Ricky Haynes CIS 1020-002 04/16/2014

I

The Idea of Balance and the
Pursuit of Happiness



Ricky Haynes CIS 1020-002 04/16/2014
II


Table of Contents
Contents
Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................... II
Table of Figures ............................................................................................................................................ III
What is Happiness? ...................................................................................................................................... IV
What is balance? .......................................................................................................................................... IV
Transition into everyday life ......................................................................................................................... V
In other words: EVERYTHING IN MODERATION. .......................................................................................... V
Finishing Thoughts ....................................................................................................................................... VI
Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................ VII


Ricky Haynes CIS 1020-002 04/16/2014
III

Table of Figures

Figure 1. Yin and Yang IV
Figure 2. Examples of balance opportunities V
Figure 3. Gautama Buddha V
Figure 4. The Middle Way V
Ricky Haynes CIS 1020-002 04/16/2014
IV

What is Happiness?
I think I am safe to say that almost every person in the World is in the pursuit of happiness in
one way or another. I am definitely no exception. But what is happiness? How do we achieve true
happiness? Do we ever really stop our pursuit? These are some the questions I found myself asking as I
grew older and I think the answer is a little different for everyone.
The definition of Happiness: The state of being happy. Okay so what is the definition of
happy?
The definition of happy: Feeling pleasure, enjoyment or being contempt because of your life,
situation, etc.
What is Balance?
In my experiences and the experiences of my loved ones, happiness is attainable through
something called balance. Now Im sure you have heard the word before, and if I asked you to define it
Im sure your answer would be pretty spot on. Okay, so what does balance have to do with everyday
life? The answer is simple. EVERYTHING.
Without balance nothing would exist. What is pleasure without pain? Good without evil? Hot
without Cold? Hungry without Full? Although all these examples are polar opposites, they balance each
other out and make it possible for each others concepts to exist. Human beings, I feel are no different
when it comes to the idea of balance in our lives.

Figure 1. Yin and Yang
Ricky Haynes CIS 1020-002 04/16/2014
V

Transition into everyday life
We are able to take this idea of balance and apply it to our everyday lives. Here are some
examples in life where the idea of balance can come into play.
Work: Play
Eating: Exercise
Social time: Private time
Time awake: Time asleep
Family: Friends
Studies: Extracurricular activities
Figure 2. Examples of balance opportunities
If one or the other is weighed on too heavily with these example pairs then the result is a fall out
of balance. This can at times have a definite negative influence on ones pursuit of happiness.

Figure 3. Gautama Buddha
In other words: EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.
Good references when it comes to living a balanced life are the teachings of the wise Gautama
Buddha. Buddha taught a way of life called the Middle Way. The Middle way is just as it sounds. It is a
balanced path between two extremes in life: Self-indulgence and Self-mortification
Self-indulgence: Excessive or unrestrained gratification of one's own appetites, desires, or whims.
THE MIDDLE WAY
Self-mortification: The subjugation of appetites or desires by self-denial or self-discipline as an aspect of
religious devotion.
Figure 4. The Middle Way
Ricky Haynes CIS 1020-002 04/16/2014
VI


Finishing Thoughts

Life definitely is not easy for most. Lets be real... it can be freakin ridiculous at times. One thing
is for certain though. Every person deserves a sense of happiness in their lives, but it is an ongoing
process to achieve it that never seems to slow down. I chose to do my presentation on the material
above because it has always helped and guided me. If you take a look around you today in everyday life
you will be able to spot imbalances all over the place, especially in peoples priorities in their own
pursuit of happiness. So now more than ever it is important to take a deep look intrinsically at ourselves
and ask the question: Is my life balanced?

Figure 5. Justice


Ricky Haynes CIS 1020-002 04/16/2014
VII

Bibliography
n.d.
<https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1352&bih=63
4&q=Buddha&oq=Buddha&gs_l=img.3..0l10.1362.7756.0.8199.13.10.3.0.0.0.281.921.9j0j1.10.0.
...0...1ac.1.41.img..0.13.932.CI0hTzHLpcg#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=TTiqVKDqQVcH0M%253A%
3>.
n.d. <https://www.google.com/search?q=yin+yang&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=9TxPU-
inE7Pq2wXfmoDYBA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1352&bih=634#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=_Hli3
dXkh6LN4M%253A%3BBFlXktdczMhJXM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fjajsamos.files.wordpress.c
om%252F2013%252F05%252>.
n.d.
<https://www.google.com/search?q=tsunami+japanese+art&biw=1352&bih=634&tbm=isch&im
gil=v02u_osVhHcf0M%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-
tbn2.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcQxmoo1MERIpGNBQyVDkpU-
1w6RFjJLj9zQH-j1kcBmA_bkCvQf%253B1280%253B>.
n.d. <https://www.google.com/search?q=yin+yang&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=9TxPU-
inE7Pq2wXfmoDYBA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1352&bih=634#q=justice+scale&tbm=isch&fac
rc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=x5G-pBVnT8AikM%253A%3BBR-P0Sz-
JmyBXM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fpathologyblawg.com%252F>.
n.d.
<https://www.google.com/search?q=japanese+mountain&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=i1
FPU9uJG4S3yAS3pYHoAQ&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1352&bih=634#q=japanese+mountain+ar
t&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=L8deK_OE3vldkM%253A%3BQXV4q9uF8ukRsM%3Bhttp
%253A%252F%252Fwww.or>.
www.meriam-webster.com. n.d. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-indulgence>.
www.merriam-webster.com. n.d. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happiness>.
www.merriam-webster.com. n.d. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happy>.
www.oxforddictionaries.com. n.d.
<http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/self-mortification>.