Ive come to think that flourishing consists of putting yourself in situations in which you lose self-consciousness and become fused with other people, experiences, or tasks. It happens sometimes when you are lost in a hard challenge, or when an artist or a craftsman becomes one with the brush or the tool. It happens sometimes while youre playing sports, or listening to music or lost in a story, or to some people when they feel enveloped by Gods love. And it happens most when we connect with other people. Ive come to think that happiness isnt really produced by conscious accomplishments. Happiness is a measure of how thickly the unconscious parts of our minds are intertwined with other people and with activities. Happiness is determined by how much information and affection flows through us covertly every day and year.
About This Quote
About David Brooks
David Brooks was a contemporary Australian writer. David Gordon Brooks is an Australian poet, novelist, short-fiction writer and essayist. He is the author of four published novels, four collections of short stories and five collections of poetry, and his work has won or been shortlisted for major prizes. Read more on Wikipedia →
Themes
- Happiness — Thoughts on finding joy, contentment, and fulfilment