Happiness and Meaning
Essential Questions:
a. What is the purpose of your existence?
b. What is happiness and what makes you happy?
c. What does it mean to live a meaningful life?
d. To what extent can literature shape your personal philosophy on happiness and meaning?
https://docs.google.com/a/animashighschool.com/file/d/0B5ktO3NLUDlcems1NU1kbjZudWM/edit
Personal Reflection:
Part 1:
Some new insights I developed over the course of this project were that I can know of a meaning in my life as well as purpose. If I find a meaning for myself, I can find happiness-as long as I find that meaning legitimate. For example-I feel like the meaning of my existence is to love those around me and to care for and be there for everyone I care about. Also to give myself a good image such as being respectful to others as well as gaining their respect as well. I feel kind of like Phoenix Jones in that sense-that I can help people and do something good out of the blue. This respect for people that I utilize every day, is something that will gain me a lot of respect in return. In these instances, I truly believe you get what you give most of if not all of the time. Also to love, care for and support those around me. This is a really meaningful part of my life. Everyone I associate with has done something that has affected me in some way. I try to be respectful and the better person no matter what.
Part 2:
Would I rather get a job that lets me fulfill my passions, or get a job that pays the bills and gives me more money than passion?
What if I quit my job to pursue my passions and interests? How would this affect those around me and the ones I love?
What means more to me? Happiness and meaning, or something that gets me by on expenses and less stress?
How can I incorporate the ones surrounding me into my every day passions and fulfillments?
Essential Questions:
a. What is the purpose of your existence?
b. What is happiness and what makes you happy?
c. What does it mean to live a meaningful life?
d. To what extent can literature shape your personal philosophy on happiness and meaning?
https://docs.google.com/a/animashighschool.com/file/d/0B5ktO3NLUDlcems1NU1kbjZudWM/edit
Personal Reflection:
Part 1:
Some new insights I developed over the course of this project were that I can know of a meaning in my life as well as purpose. If I find a meaning for myself, I can find happiness-as long as I find that meaning legitimate. For example-I feel like the meaning of my existence is to love those around me and to care for and be there for everyone I care about. Also to give myself a good image such as being respectful to others as well as gaining their respect as well. I feel kind of like Phoenix Jones in that sense-that I can help people and do something good out of the blue. This respect for people that I utilize every day, is something that will gain me a lot of respect in return. In these instances, I truly believe you get what you give most of if not all of the time. Also to love, care for and support those around me. This is a really meaningful part of my life. Everyone I associate with has done something that has affected me in some way. I try to be respectful and the better person no matter what.
Part 2:
Would I rather get a job that lets me fulfill my passions, or get a job that pays the bills and gives me more money than passion?
What if I quit my job to pursue my passions and interests? How would this affect those around me and the ones I love?
What means more to me? Happiness and meaning, or something that gets me by on expenses and less stress?
How can I incorporate the ones surrounding me into my every day passions and fulfillments?
Individual Seminar Prep: Happiness and Meaning
Keagan Felker PART 1: Synthesis of Project Content and Essential Questions Looking at The Amazing Adventures of Phoenix Jones, the purpose of his existence is to help people he sees need assistance. His purpose is to be selfless and to live by helping others. He always puts others before himself no matter the situation. On page 248, Urban Avenger says, “When I wear this I don’t have to react to you in any way. Nobody knows what I’m thinking or feeling. It’s great. I can be in my own little world in here.” This shows that his suit and name doesn’t necessarily hide his personality, just his identity. So it doesn’t matter whether he’s in the suit or not-he will help others no matter what. This is proven in the last page as well with Phoenix. On page 263, it talks about Phoenix outside of being an “RLSH”. “You can’t stay masked forever...They tried to take me out but they gave me a bigger voice…’Wait! He’s a professional mixed martial arts trainer! Wait! He’s the main manager of an autistic home!’”. This also shows that it isn’t necessarily the masks that give them the power to make an impact. It all depends on what’s in their hearts. The video “Happy” tells about everything that can make us happy. For example, it talked about how surrounding ourselves with loved ones can bring happiness as well as things like doing favors for others rather than ourselves. The “hedonic treadmill” is a term that means that “you’re always going to want more”. An example of this would be when you post something to Instagram and you end up getting 40 likes, you’re going to want more. So the more easy satisfaction someone gets, the more they want later on. Random acts of kindness can really spike happiness, because it brings more gratification than only pampering yourself. “Counting our blessings” can also lead to more happiness because it lets ourselves deeply notice everything we have in our lives and everything/everyone that counts to us. The Lesson of the Moth: Moth’s perspective: “it is better to be a part of beauty for one instant and then cease to exist than to exist forever and never be a part of beauty”. This shows that to the moth, living a meaningful life, is living life as long as he can without dying or getting “burned out”. If he were to burn out without “fulfilling” his life, he would feel that it was not meaningful. Archy’s perspective: “and before i could argue him out of his philosophy he went and immolated himself on a patent cigar lighter i do not agree with him myself i would rather have half the happiness and twice the longevity but at the same time i wish there was something i wanted as badly as he wanted to fry himself”. With this, Archy felt that life should be full enjoyment for “the little things”. Once again, on the other hand, the moth was one to live his life on the edge, and what didn’t kill him possibly made him stronger. Every day he didn’t die, he lived one more. PART 2: Ted Talk Selection and Response “The Paradox of Choice” by Barry Schwartz
I agree with a lot if not all of his points throughout the talk. One of the main points that struck me as most accurate and relatable was that the way we value things is dependent on what else we compare them to. For example, if I just got an iPhone 3, I would think that’s pretty sick-because it’s my first iPhone! Then let’s say Rex just got the 5c...His is already superior to mine, since its brand new and has all this jazzy new junk. So whether yours is cool or not, there is always a comparison or competition. Also, if there are too many choices and decisions to make in front of you, it can add a lot more stress and depression because too many choices can lead to a larger chance for regret. QUESTION: DO YOU ALL AGREE THAT TOO MANY CHOICES AND DECISIONS CAN LEAD TO MORE FOR YOU TO REGRET? |
Fulfillment in Finding the Meaning of Your Existence
Keagan Felker Everybody has a sort of purpose in their life. No life is meaningless. If you feel like this is how your life feels, one just haven’t yet found purpose and meaning. Some people get bored with their everyday lives and want to find more meaning for themselves. This can be as small as telling someone how much you love them, or as big as helping in a home for the sick and dying; like the man did in the film Happy. Phoenix Jones had the same philosophy. He wants to help others no matter the problem. Phoenix Jones is a Real Life Superhero (RLSH) that “fights crime” and helps those in need in any way he can. In “The Amazing Adventures of Phoenix Jones”, author Jon Ronson shows that Phoenix leads a well-lived life because he is driven by intrinsic values. He also defines happiness as the meaningful life and is very authentic. A person with intrinsic values is one who lives life by focusing their concerns on others and chooses to consider other people first, before themselves. Phoenix leads a well-lived life by giving back to the community and helping those who need assistance. At first, Phoenix needs a superhero costume to hide behind in order to feel like a super individual. On page 245, Phoenix explains to Ronson the dilemma that most Real-Life Superheroes face: “When they start out they make rookie mistakes. Then they hit their stride. Then they not infrequently start to believe they have actual superpowers. Then they burn out and quit.” This is different from Phoenix Jones, because he hasn’t seemed to come close to burning out yet. He doesn’t seem to glorify himself very much at all-this shows that he obviously isn’t doing what he does specifically for the glory; He’s doing it to benefit others and help those who need it more than he does. Phoenix Jones defines happiness as the “meaningful life”. There are three definitions of happiness in one’s life; Living the pleasant life-which means that one is living for easy pleasures and they are doing things that bring temporary happiness and come easy, the life of engagement-which means that someone lives for the moment and gets in the “flow” of what they are doing; that they go with it and are fully immersed in it. Thirdly, there is the life of meaning. This is the life Phoenix Jones lives. He lives to help others and make the best of every day by making others’ lives better in the process. The film Happy that we watched as part of this assignment addressed these three lifestyles. They even conducted tests on ordinary individuals that were proven to bring more satisfaction and gratification when favors and good deeds were done for other people besides solely themselves. Like the tests, Phoenix finds gratification in helping others. He makes meaning out of his life by living it by his own standards; which are to find meaning and value in making others feel safe and protected by somebody who chose to stand up to threatening situations. Another big part of Phoenix Jones is his authenticity both as a RLSH as well as a normal individual. Even after Phoenix is unmasked, he doesn’t let it get him down. He embraces his unmasking and actually lets it empower him even more. By this, I mean that Phoenix refuses to “burn out” after he is unmasked and exposed. Even though his identity is revealed, he allows it to make him stronger by showing the public that it doesn’t matter whether his suit is on or not. He will stand by the people and do them justice as long as it is the right thing to do. Phoenix says on the last page, “You can’t stay masked forever...They tried to take me out but they gave me a bigger voice…’Wait! He’s a professional mixed martial arts trainer! Wait! He’s the main manager of an autistic home!’”. . This also shows that in the end, it isn’t necessarily the mask that gives him the power to make an impact. It all depends on what’s in his heart. When living your life, you choose how to spend it. You can either go with the flow and live it day by day, or you can find a purpose for your existence and make the most of what you have. Nobody can control how you live your life; once you find meaning and find something to live for and live by, you can make the best out of whatever your life has to offer. |
Essential Questions:
• What is the purpose of your existence? • How do you define or find happiness? • How do you define or find meaning in life? The purpose of my existence is to always spread love and happiness to the ones I love, be respectful to anyone I meet, to be the one that is always there for the loved ones in my life, and to work hard in order to get where and what I want in life. I see these things as my purpose, because they all make me happy, as well as make my life meaningful when I see the impact I make on people. For example, when I’m walking down town and I walk past an elderly man, he gives me the “you’re just another disrespectful teenager” look-then the next thing I do seems to surprise some people-I may hold the door for them or call him sir and then they seem to see me completely different. I like being able to break peoples’ image of teenagers nowadays. It makes me happy to be respectful to everyone I meet. I would define happiness as something that either brings gratification and satisfaction, or something or someone that makes you feel accepted and loved. find happiness through surrounding myself with people I love, who love me back and support what I love doing. I also find happiness through hard work...I know it sounds strange, and who would be happy about work...But when it’s hard work or labor that I know will pay off in the end, I know it will bring satisfaction and make me feel accomplished. The “getting paid” idea usually doesn't even matter to me-it’s usually due to the gratification part more so than the idea of making money. I would define meaning as something that brings purpose to your life or something that you love to do and is meaningful to you. Some things that are meaningful to me are my family, friends, and things I love to do. When I say family, I mean my real family as well as everybody who surrounds me who treats me and loves me like family. For example, my shooting sports instructors Bruce and Penny aren’t just my shooting coaches-they are amazing people that would support you and help you until you are as good as you can be. They push us and they never let us give up and they never let us down. They keep us going even when it isn’t the best day. This is what I mean. This are the kinds of things that make my life meaningful. Having people who support me and never let me down are the kinds of people I want to spend my life being surrounded by. Part 2: Inspiration “For me life is continuously being hungry. The meaning of life is not simply to exist, to survive, but to move ahead, to go up, to achieve, to conquer.” -Arnold Schwarzenegger I chose this quote by Arnold Schwarzenegger because I feel like it connects most to my main beliefs. That I won’t quit until the work I have at hand is done, and I’m satisfied with my outcome. Part 3: Project Proposal (20 points) Answer the following questions and email Ashley your responses. Submit a sketch if you plan on doing a visual art piece. 1. Write your personal philosophy credo in 1-2 sentences
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