Hi! Wishing everyone a very Happy Children’s Day!
Being happy. I wanted to put up something my students could watch that gives them some ideas about what happiness is.. – and I couldn’t find any!
Isn’t it incredible?
I’m sure one desire teachers and parents have for their children includes “I want them to be happy.”, and yet what does that really mean?
I heard a good description of happiness recently, and I simplify it here for children’s sake:
Good Feelings inside + Good Action / Results outside = Happiness
Good feelings for me would include a sense of achievement, feeling grateful, and fulfilled.
Good action or results would include doing my best, using my talents, and making a difference.
Having only ‘good feelings’ inside, without any achievements doesn’t really make people happy. (Not having to do anything initially feels good, but after a while, people on holiday or retirement need to ‘do something’.)
Someone who’s just working all the time, who may even be considered a high-achiever or ‘has it all’, but always feels that he’s not good enough, or doesn’t feel fulfilled- well, that’s not happiness either.
In the Harry Potter books, ‘a very happy memory’ is what creates the powerful, positive, palpable force of a ‘Patronus’ that can vanquish the force of darkness.
What do you think? Do you have other ideas you share with your child about happiness? Have you come across other descriptions of happiness? Please share your thoughts!