“Purposeful New Year!”
The usual greeting at this time of year, of course, is to say “Happy New Year!” I don’t mind tradition in measured doses.
But I must admit that, to me, other New Year’s wishes seem more appropriate. I try to no longer think in terms of happiness, anyway. The word “happy” and its variations have come to acquire a certain shallowness, I believe. And I also believe that the pursuit of happiness in the modern sense tends to diminish us as individuals. When we chase only one of the myriad feelings that are part of being human, we try to avoid the others. To be “happy,” we take pills so we feel no aches or pains. Or we rush to the doctor instead of dealing with the problem ourselves whenever possible. We talk on cellphones endlessly to friends, send text messages obsessively, spend our free time on Facebook and Twitter. All in the pursuit of “happiness.” Instead, I view life in terms of purpose, of meaning. I think this involves finding our greatest strengths and passions, then developing these and sharing them with the world. This helps others, ourselves and society. It’s what the philosophy of shared value and the Humanity Project are all about too. Sometimes the pursuit of our purpose in life requires sacrifice, struggle and always lots of effort. If we’re just trying to be “happy,” we may not want to tackle such a daunting task. But if we’re seeking meaning and purpose in our lives, we go about our business no matter the obstacles. That’s why I’m wishing you a “Purposeful New Year” in 2011. Along with all the joy of the season from everyone at the Humanity Project!
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