"We have no more right to consume happiness without producing it than to consume wealth without producing it."--George Bernard Shaw

Perhaps one of the most widely accepted "truths" in life is that nobody is entitled to a "free lunch." Almost everyone agrees that, in order to consume material things, we must also produce them. Society does not owe us a living.  We are responsible for providing for our own needs to the extent that we are capable of doing so.     

George Bernard Shaw takes this concept one step farther.  He contends that we also do not have a right to consume happiness without producing it.  In other words, we cannot be content with finding happiness for ourselves.  We must also try to bring happiness to the lives of others. 

For many people, this is a radical notion.  Statements like: "I'm not my brother's keeper;" "It's your problem, not mine;" and "Why should I care what happens to you?" are commonplace throughout society. They represent the attitude of many that we live in a "dog-eat-dog" world. The philosophy, "Do unto others before they do unto you," is often defended as necessary for survival in the world we live in. But can anyone who lives by such a philosophy ever find happiness even for themselves, let along bring happiness to others?

If we are happy, we must ask ourselves who is responsible for our happiness. Are any of us so naive as to believe that we alone are responsible for our happiness? Is there any one of us who can deny that many other people play a role in our happiness?  And, if others are helping to make us happy, don't we have a responsibility to try to bring happiness to the lives of others?

Sir James Barrie said, "Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." If this is true , won't we actually increase our own happiness when we work to make others happy? Many people believe that the more we do to make other people happy, the happier we will be.  Of course, seeking more happiness for ourselves is not the most noble motive for trying to make others happy. But no matter what our motive usually we make ourselves happy when we bring happiness to others. 

In economic terms, the more people who work to provide material things for society, the wealthier society will be.  Is it not equally true that the more people who work to produce happiness, the happier society will be? Can any of us, in good conscience, deny our obligation to produce happiness for others? In the words of George Bernard Shaw, do we have any "more right to consume happiness without producing it than to consume wealth without producing it?"    Copyright 2014 Allen Smith

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