When I was fourteen, I stumbled onto an author who introduced me to the idea that we should pursue our rational self-interest. His name was Robert Ringer. I devoured books like Million Dollar Habits and Looking Out For #1 and, eager for more, I hunted down the work of someone he cited as an influence—a philosopher named Ayn Rand.
It truly is hidden. I am 69, have been an Objectivist for almost 30 years and have experienced most all of the things you describe here, but have never had it explained so well with concretes guaranteed to provide the connections between my philosophy and my day-to-day actions. I have always strived to be happy, and learned many years ago that the greatest joy in my life came from accomplishment, and seeing accomplishments in others. This relatively short essay has explained my life to me in a way I never understood before. Your work truly is the best self-help program the world has ever seen. Well Done and Thank You!
I'll add one more to Benjamin Hare's list, not a typo, but something that would smooth it out for those of us who don't follow sports closely.
"Luke Williams was playing in his second professional game—the first start of his career. With one man on, and all the pressure in the world on his back, he hit a towering home run to left to win the game."
"... he hit a towering home run into left field to win the game."
I also liked how 'the hidden art of happiness' kept reappearing throughout the article - adding a poetic touch to your essay.
I especially liked the part about "Love," describing the selfish value that derives from other people.
And also this paragraph under "Work":
"Work is the essence of life. It is the core activity by which we sustain ourselves. Every other activity we engage in consumes resources—work is what creates the surplus that makes that consumption possible."
Not only is this written with economical clarity, but it outlines an important economics principle that is mostly ignored by today's "aggregate demand" subjectivists. Saving it for future reference.
The hidden art of happiness is the art of making our abstract values concrete and real—and of bringing out out the abstract meaning of the concrete.
Should be: ... and of bringing [out] the abstract ...
But they do so in unique way.
Should be: But they do so in [a] unique way.
That formalizes your commitment to you betrothed, but emotionally it is meaningless.
Should be: ... your commitment to [your] betrothed ...
The Maria Montessori quote contains what I suspect is a typo, but I don't have access to the text so can't confirm. I think it should be: "... working with his hands, [by] using his hands as the instruments ..."
This can happen on a grand scale—envisioning the a new kind of phone or a transformative work ...
Should be: ... envisioning [a] new kind of phone ...
Not the the errands you had to run or the doctors appointments you had to make, but the romantic dinners and adventurous vacations.
Should be: Not [the] errands you had to run ...
... and of bringing out out the abstract meaning of the concrete.
Should be: ... and of bringing [out] the abstract meaning of the concrete.
... licensed psychologists who make careers out telling you how to be happy are unable to conceive ...
Should be: ... who make careers out [of] telling you how ...
It truly is hidden. I am 69, have been an Objectivist for almost 30 years and have experienced most all of the things you describe here, but have never had it explained so well with concretes guaranteed to provide the connections between my philosophy and my day-to-day actions. I have always strived to be happy, and learned many years ago that the greatest joy in my life came from accomplishment, and seeing accomplishments in others. This relatively short essay has explained my life to me in a way I never understood before. Your work truly is the best self-help program the world has ever seen. Well Done and Thank You!
You hit another one out of the park. I so look forward to your posts. Thank you Don!
Wow, Don! I really enjoyed this one.
Intense.
I'll add one more to Benjamin Hare's list, not a typo, but something that would smooth it out for those of us who don't follow sports closely.
"Luke Williams was playing in his second professional game—the first start of his career. With one man on, and all the pressure in the world on his back, he hit a towering home run to left to win the game."
"... he hit a towering home run into left field to win the game."
I also liked how 'the hidden art of happiness' kept reappearing throughout the article - adding a poetic touch to your essay.
Thank you for this article, loved it.
I especially liked the part about "Love," describing the selfish value that derives from other people.
And also this paragraph under "Work":
"Work is the essence of life. It is the core activity by which we sustain ourselves. Every other activity we engage in consumes resources—work is what creates the surplus that makes that consumption possible."
Not only is this written with economical clarity, but it outlines an important economics principle that is mostly ignored by today's "aggregate demand" subjectivists. Saving it for future reference.
Excellent article. Noticed a few typos.
The hidden art of happiness is the art of making our abstract values concrete and real—and of bringing out out the abstract meaning of the concrete.
Should be: ... and of bringing [out] the abstract ...
But they do so in unique way.
Should be: But they do so in [a] unique way.
That formalizes your commitment to you betrothed, but emotionally it is meaningless.
Should be: ... your commitment to [your] betrothed ...
The Maria Montessori quote contains what I suspect is a typo, but I don't have access to the text so can't confirm. I think it should be: "... working with his hands, [by] using his hands as the instruments ..."
This can happen on a grand scale—envisioning the a new kind of phone or a transformative work ...
Should be: ... envisioning [a] new kind of phone ...
Not the the errands you had to run or the doctors appointments you had to make, but the romantic dinners and adventurous vacations.
Should be: Not [the] errands you had to run ...
... and of bringing out out the abstract meaning of the concrete.
Should be: ... and of bringing [out] the abstract meaning of the concrete.
... licensed psychologists who make careers out telling you how to be happy are unable to conceive ...
Should be: ... who make careers out [of] telling you how ...