A More Lofty Pursuit

When our country formally declared independence 234 years ago, there was a document drafted and presented to the people of our country that still impacts us deeply all these years later.

 

 

Though it was a collective effort, it seems that Thomas Jefferson had quite a hand in its forging.  Today, one can scarcely make it out of the second grade without being able to recite the “unalienable rights” of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

 

I’m not quite sure what it is going to take for our country to realize that what the founding fathers meant by “Pursuit of Happiness” and our interpretation of this pursuit today are vastly different beasts.

 

I am so very grateful to work with many people who do not pursue their own happiness.  If you are a leader of others (and quite frankly that is everyone reading this), and you pursue your own happiness to the point where it is more important than pursuing goodness or, say faithfulness, then you may find yourself very alone one day.

 

I am pleased to inform you that there is a counter-movement to our own constitution and you can easily become a part of it.  We must stop pursuing our own happiness and realize that a truer and purer form of happiness exists when we pursue the well-being of others.

 

This altruistic look at life seems almost archaic to our modern world that insists that we deserve something more.  It is quite refreshing to work with clients who have come to realize that they don’t deserve anything, but rather see their lives as blessings and turn their attention towards helping others.

 

For those of you who have found this happiness keep giving it away, do not hoard it.  If you are still in pursuit of happiness in your job, in your family, with your friends or in any other walk of your life, may I recommend that you get off that road and get on the one that pursues an authentic care for others.

 

We must not be conformed to this pattern the world has sold us.  A different train is leaving the station – all aboard!

Comments

[John Gallagher]

Been thinking about this post and have a little different perspective on the comparison to the constitution. I certainly don't claim to be a historian, but I do believe that the ones who drafted, specifically, Thomas Jefferson, were brilliant. I would like to think, though, that is not a counter-movement, but rather a re-birth of that pursuit of happiness. One that garners us happiness when we contribute to the happiness of others. I believe that the authors of the constitution were happy that what they were writing and signing would help others. Just a little different perspective...