"Happiness, I have learned, is a work in progress," writes Joan Chittister, a Benedictine sister and founding executive director of Benetvision, a retreat and research center for contemporary spirituality in Erie, Pennsylvania. She is the author of more than 40 books and is featured on Spirituality & Practice as a Living Spiritual Teacher.
In this ambitious and wide-ranging volume, Chittister tries to track down the elusive meaning of happiness. It is a popular subject nowadays. Everywhere you look, there are blogs, websites, and videos about how to be happy. Colleges and universities are designing courses and research projects about happiness. Presenters at professional conferences focus on new scientific studies about it.
Chittister calls this book "an archeology of happiness" where she uses sociology, biology, neurology, psychology, philosophy, and religion as shovels in her great happiness dig. She begins with surveys done to determine the happiest country in the world (Denmark came in first; and the United States ranked twenty-third). Living in big houses and having tons of material possessions no longer turns people on or gives them contentment. Chittister chimes in with:
"Happiness has got to be something more than merely the license to do as I please. If the human being is really a social being, a being not able to exist alone, not able to grow or to function or to succeed alone, happiness must have something to do with how I relate to the rest of the world."
In a fascinating section on "Happiness: The Gift of Nature," the author ponders reports that we are hardwired for this virtue; the discovery of endorphins and their role in pleasure; and the scientific view of happiness as "both a sign and a measure of human development."
Chittister challenges us to see ourselves as creators of our own joy through positive thinking, connecting in meaningful ways with others, and developing our strongest character qualities. She believes that happiness is pursued and not achieved.
The author hits high stride with the last chapter on how the religions define happiness and deal with the shadow sides of joy. They also have a lot to say about living a full life and what that means. Joan Chittister has written a helpful guidebook that can serve as a wise companion on your personal quest for happiness.
