Overview 

By now, we have learned how we think, and why we think the way we do. We’ve also learned how we can change the way we think to generate different outcomes for ourselves and those around us. Now we run into the question asked by countless billions of people who have come before us: What am I doing for the rest of my life? What we learn in this unit, and its many and varied applications, will play out for the rest of our lives. 

Objectives 

By the end of this unit, I will be able to: 

• define the Four Levels of Happiness, as the Greek philosophers described them.
• describe three critical facets of credibility.
• develop my own philosophy of life. 

Key Points 

• Ultimately, we need to answer the questions, “Where am I going? What am I doing for the rest of my life?” Are we going to devote our time to improving ourselves alone? Do we consider loved ones, family members and friends, as we go forward? Do we have a responsibility to our neighbors, our towns, our countries, our world? Finally, what can I use my talents and abilities for? No one wants to think of themselves as merely taking up space. Deep down, we all want to contribute, however we can.
• The ancient Greeks defined happiness through four states, or levels. The first happiness level can be called “instant gratification.” It’s usually material, and the happiness derived is always temporary. It’s an intense feeling, and it’s over quickly. If our goals are only directed at instant gratification, we are going to feel unfulfilled and never satisfied.
• The second level of happiness is all about competition. We see ourselves as having to be better than, bigger than, more than anyone else. In every encounter, we are measuring ourselves against the other person, or entire groups of people. When we find people we are better than, then we feel superior as well as create a feeling of contempt in ourselves toward the other person. This is self-destructive. And even worse, with this constant comparison, we will always find someone better than us.
• The third level of happiness is contribution. We are looking for ways to use our time and talents to help and support others. We derive joy from being a part of some effort to improve the human condition, give a boost to someone in need, repair the damage done by neglect. We don’t need attention or recognition. The very act of giving of ourselves, creatively coming up with solutions to challenges, brings a level of satisfaction and happiness that contribution beyond self can deliver.
• The fourth level of happiness is the seeking of ultimate perfection. We seek perfect love, perfect beauty, ultimate knowledge. This level is the most difficult to reach, because perfection in anything is fleeting, if it’s possible at all. We may only experience moments. But we humans are goal-seekers, and we strive to get as close as we can to perfection.
• We can be a combination of all four levels, depending upon the situation at hand. Each level has its place. The challenge to our growing is when we add the word “only” to each of these levels. Adding “only” is extremely limiting. When we can live at the happiness level of contribution, this is where we want to be credible in the eyes of others.
• Credibility does not come from within. Credibility and influence come from how others perceive us. There are three facets to credibility, in the form of three questions. Is this person similar to me? If there is no similarity, then has this person coached or mentored someone like me to success? And finally, is this person world-class in the knowledge I seek? When we have all three qualities, we have tremendous power and influence with others. 

Key Concepts 

Credibility – worthy of belief; sufficiently good to
bring esteem or praise. 

Four Levels of Happiness – Greek philosophers defined four types of happiness, their benefits and costs when each level is desired because one can only be happy if…; H1) Instant gratification; H2) Competitive; H3) Contributive; H4) Ultimate. 

Spirit of Intent – the purpose that lies at the foundation of what we do; why we behave and act in the outer world. 

Application & Review Questions 

Download the interactive PDF and save to your hard drive. Then, take time to reflect on the Application & Review Questions and answer them in relation to the concepts presented apply to your own life. 

(See Downloads) 

Happiness and Setting Goals 

Being teleological in nature means that we are all goal setters. It’s a default setting in our Subconscious and Creative Subconscious processes. We set big goals and little ones, medium-sized and Big Hairy Audacious Goals (B-HAGs), and for the most part, we want to achieve them all. (Sometimes, we feel we “have to” achieve them.) The challenge is in prioritizing what is truly important to us, because that is where we will find that long-lasting, H3 level of happiness. 

We have probably heard the story of the philosophy professor who one day began class with an empty container, and several other slightly smaller containers: one with several river stones, one with small pebbles, another with sand and, finally, one with water. The professor claimed that all the contents in the smaller containers would fit into the empty one. 

While the class remained skeptical, the professor first put the river stones into the container, then emptied the pebbles into the container, giving it a little shake while the pebbles settled. Then the professor poured in the sand and gave the container more shaking while the sand filled in the area around the river stones and the pebbles. Finally, in went the water, filling in the area that was left open between the rocks and sand. The original container was full, but did not overflow. The class was amazed. 

If the pebbles, or the sand or water – all those things we see as “have to do” each day, like pack school lunches, answer emails, provide taxi service for our children, grocery shopping, yard work, etc. – were put in first, there would not have been room for those river stones, those big happiness- producing, purpose-fulfilling goals we all have. It is as though we do not have the time or energy to do the important things we cherish, like study, develop better physical fitness, or volunteer. It all gets spent on the little things. 

However, if we shift the way we prioritize our goals, and put those big happiness-producing “rocks” in our goal container first, there is still plenty of room for our smaller, everyday goals, with nothing overflowing. By deciding what is truly important, and concentrating on those things, we tend to set more goals that provide meaning and fulfillment to our purpose, leaving us with the long-lived satisfaction of Level 3 happiness, and reducing the time spent on H1 and H2 goals, which tend to perpetuate unhappiness and resentment. 

Locus of Control Questionnaire 

We have been through a lot of information about how we think, and learned a lot of new tools that will help us in our quest to be effective thinkers. Let’s take a few moments to re-do the Locus of Control questionnaire, based on our mindset today. (No peeking at the first one!) Download the questionnaire. When finished, save the file with today’s date. When you have a moment, compare the two and see how far you’ve grown in taking control of your thinking, and your life. 

(See Downloads) 

EXTENDED LEARNING VIDEO – TBC