Ubuntu for Happiness!
“Ubuntu is a philosophy that considers the success of the group above that of the individual.” Stephen Lundin
South African author and environmentalist Boyd Varty articulate the South African concept of Ubuntu as “Ubuntu: I am because of you.” Or, “people are not people without other people. It’s not a new idea or value but it’s one that I certainly think at these times is worth building on. In fact, it is said that in the collective consciousness of Africa, we get to experience the deepest parts of our own humanity through our interactions with others.”
Thus, Ubuntu asks us to open our hearts and to share, for it is in giving that there is true happiness.
The South African Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu describes Ubuntu as:
‘It is the essence of being human. It speaks of the fact that my humanity is caught up and is inextricably bound up in yours. I am human because I belong. It speaks about wholeness, it speaks about compassion.
Ubuntu originates from the African tribal dialect and is pronounced as “uu-boon-two”, and is a way of African philosophy, of living: where sharing with other fellow human spells the purpose of being human. In giving and sharing is there joy and happiness.
Imagine that there is the tastiest dish in the world, and you are eating it alone, nobody to share it with, there aren’t enough words in the dictionary to describe it’s exquisiteness, how would you explain that to someone else? Now imagine that you are sharing this same dish with someone else, to be able to experience the splendor of happiness on this shared experience.
Frequently a study done on African tribal children is quoted to explain Ubuntu. In an experiment, an anthropologist placed a container of candy at the base of a tree. He then explained that at a command by him, all the children would rush to the candy. Thus, The first one to reach would get all the candy exclusively. On his command, the children looked at each other, held hands and all reached the candy at the same time and divided it equally among themselves. When the anthropologist questioned the children’s behavior they responded: “Ubuntu. How could anyone of us be happy if all the others were sad?”
In conclusion, Ubuntu is a philosophy of African tribes that can be summed up as “I am what I am because of who we all are.” There is happiness in sharing, share selflessly.
“You can talk with a close friend or relative about what’s troubling you; but it’s not the same as a professionally-trained experienced psychologist who knows exactly what kind of help you need” – Dr. Prerna Kohli.
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About Dr. Prerna Kohli
She is a 100 women Achievers Award Winner (2016) from the Honorable President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee.
Dr. Prerna Kohli is a Clinical Psychologist, a Public Speaker, a Workshop Facilitator and a Holistic Practitioner. She offers Heart-based workshops and lectures that focus on Life Balance, Self-awareness and Inner Peace. Dedicated to sharing her knowledge and compassion with others, Prerna blends intuitive wisdom with solid understanding, creating a powerful holistic approach, specializing in the areas of Emotional change.
Dr. Prerna Kohli is a leading Psychologist in India and provides families, individuals, parents and children counselling on being happy.
