I shuttered when I first read the "Meaning" section in Daniel Pink's A Whole New Mind, and my first reaction was to vehemently disagree with the Dalai Lama and his notion that "the very motion of our life is towards hapiness." Pink's suggestions to focus on spirituality and happiness to find meaning seemed predictable and somewhat hoaky. I guess I just imagined people meditating or holding hands and singing "Kumbaya."
I read this section a second time in hopes of interpreting it in a more positive light. Although I still respectfully disagreed with the Dalai Lama, I began to understand some of what Pink was trying to suggest. In the "Meaning" section, I think Pink suggested by working and living with a zest for life and with the overarching belief that my work is improving society, I will be more productive and have a positive impact on society, even in the midst of turmoil.
One of the main tenants of Viktor Frankl's (the author of Man's Search for Meaning and the psychologist referenced by Pink) psychological philosophy is that, ultimately, people can choose what kind of attitude they will have towards a given situation, person, or event. With that said, although as educators we often work in hostile environments and are expected to perform with inadequate resources and support, and, altough its seems the public is more critical than helpful and legislation is more constricting than liberating, we can control our attitudes, energy, and zest. In other words, as educators, if we allow external forces and critical yet inexperienced and detached people to define what our meaning and purpose is, then we will never be successful, or happy.
In reading the "Meaning" section a second time I realized I (and we, as educators) must be sure and vigilant in deciding that my attitude will be positive. It is imperative that I define my own success.
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