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Happiness reflective essay
Happiness introduction, main body and conclusion
Happiness reflective essay
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Happiness is the single thread that can connect a nation. The desire for and to understand this concept has continued to captivate mankind 's attention, throughout centuries. The question, however, continuously debated is whether this state of 'serenity ' is through the result of predetermined psychological traits, sociological factors, or human agency. It appears the predominant factor would rest heavily upon psychological-based influence. This topic draws on an understanding and research from the academic disciples of both sociology and psychology. The resulting essay shall present the significant contrasts between the three approaches to try to assess which theory would be the more definer to what truly determines a persons happiness. Furthermore, …show more content…
The perception acknowledges the extent structure has on a person 's happiness practically declaring the theory that we are merely possible of achieving happiness through structural elements, like stratification. Stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of people among certain societies. Economic stratification, for a brief example, highlights how individuals are differentiated due to their wealthy statuses and therefore induces an inequality that evidently affects happiness in individuals (Carter, K, 2012). In addition was an article presented by Ehrenreich (2010) declaring that the happiness prominence is being overly-emphasised. The ideology of positive thinking is forming a delusion for individuals to believe everything happens under the determinacy of a thought. Mere thought would not reverse an already on-going war. As priorly mentioned earlier a persons life is heavily worked through that of social structure and the individual actions conform can be easily described as an outcome of structure in itself. There is an significant association with the link of happiness and structural factors however it seems to be a minor category when compared to that of pre-determined psychological traits among human …show more content…
Various meanings lapse over the word, conflicting and distorting the already, generalisation. For a large majority of individuals the definition of this sense of feeling is defined as a satisfying almost serenity-filled feeling. Though there is no determinant of social phenomenon that could claim the state of a person 's happiness, the possibilities mentioned correlate to one another. The mutual relationship between the three social phenomenon contributes to the influence of another’s happiness. There were significant characteristics to each of the conceptions in relation with happiness, however among the connection between these theories it is evident that psychological predetermined traits hold a greater percentage to the decisive emotional happiness state an individual would be “set-back” to. These ideas about the source of happiness coincide one another. Each determinant and theory plays a roll within the contribution to an individuals happiness. Consequently it is to be also acknowledged the extent to which social structure influences another persons actions and through that the extent at which the persons action would impact the social structure made up within that community. Contrasts between all three notions are striking. But while these contrasts are explainable to be the bonds within a development it seems discernible the differences being the significant binder. One theory predetermining psychological traits that
Dale Carnegie once expressed, “Happiness doesn’t depend on any external conditions, it is governed by our mental attitude.” Analyzing this quote, it is crucial to note the underlining theme that happiness, true and genuine happiness, requires a shifting away from conformity and the status quo in order to discover the treasure found in one’s own self. Therefore, finding out who one’s self is mandates a state of solitude which acts like the green pastures by the still waters that restores the soul. However, with its roaring and hungry fire that sends up flutters of red and yellow and orange and white fireflies soaring into the carnivorous night, conflict is the key ingredient in shifting away from acquiescence and society’s present state of affairs.
Ryan, Richard M., and Edward L. Deci. "On Happiness and Human Potentials: A Review of
Happiness has always been a desirable goal throughout our lives, but each actions we take might just affect the happiness of others. When humans seek happiness, we always seek for things that make us feel alive, or things that brings us the greatest comfort. Our contentment comes with the act of selfishness since we choose to prioritize our happiness above all other. We willingly classify happiness in two different types of meaning, both physical and mental happiness. People ought not be in title to happiness because it is classified in general as a physical desire by many people. Contentment is always known to be a physical satisfaction in life instead of a self-inducing satisfaction for life.
They say if you love something, let it go. Yeah, I had a hard time believing those few words, for almost five years now.I met the first guy I fell in love with and whom I believed I was destined to spend my whole life with. I remember reading a quote or something like that by Plato, saying, “According to Greek mythology, humans were originally created with four arms, four legs and a head with two faces. Fearing their power, Zeus split them into two separate parts, condemning them to spend their lives in search of their other halves.” And I had sworn that I was sure he was my other half, that it was meant to be. Sucks though, when reality hits
Cultural view A macro-level variant is this view is that the view on life is embodied in the national character. In this line cross-national differences in happiness reflect cognitive cultural norms, rather than individual grief and joy (Inglehart, 1990). Earlier view is the Folklore theory of happiness (Veenhoven 1995: 35). Homeostatic maintenance While the above set-point theories aim at explaining differences in happiness, there are also theories of this kind that focus at the general level of happiness. These are motivational theories that assume that we tend to maintain a comfortable level of happiness, even in adverse conditions. We unconsciously keep happiness between 7 and 8 on a 10-step scale, just as we maintain a 9 body temperature of 32 degrees Celsius (Cummins, 2002).
Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher, and author of Nicomachean Ethics, presented his theory of happiness which incorporates major ideas controversial to many. To Aristotle, happiness is not a temporary state mind, but rather, a long term goal, and in effort for humans to achieve this goal, we need to have good morals, or as he states, “complete virtue.” Haidt, author of The Happiness Hypothesis, presents two ideas himself: the attachment theory and the adaptation principle. They both offer two different views which validate and refute Aristotle’s theory of happiness. Finally, Sigmund Freud’s “Civilization and its Discontents” presents the idea that society has tarnished the human being in irreversible ways. From these texts, it is clear that the attachment theory is accommodated by the Aristotelian envision of happiness since it complies with his idea that social attachments are necessary to be fully happy. However it is also evident that the adaptation principle as well as Freud’s “Civilization and its Discontents” pose a problem for Aristotle since they refute his theory of happiness by rejecting this same idea that societal influence brings happiness.
Taking the following questionnaire: Satisfaction with Life Scale, Approaches to Happiness Scale, and Authentic Happiness Inventory, helped me evaluate my life. Many times due to circumstance we forget in what positon our life is standing at the moment. We forget how much we have accomplished in the past and how much we have invested to make our future a good one. For the Satisfaction with life scale, I score a 33(love their life and feel that everything is going very well). People may might say well she is living a perfect life, but to be honest is not that is being perfect, is that one day years ago I made a decision of not letting anything take away what I have worked hard for. According to Earl & Carol Diener, because positive moods energize approach tendencies, it desirable that people on average be in a positive mood (1996). If I make a mistake, which is possible because am human, what I do is learn from it. It’s like what the Apostol from the church I go to says” you control life, not life controlling you.”
Books, books, and more books have analyzed human misery. During its first century, psychology focused far more on negative emotions, such as depression and anxiety, than positive emotions, such as happiness and satisfaction. Even today, our texts say more about suffering than about joy. That is now changing. During the 1980sm the number of Psychological Abstract citations of "well-being," "happiness," and "life satisfaction" quintupled, to 780 articles annually. Social scientists, policy makers and laypeople express increasing interest in the conditions, traits, and attitudes that define quality of life.
In the book, The How of Happiness, author and researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky sets her book apart from other self-awareness books by being the first to utilize empirical studies. She uses data gained through scientific method to provide support for her hypothesis. This hypothesis consists mainly of the idea that we have the ability to overcome genetic predisposition and circumstantial barriers to happiness by how we think and what we do. She emphasizes that being happier benefits ourselves, our family and our community. “The How of Happiness is science, and the happiness-increasing strategies that [she] and other social psychologists have developed are its key supporting players” (3).
The idea of justice although obvious for philosophers like Locke, Rousseau, and John Rawls, proves itself to be a labyrinthine issue for Americans; nevertheless, ones thing is clear: the people are guaranteed the ability to pursue happiness. Sometimes searching for American equity juxtaposes the American Dream to the pursuit of happiness with a paralytic justice. However, justice in all forms plays a part through the governments duty; who does the government serve and protect? Despite this, opportunity continues to play a major role in correlation to the hopes and aspirations of many Americans; what freedoms to pursue happiness would Americans receive if they were striped of their rights?
A powerful influence over happiness is how people perceive situations and how they choose to engage with others. Life may change within an instant and have a spiraling spin of high and low points, but the positive state of mind and the value of social relationships determine the
“The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living” is a collaboration by His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV and Howard C. Cutler, M.D., who identify many possible components that could lead to a happy and satisfying life. Their approach combines and integrates the thoughts of East and West; Buddhist principles and practices on one hand and Western science and psychology on the other. Many everyday difficulties are highlighted in this book, and Dalai Lama and Dr. Cutler attempts to help the readers find appropriate solutions in order to find a balanced and lasting happiness. Dalai Lama’s understanding of the factors that ultimately lead to happiness is based on a lifetime of methodically observing his own mind, exploring the nature of the human condition, and investigating these things within a framework first established by The
Happiness can be understood as the moral goal of life or can be unpredictable and is something we create from ourselves and by ourselves. The idea of happiness was known as something we nurture on our own and is a state of emotion. Completing our everyday goals will soon bring us happiness, which seems to be very important to most humans and is what makes life worth living, but this is not certain. This conception of Eudemonia was common in ancient Greece as it is currently today. Aristotle had what he thought was an ideal activity for all those who wanted to live life to the fullest, be happy, and have purpose.
Throughout history, philosophers and scientists of various kinds have been trying to define happiness, identify its causes and the obstacles to reaching it. According to Jon Gertner, psychologist Gilbert and economist Loewenstein have succeeded in pointing out several reasons why people are unhappy (pp: 444-6). It is important to note that according to Gilbert, it is not that people cannot g...
I believe that happiness is the key to living a good and prosperous life. Through all of the sadness and hate in the world, happiness gives me hope. It gives not only me, but others hope and joy. Happiness gives us something to hold onto, therefore we cherish it as much as we can.