The Four Levels of Happiness, a concept that goes beyond individual quality of life, are crucial in understanding the culture of an organization, business, or community. These levels dictate the dominant form of happiness and motivation among a group of individuals, which in turn influences a collective culture and priorities that are critical to a spirit of unity.
The idea is that if the dominant form of desire/happiness of a majority of individuals within a group is Level 1, for example, then that group's fundamental culture and priorities will reflect short-term material gain and personal comfort. The corresponding form of morality will be justified by whatever is necessary to accomplish that end; that is, anything goes in order to achieve my individual satisfaction. This attitude often metastasizes into an unhealthy form of Level 2 dominance in which the group will be hamstrung by infighting, competition, and win-lose struggles. The collective morality will be based on a standard of whatever it takes to win. In either of these modes, we can see where it would be very difficult for the group as a whole to flourish in the long run.
Whereas, if the majority of individuals within a group make an intentional choice to prioritize their Level 3 drivers, there will be a shared sense of noble meaning/purpose/vision, there will be greater collaboration and creativity, and there will be a win-win attitude that will contribute to the flourishing of all. If Level 4 is factored into the equation, it lifts the group's sense of meaning and purpose to a transcendent/cosmic level, resulting in an even greater sense of freedom resulting from our trust in God. In this mode, the dominant morality will be the Golden Rule, agape (self-sacrificing love), and virtue.
The key thing to remember in all of this is that we do not want to do away with Level 1 and Level 2 drivers. . . AT ALL. In fact, fulfillment of our desires at all levels is necessary for overall flourishing as an individual and as a community. What is important, though, is that the Level 1 and Level 2 drivers must be pointed at Level 3 and Level 4 ends. We’ve all heard the old saying that you can’t teach someone with an empty stomach about Jesus Christ.
The founders of The United States of America, for example, recognized the need to consider each of these desires in the founding vision and documents. The preamble to the Constitution speaks to providing for the common welfare and defense (Level 1, 2) to establish justice and domestic tranquility for themselves and their Posterity (Level 3). The Declaration of Independence recognizes the need to redress the deprivation of Level 1 material well-being and Level 2 human dignity.
Furthermore, the closing words of the Declaration of Independence also reflect a need/desire for Level 3 self-sacrificing unity and Level 4 trust:
“. . . with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”
While some may question the fundamental purity of our founders’ motives, you cannot argue with the recognition that the fulfillment of all four dimensions of desire (directed toward Levels 3 and 4 ends) is necessary for a nation to flourish.
Our culture reflects our spirit and willingness to sustain that vision. Unfortunately, this has become a greater challenge of late. Unhealthy Level 2 seems to be rearing its ugly head. There is a growing divide along the lines of race, gender, ideology, morality, and economic status because each believes the “other” is usurping their personal comfort. This divide has manifested itself quite noticeably within our election process. During an election, our politicians tend to sound more like they’re running for junior high-class president, “I promise pizza at every lunch, no more homework, a shorter school day, etc.” and it becomes more like a popularity contest.
So much of what motivates voters are our Level 1 and 2 drivers, like how the economy is working for me, making things easier on myself, and sticking to my ideological convictions come hell or high water. The primary motives of the voter are personal comfort and bragging rights. Any appeal to something more noble is typically warped into shallow platitudes.
Our Level 1 and Level 2 drivers are legitimate, but they need to be pointed at something more. Just making the economy better and making our lives more comfortable is NOT going to build and sustain a flourishing and truly noble culture that enables national unity. Our actions as a nation have to be collectively oriented to Level 3 and Level 4 fulfillment. And, if we try to define for ourselves what domestic tranquility and unity look like based on our limited “human wisdom” and biases without “reliance on divine providence,” i.e., divine wisdom, and we think we can do it all ourselves strictly through our “democratic process” deciding for ourselves what is good and moral based on whatever floats our boat at any given moment, and if we can’t look for the good news in one another and seek the common good, then we are not only doomed as a nation, we are doomed as a human family.
Ultimately, we all must realize that this isn’t simply a matter of relying on our elected officials to take care of our wants and needs. Just re-electing a career politician isn’t going to fix all of our issues. And we can’t keep blaming everyone else for the flaws in our society and culture.
At the risk of sounding cliché (although wise ideas are considered “cliché” for a reason), we have to embrace our individual responsibility; as the Bible says, we must “recognize the beam in our own eye before looking for the sliver in our neighbor’s eye.” And recall the words of John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”
In that spirit, we must ask ourselves: Am I truly seeking something more than merely my own material well-being and ego status? Am I seeking short-term gain at the expense of long-term benefit? What long-term benefit am I seeking? Am I looking to make an optimal positive difference within my family, circle of friends, workplace, place of worship, and society as a whole? Finally, am I trying to figure all this out on my own, or am I truly seeking divine guidance/wisdom?