Maximizing Happiness isn’t the Purpose of Life

I’m in a funny position:

I’m maximally happy, but it doesn’t really do anything for me.

I’m hyper healthy, hyper strong, and hyper happy. But it seems that to simply maximize my personal happiness isn’t the ultimate goal in life. For me the ultimate goal in life is to make great art, plumb the depths of truth and discover new knowledge, and to share and empower others and the rest of humanity.

Let me explain:

The purpose of life isn’t to be miserable.

First of all, happiness is good. One of the greatest goods, but not the ultimate good.

Why? I consider “happiness”as simply being our physiological strength and well-being. If you sleep 8+ hours a night, have good bowel movements, eat well, lift well, walk well, have no chronic pain, and have an elevated mood, you’re happy.

What can you “do”with your happiness?

My thought:

Channel your happiness into productive art works!

When I’m happy and in a good mood, I’m most productive in making art works.

I’ll make sketches, draw, photograph, make videos, think, write, and share.

Happiness as a prerequisite to making art.

Being selfish can be one of the most selfless things you can do.

My thought:

By becoming extremely selfish and focusing on yourself, your own personal development, and your own personal thriving as an artist-philosopher, THEN you can be maximally useful to others.

Like Publilius Syrus once said:

“Do not water your neighbor’s lawn if your own lawn is parched.”

Which means:

If you’re living in abject poverty, don’t sell your stuff to go help starving kids in Africa. First aim to enrichen yourself before helping others.

If you’re weak, how do you expect to be strong to help others? How do you expect to carry the burdens of yourself and others if your body and soul isn’t strong enough (yet)?