Definitions are essential for a purposeful discourse. At the very least, a stated definition increases the likelihood that all participants in the discourse are relating to the same thing. A good definition should logically, precisely, and succinctly capture the meaning of the concept being discussed.
The cardinal concepts in the pursuit of happiness (including Happiness) are rarely defined, which is a problem in both study and practice. The problem results from the central role that feelings play in the human condition. We have a feeling of what the concepts we discuss are. For example, we know what it feels like to do well (or poorly) in the pursuit of happiness. We know what Forgiveness, Gratitude and Patience feel like. Yet knowing what something feels like is very different from knowing what it is.
Feelings – sensations and emotions, offer useful guidance in the pursuit of survival. They have the speed advantage over language-dependent processes; feelings form and arrive in consciousness much faster than thoughts; and speed is critical in the survival arena. However, in the pursuit of happiness, speed is more often a liability than an asset.
Given the brain’s design bias (heavily in favor of survival), and given that for the vast majority of our species’ history survival was the main thing occupying the minds of most humans, it is not surprising that we habitually treat feelings as a reliable source of guidance. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work as well in the pursuit of happiness. Feelings simply do not offer the handle needed to exert deliberate influence.
To exert influence by design (which is key in pursuing happiness effectively) one has to know more than what the relevant concepts feel like. One needs to know what these things are. Definitions attempt to encapsulate this knowledge and therein lies their importance in the pursuit of happiness.
I hope you will find the definitions in the glossary useful. Keep in mind that they are not meant to be comprehensible. (Thanks, Dr. GF!) In some cases the terms in the glossary have a broader meaning than their definition aims to capture. In principle, the definitions I offer are of the terms as they function in the context of this work (rather than universally, or in every possible way the term can be used).
We (Jing and I) came to your website for the first time today (July 25, 2017）。It looks good so far， and I am very grateful for it。
Your notation that feelings form and arise in the consciousness faster than thoughts is so very interesting , as is the point/reminder that our brains are « survival” biased. It is so very important to know that feelings are not our best guide in the pursuit of happiness . I believe that I will be less likely to immediately « react » when a difficult feeling/ emotion arises.
Thank you for this most interesting resource !