Finding True Happiness: Satisfying Our Restless Hearts

One of the hottest topics in contemporary culture is happiness—so much so that the United Nations declared an International Happiness Day in response to the immense popularity of Pharrell Williamsಙ song ಜHappyಝ. The explanation for this current fixation seems to lie in the contrary phenomenon—unhappiness. Despite the fact that we have tremendous access to every imaginable form of entertainment, we experience a pervading sense of insecurity, emptiness, and malaise amid sporadic peak experiences.

The problem seems to lie less in the external environment than in the internal one. We seem, in the words of Viktor Frankl, to be suffering from an absence of meaning that pervades both individuals and societies, giving rise to a collective emptiness, loneliness, and alienation.

Finding True Happiness attempts to provide a way out of this personal and cultural vacuum by helping people to identify and then reach for happiness. As Aristotle noted 2,400 years ago, happiness is the one thing we can choose for its own sake—everything else is chosen for the sake of happiness.

After an exhaustive investigation of philosophical, psychological, and theological systems of happiness, author Fr. Spitzer developed the ಜFour Levels of Happinessಝ, which he based on the classical thinkers Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas; the contemporary philosophers Marcel, Scheler, Buber, Ricoeur, and Jaspers; and the modern psychologists Maslow, Frankl, Erikson, Seligman, Kohlberg and Gilligan.

Finding True Happiness is both a philosophical itinerary and a practical guidebook for lifeಙs most important journey—from the mundane and the meaningless to transcendent fulfillment. No other book currently available combines such breadth of practical advice and such depth of philosophical, psychological, and spiritual wisdom.

1121068487
Finding True Happiness: Satisfying Our Restless Hearts

One of the hottest topics in contemporary culture is happiness—so much so that the United Nations declared an International Happiness Day in response to the immense popularity of Pharrell Williamsಙ song ಜHappyಝ. The explanation for this current fixation seems to lie in the contrary phenomenon—unhappiness. Despite the fact that we have tremendous access to every imaginable form of entertainment, we experience a pervading sense of insecurity, emptiness, and malaise amid sporadic peak experiences.

The problem seems to lie less in the external environment than in the internal one. We seem, in the words of Viktor Frankl, to be suffering from an absence of meaning that pervades both individuals and societies, giving rise to a collective emptiness, loneliness, and alienation.

Finding True Happiness attempts to provide a way out of this personal and cultural vacuum by helping people to identify and then reach for happiness. As Aristotle noted 2,400 years ago, happiness is the one thing we can choose for its own sake—everything else is chosen for the sake of happiness.

After an exhaustive investigation of philosophical, psychological, and theological systems of happiness, author Fr. Spitzer developed the ಜFour Levels of Happinessಝ, which he based on the classical thinkers Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas; the contemporary philosophers Marcel, Scheler, Buber, Ricoeur, and Jaspers; and the modern psychologists Maslow, Frankl, Erikson, Seligman, Kohlberg and Gilligan.

Finding True Happiness is both a philosophical itinerary and a practical guidebook for lifeಙs most important journey—from the mundane and the meaningless to transcendent fulfillment. No other book currently available combines such breadth of practical advice and such depth of philosophical, psychological, and spiritual wisdom.

14.99 In Stock
Finding True Happiness: Satisfying Our Restless Hearts

Finding True Happiness: Satisfying Our Restless Hearts

by Robert Spitzer S.J
Finding True Happiness: Satisfying Our Restless Hearts

Finding True Happiness: Satisfying Our Restless Hearts

by Robert Spitzer S.J

eBook

$14.99  $19.95 Save 25% Current price is $14.99, Original price is $19.95. You Save 25%.

Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
WANT A NOOK?  Explore Now

Related collections and offers

LEND ME® See Details

Overview

One of the hottest topics in contemporary culture is happiness—so much so that the United Nations declared an International Happiness Day in response to the immense popularity of Pharrell Williamsಙ song ಜHappyಝ. The explanation for this current fixation seems to lie in the contrary phenomenon—unhappiness. Despite the fact that we have tremendous access to every imaginable form of entertainment, we experience a pervading sense of insecurity, emptiness, and malaise amid sporadic peak experiences.

The problem seems to lie less in the external environment than in the internal one. We seem, in the words of Viktor Frankl, to be suffering from an absence of meaning that pervades both individuals and societies, giving rise to a collective emptiness, loneliness, and alienation.

Finding True Happiness attempts to provide a way out of this personal and cultural vacuum by helping people to identify and then reach for happiness. As Aristotle noted 2,400 years ago, happiness is the one thing we can choose for its own sake—everything else is chosen for the sake of happiness.

After an exhaustive investigation of philosophical, psychological, and theological systems of happiness, author Fr. Spitzer developed the ಜFour Levels of Happinessಝ, which he based on the classical thinkers Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas; the contemporary philosophers Marcel, Scheler, Buber, Ricoeur, and Jaspers; and the modern psychologists Maslow, Frankl, Erikson, Seligman, Kohlberg and Gilligan.

Finding True Happiness is both a philosophical itinerary and a practical guidebook for lifeಙs most important journey—from the mundane and the meaningless to transcendent fulfillment. No other book currently available combines such breadth of practical advice and such depth of philosophical, psychological, and spiritual wisdom.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781681496559
Publisher: Ignatius Press
Publication date: 03/30/2015
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 320
File size: 543 KB

About the Author

Robert Spitzer, S.J., Ph.D. is the President of the Magis Center of Reason and Faith and the Spitzer Center. He was the President of Gonzaga University from 1998 to 2009. He is the author of many books, including Healing the Culture, Finding True Happiness, Five Pillars of the Spiritual Life, The Light Shines On in the Darkness, The Soul's Upward Yearning, and God So Loved the World.

Table of Contents

Introduction 13

Chapter 1 Choosing Happiness Introduction 29

I A General Definition of Happiness 31

II The First Kind of Desire: External-Pleasure-Material 34

III The Second Kind of Desire: Ego-Comparative 35

IV The Third Kind of Desire: Contributive-Empathetic 37

Conclusion 46

Chapter 2 Are We Really Transcendent? Introduction 47

I Is Science Really against the Transcendent? 47

II Evidence of the Transcendent Within Ourselves 58

III Transcendence and Happiness 64

Chapter 3 The Comparison Game Introduction 67

I The Four Levels of Happiness 67

II The Comparison Game 71

III Existential Emptiness 81

Chapter 4 Escaping Your Personal Hell Introduction 86

I A Three-Step Process for Transforming Our Fundamental Attitudes 87

II First Fundamental Attitude: What Kind of Purpose in Life Am I Looking For? 94

III Second Fundamental Attitude: What Am I Looking for in Others? 97

IV Third Fundamental Attitude: What Am I Looking for in Myself? 101

V What Kind of Freedom Am I Seeking? 103

VI The Benefits of Moving from Dominant Level One-Two to Dominant Level Three-Four 109

VII The Level Three-Four Comparison Game no

Chapter 5 Call of the Transcendent Introduction 114

I Is Level Three Enough? 115

II The Exterior Call of the Transcendent 125

Conclusion 142

Chapter 6 A Dynamic Encounter with God Introduction 144

I A Little Leap of Faith 145

II The Self-Revelation of God-Jesus Christ 149

III Church Community and Our Spiritual Nature 153

IV The Church as Dynamic Encounter with God 156

Conclusion 186

Chapter 7 Contemplation in Action Introduction 188

I Simple Contemplation 188

II Our Image of God 189

III Making Common Prayers Contemplative 191

IV Ignatian Contemplation 200

V Silence, Joy, and Action 205

Chapter 8 Divine Inspiration and Guidance Introduction 211

I The Inspiration of the Holy Spirit 211

II Discernment of Spirits 214

III The Guidance of the Holy Spirit 222

Conclusion 235

Chapter 9 Interior Transformation Introduction 237

I Step One: The Prayer of Gratitude 239

II Step Two: Imitating the Heart of Jesus by Seeking a Heart of the Beatitudes 245

III Praying the Examen Prayer 259

Chapter 10 Transcendent Happiness Introduction 264

I Overcoming Cosmic Emptiness, Alienation, Loneliness, and Guilt 264

II A Life of Unconditional and Eternal Significance 265

III The Joy of Church Community 266

IV Help of the Holy Spirit 271

V The Joy of Contemplation 272

VI The Redemption of Suffering 274

VII Noble Cause in the Cosmic Struggle between Good and Evil 275

VIII The Assurance of Eternal Life with God 277

Conclusion 281

Bibliography 285

Name Index 297

Subject Index 301

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews