Are We Too Focused on Our Kids' Happiness?

This article originally appeared in the Huffington Post. In a country founded on the principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, David Brooks recently committed an act of heresy in the New York Times by taking on happiness and calling on us to consider the potential importance of suffering.

That's a bold move, because as Brooks notes, you could fill a Kindle with all the gigabytes of wisdom devoted to cultivating your personal happiness (and, we'd add, the related topics of self-esteem and success). And behind this relentless focus on happiness is an intense focus on the self -- on building your own career, your own brand, your own 365/24/7 social media channel.

Few groups have embraced this pursuit of happiness as avidly as parents. They are deeply committed to keeping their kids happy, safe and satisfied. And who can blame them? Who doesn't want their kids to be happy? And when we talk to parents, many say that happiness (often achieved through success and high self-esteem) isn't just an end unto itself. They insist it will allow their kids to be good people -- to be kind, caring and empathic. ...

To read the full article, visit the Huffington Post.