Suppose humans were born with a magical button on their foreheads.
When someone else pushes your button, it makes you very happy. But like tickling, it only works when someone else presses it.
Imagine it's use......
You just reach over, press it once, and the other person becomes wildly happy for a few minutes.
What would happen in such a world?
You could imagine that everyone in the world would be happy just about all the time. People would make agreements with each other to push each other's buttons on a regular basis, thus guaranteeing the complete and utter happiness of all humans.
No, I can't imagine that either.
The first thing that would happen is that we'd create some rules of etiquette saying you can't press anyone's button without explicit permission.
That makes sense, since sometimes you need to get some work done, and happiness can make you lose focus. You wouldn't want people making you happy against your wishes.
The next thing that would happen is that people would realize they can sell the button-pushing service. People would stop giving it away for free.
You'd probably be begging people to press your button and it would just seem pathetic. You might get some takers for a brief button-pushing fling, but it would get tiresome to push another person's button every few minutes all day.
Perhaps some people would give their button-pushing services away for free, to anyone who asked. Let's call those people generous, or as they would become known in this hypothetical world: crazy donors.
Button pushing would become an issue of power and politics within relationships and within business.
The rich and famous would get their buttons pushed all day long, while the lonely would fantasize about how great that would be.
I can't think of any imaginary situation in which long term happiness could come from other people.
The best you can hope for is that other people won't thwart your efforts to make yourself happy.
Thats probably why ... I suppose.... we don't have such a button on our forehead....
When someone else pushes your button, it makes you very happy. But like tickling, it only works when someone else presses it.
Imagine it's use......
You just reach over, press it once, and the other person becomes wildly happy for a few minutes.
What would happen in such a world?
You could imagine that everyone in the world would be happy just about all the time. People would make agreements with each other to push each other's buttons on a regular basis, thus guaranteeing the complete and utter happiness of all humans.
No, I can't imagine that either.
The first thing that would happen is that we'd create some rules of etiquette saying you can't press anyone's button without explicit permission.
That makes sense, since sometimes you need to get some work done, and happiness can make you lose focus. You wouldn't want people making you happy against your wishes.
The next thing that would happen is that people would realize they can sell the button-pushing service. People would stop giving it away for free.
You'd probably be begging people to press your button and it would just seem pathetic. You might get some takers for a brief button-pushing fling, but it would get tiresome to push another person's button every few minutes all day.
Perhaps some people would give their button-pushing services away for free, to anyone who asked. Let's call those people generous, or as they would become known in this hypothetical world: crazy donors.
Button pushing would become an issue of power and politics within relationships and within business.
The rich and famous would get their buttons pushed all day long, while the lonely would fantasize about how great that would be.
I can't think of any imaginary situation in which long term happiness could come from other people.
The best you can hope for is that other people won't thwart your efforts to make yourself happy.
Thats probably why ... I suppose.... we don't have such a button on our forehead....
Apr 16, 2010, 9:17:00 AM
Talking about this push the button at the moment makes me recollect this movie a thriller called The Box starring Cameron Diaz.Of course the plot involves around -not all buttons are meant to be pushed.
However talking of the button you have mentioned i think it does exist many a times when our happiness is dictated by others.It shoudn't be such but it does.
Thus get your message loud and clear...motivational thoughts as always :)
Apr 17, 2010, 4:09:00 AM
Have to see this movie, now that you have put it in my mind. Thanks Shivani. As long as you got the message I am happy.