I once had the opportunity to meet author Park I-cheol, who always writes the phrase, “Happiness is always a choice.” I even received one of his books as a gift. Park I-cheol gained attention for his books containing positive psychology, particularly for the work titled “The Little Prince Who Became a Janitor,” which elevated him among prominent authors.
“Season 1: The Secret of the Stars”
“The Little Prince Who Became a Janitor” consists of two series, with the first being “Season 1: The Secret of the Stars.”
The author of “The Little Prince Who Became a Janitor” likely drew inspiration from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s novel “The Little Prince.” However, the concept of the Little Prince is the only similarity, as there are notable differences between the Little Prince in this book and Saint-Exupéry’s original character.
“A Book Depicting the Process of Gaining Enlightenment Through Various Questions”
The book revolves around the Little Prince, who, through asking questions to people around him, naturally becomes a student to someone and then proceeds to ask questions and receive answers from various individuals, including his mentor. The narrative illustrates the process of gaining enlightenment through this exchange of questions and answers.
In this regard, the book serves as a reminder of the importance of “questions.”
“Questions: A Necessary Medium in the Journey Towards Enlightenment”
Personally, I believe that questions are a necessary medium in the process of understanding something. Often, while studying or trying to learn something new, it may seem like we understand it, but when attempting to do it ourselves, we may find that it doesn’t go well.
The inability to perform a task when we thought we knew how to suggests that the skill hasn’t been internalized or understood well. Ultimately, through this process, we can accumulate knowledge and wisdom by asking questions.
Without going through the process of questioning oneself or asking questions to others, we may never truly know what we don’t know. In this sense, questions can be considered a prerequisite for successful “metacognition.”
“A Story of Realizing Concepts Like Love and Happiness Through Various Questions”
The Little Prince gradually gains understanding of emotions and states such as love and happiness through a variety of questions. Ultimately, we endure and overcome difficult situations because we have someone to love. Whether in a state of receiving or giving love, neither is inherently bad, and in the end, what matters is that everything is within our “choice.”
“Everything Ultimately Depends on Choice.”
Even when looking at the same thing, different people interpret it in entirely different ways. Observing a cup that is half-filled with water, someone may say it’s half-empty, while another may say it’s half-full.
Ultimately, we construct concepts based on our “choices.” The same applies to happiness. Even in similar circumstances, we can practice selective “happiness.”
This is likely why the author, Park I-cheol, states, “Happiness is always a choice.” Through the process of opening our hearts and asking ourselves questions, our minds can reach a state of happiness.
“The Little Prince Who Became a Janitor”
- Author: Park I-cheol
- Publication Date: August 25, 2017
- ISBN13: 9791195352548
- Yes24 Link: Yes24