JORGE RODRIGUES SIMÃO

In his work Nicomachean Ethics written in 350 RC. Greek philosopher Aristotle claimed that happiness is the only thing that humans desire for its own sake. People seek riches, not for the sake of being rich, but to be happy. Likewise, individuals desire fame, not for the sake of being famous, but because they believe fame will bring them happiness. According to Aristotle, the highest good for us is happiness, and that is why we desire and seek it. As an experience and a subject, happiness has been pursued and commented on extensively since the dawn of history. This reflects the universal importance that humans have placed, and still place, on happiness.

Yes, life is tough. But life can be a lot easier when we keep things simple. Surprisingly, you would think that human beings would work at simplifying their lives, but the opposite is true. Given a choice between a simple way and a complicated way of doing things, most people will choose the complicated. Preposterous as it may seem, some of us will even spend time inventing a complex way when none is immediately available. No question, we do not need to make our lives more difficult.

No doubt you have noticed that many people with a Ph.D. degree aren't very happy - and some of the happiest people in this world don't even know what a Ph.D. is! Contrary to popular belief, education has little to do with how much happiness and satisfaction people get out of life. What's more, an individual can have a fancy education, but still not be very wise. In other words, book smart does not mean life smart.

Unfortunately, when you arrived on this planet, no one gave you an instruction book on how to deal with life. In your early teens you were expecting life to be  one big party once you got your act together as an adult. What a surprise! A few years after reaching adulthood and having to deal with the real world, you came to the realization that life is difficult. In this regard American philosopher George Santayana surmised, "Life is not a spectacle or a feast; it is a predicament." Regardless of your age, if you expect living to be easier down the road, forget it.