Joy, feeling one's own value, being appreciated and loved by others, feeling useful and capable of production are all factors of enormous value for the human soul.
Interpretation
True joy comes from self-worth, appreciation from others, and the ability to contribute meaningfully.
Maria Montessori emphasizes that joy is derived from recognizing one's value and feeling appreciated by others. Additionally, she highlights the importance of feeling useful and competent in one's contributions, suggesting that these elements are vital for a flourishing human spirit.
In practice
In a speech about community service, one might quote this to highlight the importance of helping others.
... the first thing his education demands is the provision of an environment in which he can develop the powers given him by nature. This does not mean just to amuse him and let him do what he likes. But it does mean that we have to adjust our minds to doing a work of collaboration with nature, to being obedient to one of her laws, the law which decrees that development comes from environmental experience.
When we want to infuse new ideas, _x000D_ to modify or better the habits and customs of a people, _x000D_ to breathe new vigor into its national traits, _x000D_ we must use the children as our vehicle; for little can be accomplished with adults.
Noble ideas, great sentiments have always existed and have always been transmitted, but wars have never ceased.
What we need is a world full of miracles, like the miracle of seeing the young child seeking work and independence, and manifesting a wealth of enthusiasm and love.
To aid life, leaving it free, however, that is the basic task of the educator.
It is fortunate, I think, that nature is not bounded by human reason and by laboratory work and experimentation, for by the laws of pure reason and by microscopic investigation, it might easily have been proved, long before this, that children could not be born.
As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery._x000D_ _x000D_ We have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace._x000D_ _x000D_ The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as_x000D_ _x000D_ anger and attachment, fear and suspicion,_x000D_ _x000D_ while love and compassion, a sense of universal responsibility_x000D_ _x000D_ are the sources of peace and happiness.
I don't feel right unless I have a sport to play or at least a way to work up a sweat.
Everyone who has observed human behavior for more than thirty continuous seconds seems to have noticed that people are strongly, perhaps even primarily, perhaps even single-mindedly, motivated to feel happy.
All we sell is the Greatest feeling on Earth
Real happiness lies in that which never comes nor goes, but simply is.
It is not by accident that the happiest people are those who make a conscious effort to live useful lives. Their happiness, of course, is not a shallow exhilaration where life is one continuos intoxicating party. Rather, their happiness is a deep sense of inner peace that comes when they believe their lives have meaning and that they are making a difference for good in the world.
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