The Tyranny of Bliss (myth, service, philosophy, Mythology)

[BrandonE]

As a counterpoint to my other recent thread, I'd like to explore how expectations of constant happiness skew our perceptions and inhibit our ability to actually be happy.

It is a commonly heard pop-psychology mantra that we should "Follow our bliss" in order to live the good life. However, it seems to me that this ideal, while occaisionally achievable for the upper economic echelons, is simply unattainable for the vast majority.

How many people are there in this society that have boring desk jobs that they keep because they pay the bills? Is it even potentially possible that all of these people could move on from these jobs to "follow their bliss" and pursue whatever form of employment (or non-employment) that would enable them to fulfill this lofty ideal?

What about the people who provide basic services that most of us enjoy without ever giving it a second thought? What about the telephone receptionists and garbage collectors of our society? How do they "follow their bliss" without seriously handicapping the current society at large? Is anyone's bliss really collecting garbage?

Certainly this little gem of a mantra has it's uses, in that we can all use a reminder from time to time to slow down from our crazed pace and actually enjoy ourselves. But, at what point does this ideal become tyrannical? How much bliss can one person really follow before concern for fulfilling this ideal becomes a self-defeating cycle leading to neurosis?

Finally, am I just the only crazy person that thinks about this?

[BrandonE]

So is everyone else just blissful, without the tyranny?

[BrandonE]

Brandon,

I hate to break it to you, but you're the only neurotic freak who bothers themselves about this. Get a life, buddy. Sheesh. Next thing you know, you'll be talking to yourself.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by BrandonE

How many people are there in this society that have boring desk jobs that they keep because they pay the bills? Is it even potentially possible that all of these people could move on from these jobs to "follow their bliss" and pursue whatever form of employment (or non-employment) that would enable them to fulfill this lofty ideal?

Arr! I think there's a bit of misunderstanding about the phrase.

"Following one's bliss" doesn't mean doing whatever you want whenever you want. Wish-fulfilment isn't going to get you to a state of bliss. Ecstacy maybe, but not bliss.

Bliss comes from your being, which shapes and is shaped by your philosophy, your physical self, and your emotional well-being. Anyone --absolutely anyone --can attain it, even someone working as a garbage collector (have you never seen the garbage man from Dilbert?).

Following your bliss means promoting healthy practices in mind, body and spirit. It means having a goal, real or imagined, apart from your day-to-day activities and pursuing it while doing those day-to-day things. It means changing what you do, and how you do it, to accommodate who you are.

"if you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Wherever you are - if you are following your bliss, you are enjoying that refreshment, that life within you, all the time." ~Joseph Campbell
(italics are mine)

[BrandonE]

Originally Posted by Willamena

"if you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Wherever you are - if you are following your bliss, you are enjoying that refreshment, that life within you, all the time." ~Joseph Campbell
(italics are mine)

Thanks for that Willamena. I obviously misunderstood the original meaning, but I've heard it too much lately in the context I presented it in the OP. What's the source for that quote? It sounds interesting.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by BrandonE

Thanks for that Willamena. I obviously misunderstood the original meaning, but I've heard it too much lately in the context I presented it in the OP. What's the source for that quote? It sounds interesting.

Joseph Campbell was a professor of comparative mythology before he passed away in 1987. He's widely known from Bill Moyer's series of interviews on public television, called The Power of Myth. Well worth seeing.

[BrandonE]

Originally Posted by Willamena

Joseph Campbell was a professor of comparative mythology before he passed away in 1987. He's widely known from Bill Moyer's series of interviews on public television, called The Power of Myth. Well worth seeing.

Thanks. So was the quote from that show or a writing?

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by BrandonE

Thanks. So was the quote from that show or a writing?

From the show. I pulled it off a website. I searched for "Follow your bliss Campbell", knowing that he would have provided a good one.

http://www.jcf.org/bliss.php

[BrandonE]

Originally Posted by Willamena

From the show. I pulled it off a website. I searched for "Follow your bliss Campbell", knowing that he would have provided a good one.

http://www.jcf.org/bliss.php

Excellent! Thanks.

[Willamena]

My pleasure.

I've recently made steps towards following my bliss (post mid-life crisis) so I figure I have some latitude to speak as if I know what I'm talking about.