This article intrigues me, as I consider myself a pessimistic realist of sorts. I undoubtedly do have some aversions to both positive emotions and negative ones because I see them as illogical and dangerous at times. I can understand the idea of being wary of happiness. I'm not sure if there's any flaw in this idea, however often I just find my negativity irrational and beneficial, and disregard it. In that same way, I tend to believe that happiness is like a drug that can blind someone, and make them act in regrettable ways. Undoubtedly I would agree with the article that moderation of the two is the best route.
I thought the baseball example makes a lot of sense, but the fear of happiness is kind of a depressing fear. If one is afraid of being happy, then when happiness comes their way, they will be too afraid to enjoy it because they think something bad is going to happen because of it. But isn’t that in and of its self a bad thing to not be able to enjoy happiness, or the inability to pursue happiness? I do agree that constant happiness would have detrimental effects, but being afraid of it seems unhealthy.
This article although hard to read has a lot of truth to it. The notion that these individuals who believe in thinking that the happiest of times will always be ruined by something bad is a terrible way to live their lives. Although it does state in the article that most of these individuals have a mental issue the reality that people are so pessimistic something bad makes them feel better then something good happening is horrible to hear. In reference to the Oedipus Rex quote the way I view it was instead of dreading happiness, take in everything when you are happy and life in the moment of it. Without appreciated the happiest of times I don’t think anyone could truly be happy.
This article intrigues me, as I consider myself a pessimistic realist of sorts. I undoubtedly do have some aversions to both positive emotions and negative ones because I see them as illogical and dangerous at times. I can understand the idea of being wary of happiness. I'm not sure if there's any flaw in this idea, however often I just find my negativity irrational and beneficial, and disregard it. In that same way, I tend to believe that happiness is like a drug that can blind someone, and make them act in regrettable ways. Undoubtedly I would agree with the article that moderation of the two is the best route.
ReplyDeleteI thought the baseball example makes a lot of sense, but the fear of happiness is kind of a depressing fear. If one is afraid of being happy, then when happiness comes their way, they will be too afraid to enjoy it because they think something bad is going to happen because of it. But isn’t that in and of its self a bad thing to not be able to enjoy happiness, or the inability to pursue happiness? I do agree that constant happiness would have detrimental effects, but being afraid of it seems unhealthy.
ReplyDeleteThis article although hard to read has a lot of truth to it. The notion that these individuals who believe in thinking that the happiest of times will always be ruined by something bad is a terrible way to live their lives. Although it does state in the article that most of these individuals have a mental issue the reality that people are so pessimistic something bad makes them feel better then something good happening is horrible to hear. In reference to the Oedipus Rex quote the way I view it was instead of dreading happiness, take in everything when you are happy and life in the moment of it. Without appreciated the happiest of times I don’t think anyone could truly be happy.
ReplyDelete