Sparky‘s Happiness Formula

Over the past several years, I’ve spent a lot of time reading classic Hellenistic philosophy. I find those thinkers’ willingness to take on the big questions interesting. Because when it comes to thinking about philosophy, I’m practical. I couldn’t care less whether or not I’m living in a simulation. I am very interested, however, in finding and sharing happiness. And the Greeks thought about that question a lot. Maybe Aristotle said it best:

Happiness is an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue.

From Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, Chapter 7

That’s really the aim of my Productivity Field Guide. To get people to figure out what roles are important and how to become their best version for those. Having lived this system and now taught it to many people, I’m increasingly convinced that the payoff is more significant than being your best self. I believe I’ve found a formula for happiness. Put simply:

Pursuing your best self (Arete) + Ethical Living = Happy Life

That makes a lot of sense! Many of the ancients argued that living ethically and in accordance with virtue is key to achieving eudaimonia, often translated as happiness or flourishing. Arete can easily substitute in for virtue. It is very similar. Fulfilling one’s potential and living in line with one’s true nature along with ethical living gets you there. Or, at least, it gets me there and several others I’ve talked to going through the Productivity Field Guide.

Does this mean this formula makes you immune from suffering and disease? Of course not. It does, however, give you a mechanism to cope. True happiness can come from living a life of virtue and striving for personal excellence. The more I pursue these goals, the more I see it in myself and others.

I’ll cover this more in-depth in a new edition of the Productivity Field Guide, which will be released later this month. Stay tuned.

Apple’s Angle for HomeKit Products: Privacy

While Apple has been in the HomeKit game for many years, thus far they have shied away from making HomeKit products like locks and cameras. If the rumors are to be believed, that’s going to change over the next few years. Apple is rumored to be planning its own set of HomeKit cameras including a doorbell camera. I wouldn’t be surprised if they have other products on the drawing board as well. The question is: Why is Apple getting into this game now?

Apple normally doesn’t enter a space unless they have something to distinguish themselves from the competition. In this case, my guess is privacy. There have been a lot of stories about vendors mismanaging home security data and video feeds through a combination of mismanagement and malice. With its size and focus on privacy, Apple is in a unique position to make HomeKit accessories we can trust to put in our homes. Ideally, Apple would pair this move with a rebirth of their AirPort wireless routers to offer consumers the entire widget. And if Apple is getting into this game, I’d argue it’s because they can offer a level of consumer privacy not currently available.

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There are many more and you can download the PowerPhotos free trial to explore its features, with advanced functions available upon purchasing a license. MacSparky readers can enjoy a 20% discount with the coupon code MACSPARKY25. Enhance your Photos app experience with PowerPhotos today.

Another New Year’s Eve, Another Opportunity to Celebrate a Simple Farm Boy Blowing Up an Intergalactic Space Station of Death

For years now, I’ve been ringing in the new year by watching Star Wars: A New Hope. If you start the movie (Disney+ Edition) at precisely 10:02:43 PM, you get a new year at the moment the Death Star blows up. During these years, I haven’t always paid close attention to the movie (we’re usually with friends and family), but I haven’t missed the inane New Year’s coverage either. (Fireworks are just never impressive on television.) You can learn more about this tradition from the Rebel Force Radio.