How good is to be alive? Is a question that Frank Barron reminded us in the late 1960's when speaking about creativity and psychotherapy.
In the last twenty four months I have been endeavouring to write about creativity and systems thinking. When re-reading a book of Frank Barron today and when revisiting my diary I then paused to look at this question.
For myself this question took me again by surprise. I have tried to be a good person in many respects: As a father, a husband and as an academic. Often, I have lost myself in this quest. It is easy to become trapped in making this quest an impossible one, in particular when I keep being nudged into doing more.
To make matters more complicated as well as interesting, there is an emerging trend in the UK to use behaviour as a predictor of happiness. One can just see books like "Happiness by Design" by Paul Dolan (2014) to get a feeling that we could (and should) make better and simpler choices to be happier. It seems it is possible if we pay attention to what/who gives us a feeling of inner satisfaction. No need to think too much. Just do things. Governments can also be helpful by nudging us in the right direction.
Barron reminds us however, that the question of how good is to be alive is an important one, not only because we 'could' decide or be nudged on our own happiness, but because there is a history of human kind we need to bear in mind when making decisions. Those interested in behaviour seem to be in need of be reminded of it. Creativity has a dark side. It has led humans to engineer atomic bombs. Useful knowledge, valuable knowledge can be turned into commercial, political and military weaponry.
That is why the too good to be true ways to be happy give me a bit of concern. Being alive should be good for all of us, all of this.
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