CNY hosted its first official conversation on December 3, 2012. We discussed Happiness and divided the topic into “What is happiness and where does it come from,” and “How can one become happier?” More specific questions were, “Are Americans obsessed with being happy,” “Who’s the happiest person you know and why,” “Have you ever given up anything to be happier?” and “Is happiness a choice?”

In one group, the conferees sharply questioned the whole idea of pursuing happiness as the overriding goal of life.  It was pointed out that pessimists may be more in touch with the realities of life which are often quite negative, and American culture brainwashes us into the expectation that we can “have it all.”  Such interrogation of the ideal of happiness is reflected in the recent book, Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America.

In another group, participants largely agreed that happiness comes from relationships, community, and identity. Some participants recounted tragic experiences that led them to this conclusion. Still others discussed how their belief in Buddhism as a philosophy, and psychology as a science, helped them understand themselves and others better, which led them to a greater happiness.

One specific technique for happiness which intrigued many participants was Laughing Yoga, an experiential exercise in which people are encouraged to just start laughing even if they are “faking it.” Pretty soon the ridiculousness of the situation impels widespread genuine hilarity.

The conversation ended by recounting what struck participants, or if any new perspectives had been gained. It was noted that life is filled with ups and downs, and that oftentimes happiness naturally results as a byproduct of daily interactions and experiences that you never expect, rather than resulting from a concerted effort or search for happiness.

What do you think? What idea stuck with you after the conversation? Whether you were able to join the discussion or not, we’d love for you to continue the conversation by leaving a comment on this blog post!

Please join us for a conversation to share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences on the subject:

HAPPINESS
· What does happiness mean to you?
· How does it relate to other goals you may have, like success, wealth, fulfillment, fun, or service?
· What are some ways to achieve happiness, that have worked for you?
· Have your feelings about happiness changed in the aftermath of The Storm? (e.g., Rebecca Solnit refers to feelings that are “graver than happiness, but deeply positive.”)

Attendance will be limited to 7-10, to make for an enjoyable and rewarding conversation. The host will be Ron Gross, convenor of Socratic Conversations at Columbia University (www.socratesway.com/join.html).

If you’d like to review some interesting thoughts on the topic, we suggest http://www.happiness-project.com/

We’ll gather in a comfortable, quiet nook in one of the casual eateries in Penn Station – you’ll receive the exact location when you…
…RSVP to Ron Gross at grossassoc@aol.com.

As New York continued to struggle with the devastating aftermath of Sandy, participants in the Socratic Conversation conducted by Ron Gross on November 15^th struggled with the learnings emerging from the experience.