happathy

The Urban Dictionary defines happathy as 'a state of cheerful indifference'. My definition of happathy: to exude cheerfulness by (or while) ignoring or being oblivious to reality. At first glance the two definitions are very similar but I am meaning to differentiate passionate, purposeful apathy ("by ignoring ... reality") from adaptive, temporary apathy ("while ignoring ... reality").

Earlier this week when I first considered writing about the relationship between apathy and happiness (or Happiness) I intended this post to be a scathing condemnation of those who seem to go through life oblivious to reality-based suffering; those who are passionate about their apathy. I remembered the first part of a James Baldwin quote from a previous post where he says, "people who shut their eyes to reality simply invite their own destruction ..." And I hoped to connect the dots from there to why many of us seem to settle for happiness over Happiness (i.e. Truth and Wisdom). But then I realized that I also practice happathy; though I would like to think that my happathy is of the adaptive, temporary variety. I believe anyone who interacts at any level with other people in public or in the workplace practices happathy of one form or another, and to varying degrees. It is an unavoidable nicety that some think necessary (though I might argue) to jump-start more meaningful communications and relationships. So if this clever phraseology has turned upon me, who am I to judge?

I don't know how many of the seemingly 'happy' people I run across each day actually go home and act towards inner peace and exoteric goodness adding to their Truth and Wisdom, but I suspect there are more than I suspect as I am going through my day. I also don't know how many go out and drown sorrows in more sorrows; or how many go somewhere (or nowhere) and contemplate loneliness or illness or worse. Again, who am I to judge?

Despite this insight (which should have probably been more obvious) I still maintain that we should not go through life on cruise control. (Qualifying everything below with everything above) I see a lack of concern; a lack of compassion; a lack of interest; a lack of passion. Perhaps some people compartmentalize, but I maintain we should show more of these 'lacking' characteristics every opportunity we have. Yes, we act differently (and should) around strangers than around acquaintances, and around friends than around close friends and family. Yet we should still exhibit behaviors in all facets of Life that are consistent with our quest for True Happiness.

So the adaptive, temporary kind of happathy is okay. It helps us get through our days and while (likely) not a major contributor to Happiness, if used in moderation for short periods of time, and balanced between reality and our Search ... it's okay.

This entry was posted in Philosophy. Bookmark the permalink.

One Response to happathy

  1. Pingback: Apprehensive Happiness | hopelesshappiness.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *