Response To Anthony Demello's Perspective On Happiness

One of the vital messages that I got out of reading Anthony Demello’s perspective on happiness is that, for the most part life is not as hard as we make it out to be. Influences such as cravings, attainment of wealth, over working and irrational beliefs are the causes of unhappiness. To truly attain happiness one must be appreciative and unattached to such influences. Cravings can be seen in the misbelief that we cannot be happy without the things that we are attached to or see as precious. For example many people in our society have the belief that they would be happier if they had the newest IPhones, cars, clothes, and shoes. Attainment of wealth is a key influence when it comes to unhappiness. This can be seen countless times in our society.

We can change everything we want in our lives and still not be happy deep down inside. Personally I believe people who grow up in our society are trained to connect happiness with material possessions. I say this because as a society we praise wealth power, and prestige. We idolize those who have what we don’t. From the earliest stages in our lives where taught to work hard to be successful. The problem with this belief is that when we as a society look at success we compare it to the individual’s wealth. For example say an individual is a teacher as a society we might say this individual is doing good for themselves. On the other hand say another individual is a multimillionaire businessman, as a society a majority of us would say this individual is a successful man. Why might we say this? The answer is simple we have the misbelief that wealth and material possessions generate happiness. This leads me to the fact many people in America consider themselves poor when they have more possessions than someone considered rich in a poorer country. This due to misbeliefs that are imprinted in our American heads be it from media, education, friends and

Their telling us that you need to work harder and harder so you can escape your problems. From there misbeliefs our only solidified stronger. I’m not happy because I need a better apartment, car, and job. When the truth is even with all the material possessions in the world were still going to have insecurities, anxieties, tensions, worries. If we as individuals want to achieve happiness we need to understand the false beliefs behind the attainment of happiness. For the most I agree with what DeMello is saying. He really opened my eyes to the false beliefs of happiness. I disagree with him on one belief. He says we believe happiness will come if you manage to change the situation you are in and the people around you. Personally I could live a simple life and be satisfied. Religiously I was taught that from a young age. Wealth does not generate happiness self pride and satisfaction in god does. I do however believe changing the situation of the love ones around you will provide more happiness. I say this because I have seen my mother sacrifice so much for me. As the oldest son culturally I’m expected provide for her. Also it goes well beyond culture personally I also owe it to her and not just her little brothers and