Ah… the ingredients of happiness according to Epicurus:
1. Friends (companions)
2. Freedom (financially independent – not imprisoned by unbearable bosses)
3. Analyzed life (time to think, reflect, leave the distractions of the world)
It sounds like an easy enough recipe to follow, but I’m increasingly convinced that our modern lives are making it almost impossible for a person to achieve the happiness Epicurus spoke of. Why? Well, to begin with, lets look simply at freedom. Epicurus suggests that we need to free ourselves from desire. It sounds like an attainable goal, and yet, I find that it is a daily struggle because while I don’t need to be rich, I do want to be secure.
My DESIRE for security drives many of my decisions and keeps me imprisoned. Why do I need a home in this neighborhood and not that neighborhood? Security. Why do I need this car and not that car? Security. Why do I need to work fulltime instead of parttime? Security. Yes, the security that comes from living in a “good” neighborhood, the security that comes from owning a “reliable” car, the security that comes from having a job that provides health insurance and a retirement plan. I give up some of my freedom for the promise of security.
So, perhaps, at least from my perspective, it seems we need to add one more element to the list. Maybe if we could fulfill our need for:
1. Friends (companions)
2. Freedom (financially independent – not imprisoned by unbearable bosses)
3. Analyzed life (time to think, reflect, leave the distractions of the world)
4. Security
maybe then we could find the happiness that alludes us.