuit of happiness (it's also a good movie). Once personal happiness can be put into this context of relativity, I feel that we will truly be able to tap the full benefits of balancing ambition and progress with a deep, personal contentment.
    • thumb

      James Zhang 30+

      • +2
      Aug 5 2012: True dat

      Not everyone should be "efficient," trying to strive for the 93%. There needs to be people who go for that 100%. So you're right, it really just depends on what each of us values the most. If I could get make a sustainable income doing nothing but posting on Ted forum, I'd do it without question and probably and spend almost 100% of my time here lol.

      I really don't want people to become sheep, the followers. People need to think for themselves, know what they like and what they're capable of, and that's how we become a much more advanced society. Societal pressures are necessary, but sometimes they create too many sheep.

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.