Peter Chelson’s 2014 film Hector and the Search for Happiness is about a psychologist named Hector, who in spite of having the perfect career, a nice house, a girlfriend who waited on him hand and foot, was still not happy. Realizing his discontentment Hector decided to travel the world on a search for happiness. As he traveled he asked the people he met what made them happy and recorded the lessons he learned in his note book.
Reviewing these lessons and Hector’s experiences in his search for happiness, it is evident that not all happiness is created equal. The happiness that comes while focused on serving others is more lasting and fulfilling, while the happiness that comes when pursuing your own enjoyment is often fleeting and shallow. …show more content…
Out of the clear blue he had surprised her with the announcement that he intended to leave her at home while he went off and traveled the world. Their relationship was such that she expected that if he was going on a vacation she would accompany him, but he told her she couldn’t come. His abrupt departure and the length of time he intended to be gone made it feel like an abandonment to Clara. It would have been reasonable for her to think that the relationship was over. In this sense Hector’s entire trip was selfish and Hector experienced the opposite of lesson number seventeen which says, “Happiness is caring about the happiness of those you love.” What happiness he did find was short lived as long as he pursued his self-centered approach to life.
Another example of the short lived nature of happiness that results from selfish activities is found in Lesson number sixteen which says, “Happiness is knowing how to celebrate.” This was illustrated in the story when Hector met a lady on the plane going to Africa. She told him that “sweet potato pie” made her happy and invited him to her house to meet her family and have “sweet potato pie.” Hector accepted the invitation and went to her house for the …show more content…
Lesson number thirteen says, “Happiness is feeling useful to others.” This second kind of happiness Hector experienced while in Africa visiting Michael, an old friend, who was working as a doctor for the poor people. Michael took Hector on his everyday adventures. They went to a small make-shift hospital and cared for the sick and hurting. They drove out into the middle of the desert and gave free medical care to the people living in the rural areas. Their days were filled with serving others. At one-point Hector commented to his friend “You are a necessity, me, I’m just…I’m a luxury.” Hector had been focusing on himself all this time and had not realized that when you take your attention off of yourself you see things in a new light and you can be grateful for what you have, and find happiness in helping
Reviewing these lessons and Hector’s experiences in his search for happiness, it is evident that not all happiness is created equal. The happiness that comes while focused on serving others is more lasting and fulfilling, while the happiness that comes when pursuing your own enjoyment is often fleeting and shallow. …show more content…
Out of the clear blue he had surprised her with the announcement that he intended to leave her at home while he went off and traveled the world. Their relationship was such that she expected that if he was going on a vacation she would accompany him, but he told her she couldn’t come. His abrupt departure and the length of time he intended to be gone made it feel like an abandonment to Clara. It would have been reasonable for her to think that the relationship was over. In this sense Hector’s entire trip was selfish and Hector experienced the opposite of lesson number seventeen which says, “Happiness is caring about the happiness of those you love.” What happiness he did find was short lived as long as he pursued his self-centered approach to life.
Another example of the short lived nature of happiness that results from selfish activities is found in Lesson number sixteen which says, “Happiness is knowing how to celebrate.” This was illustrated in the story when Hector met a lady on the plane going to Africa. She told him that “sweet potato pie” made her happy and invited him to her house to meet her family and have “sweet potato pie.” Hector accepted the invitation and went to her house for the …show more content…
Lesson number thirteen says, “Happiness is feeling useful to others.” This second kind of happiness Hector experienced while in Africa visiting Michael, an old friend, who was working as a doctor for the poor people. Michael took Hector on his everyday adventures. They went to a small make-shift hospital and cared for the sick and hurting. They drove out into the middle of the desert and gave free medical care to the people living in the rural areas. Their days were filled with serving others. At one-point Hector commented to his friend “You are a necessity, me, I’m just…I’m a luxury.” Hector had been focusing on himself all this time and had not realized that when you take your attention off of yourself you see things in a new light and you can be grateful for what you have, and find happiness in helping