According to the article it reflects on different learnings of being genuinely happy from within. Slowing down is a concept most people are reluctant to apply to their everyday lives because, this involves taking time to stop and enjoy their wonderful surroundings. Being kind and realizing that everyone matters is another stepping stone especially “If we go around unable or unwilling to put ourselves in other people's shoes, and lack the empathy to show respect and give people their share of dignity.” Lastly, being in fear of failure is like “Hoping for the best but preparing for the worst” which only keeps us from thinking positive thoughts. In an alternative point of view a newspaper article by Ruth Whippman (2017) called “Happiness is other
She makes a great point that we underutilize our ability to control ourselves when we let external things drive our happiness and that is the difference in so many people's lives, they wager their happiness and satisfaction on factors that should not ultimately matter.
Therefore, happiness is “what provokes us, incites us, need not come from our own time. Indeed, our own time may be and probably is so d
There is a certain message that the speaker does not want the audience to forget and it is to “always stay humble and kind” (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40). With the repetition of this phrase she wants the audience to remember to be “humble and kind”. After hearing something over and over again it becomes stuck in our mind and that is exactly what the speaker wants. The speakers wants these specific moral values to be repeated for one purpose, these values are essential in life. From “say ‘please’”(25) to “Let yourself feel the pride”(31) all to showcase the values the speaker wants everyone to have or do. Through repetition his purpose is shown and what he wants the audience to do. After you have achieved something great the speaker does not want you to forget to relax, “When it’s hot, eat a root beer popsicle/ Shut off the AC and roll the windows down/ Let that summer sun shine” (33-36). Through imagery the speaker wants you to relax sometimes and not get caught up in the world too much. These beliefs are what the speaker is trying to get stuck in the audience's head to remember and follow
He seems to imply that happiness is simply a relative state, which is entered by seeing one of the more positive aspects of a situation. Overall, Gilbert argues a strong case for happiness comes from our interpretations of our experiences. However, happiness also takes into account a wide range of other aspects of our lives, including our thoughts and actions, and even genetics. Therefore, happiness should be defined as the amalgamation of how we think and act, and how we interpret our experiences as positive or negative. What this means is that in order to become happier, we must simply force ourselves to become more optimistic.
Welcome to the brave New world where most decisions no longer affect your course of the future. Happiness, something we all search for in our unpredictable lives, for some, happiness comes much faster and easier, but for many others, the notion of knowing that happiness is just too far away from them ultimately causes the decision to make the only permanent escape and that is to end their life just like poor Johnny boy. Quote “Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the overcompensations for misery. (Aldous Huxley “Brave New World”) This is quite an interesting quote made in the book as it hints to suggest that happiness and contentment are actually quite dull. In fact, the struggle to achieve such, is much more interesting, livelier, more exciting. Their opposites like unfortunate events, disappointment and temptation are what make life passionate and spectacular.
What is true happiness? It is the ultimate goal of every human beings life but how can it be obtained? It takes different things to make each individual happy. "Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence." This is a very famous quote by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. It is basically saying the only objective of life is attaining happiness. While some people are willing to do anything they want to achieve happiness, others are more considerate. They think about the overall effect their action will have on everyone. In Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, she expresses her notions regarding the hazard of pursuing happiness through the procurement of knowledge, because true contentment is found in the emotional connections established between people. The pursuit of knowledge is not indispensably a malignant thing, but it can cause destruction when it is pursued beyond natural limits. Victor Frankenstein becomes a slave to his passion for learning in various ways; first his life is controlled by his obsession to engender life, and later he becomes a slave to the monster he has engendered.
Utilizing a pie chart, she illustrates the crux of her research; 10% of our happiness is increased or decreased by our circumstances. 50% of our happiness is increased or decreased by genetic predisposition, 40% is within our ability to control. We have “opportunities to increase or decrease our happiness levels through what we do and how we think” (22). She provides 12 specific happiness enhancing activities. She implores us to commit time, resources and energy to this “intentional activity”. Promoting these changes in our lives to accommodate being happier, which will benefit everyone in the end.
For example, in the story it says that some people wish that they could live forever and not die, and in thinking and wishing they take for granted the chance that they have to live and not die until the time becomes present. This concept can used in real life to just be thankful for little things rather not really being thankful for them. When being thankful for small things it changes your attitude in a positive way which can affect your friends and family in the same way. In conclusion, if people can be grateful for the small things as well as the big it will affect your and others attitude in a good a
The article, How Do Simple Activities Increase Well-Being?, by Lyubormirsky and Layous starts of with an abstract that is a short summary or analysis of the research article to help the reader understand the concept better. This article was about how people can increase happiness by “simple intentional positive activities, such as expressing gratitude or practicing kindness.” Investigators have recently begun to study the optimal conditions under which positive activities increase happiness and the mechanisms by which these effects work.” The authors’ reports that happiness not only feels good, it is good. Happier people have more stable marriages, stronger immune systems, higher incomes, and more creative ideas than people who aren’t as happy.
"HAPPINESS is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of travelling." - Margaret Lee Runbeck
In the article “Finding Happiness” the author says, “all of our problems arise from our own mind” (Finding Happiness”). He later goes on to say, “When we can respond to life’s difficulties with a positive and peaceful mind, they suddenly seem to melt away into nothing right before our eyes” (“Finding Happiness”). This statement goes to show that if you have negative thoughts, then you will be negative overall. Whereas if you try to maintain positive thoughts then you will overall be a more positive person. Being positive is going to help you in being happier (“Finding
People are evil. Well, everyone except you, of course. They will use you for their own pleasure and personal gains and then cut you down when you least expect it. It’s a cruel world we live in, so it comes as no surprise that often times we may find it hard to stay happy. And if this is frightening to you then that’s both fine and understandable; wallow in your self-pity, and feign contentment in the bottomless abyss of misery and loneliness, for these are comfortable places where it’s perfectly acceptable to put forth zero effort. But if you become a little proactive, you’d find that whatever your dream is, whether it’s being promoted at the office or taking over the world, you’ll see happiness comes with its rewards. And this simple yet seemingly unattainable emotion can be seen from a mile away, in the little act of smiling. Furthermore, correct me if I’m wrong, but does it not more muscles to frown than to smile?
But in this debate, one question still raises its head - What is happiness? Happiness is not actually leading a luxurious life, but the luxury of living a life. Happiness is not actually about expanding your business, but it lies in expanding the horizons of life. Happiness is not having a meal in the most famous restaurant, but having it with your most beloved family. It does not lie in attending honorable parties, but to attend a party with honor.
For example, all the negative things in life happening like police brutality, terrorist attacks, and school shootings. To the other side of the pendulum of have hope that tomorrow is a new good day. One quote that really stuck with me after reading it was this “how do I teach my nephew to hate the water park but love the ride” (page 3) to me this mean how does one enjoy life when the shit hits the fan in life? The answer could be unity, surround yourself with family members. Just like Healey did by going to the waterpark with his nephew because the support of his family and the enjoyment of the waterpark would provide a distraction for Healey’s nephew from all the negative events taking place throughout the
We might not have the same opinions, paths, and ways of living; but we all, millions of people around the world, share the same purpose of life: Being able to say “I am having a good life!” What we mean by “good life” is living in pure happiness and having a wonderful peace of mind. The difference between us is that each one of us chooses a different way in his pursuit of happiness. Some find it in stability with a big house, a family, and a good paying job. Some find it in adventure and wildness, travel, and taking risks. While others don’t really have specific criteria or an organized plan, they just believe that happiness comes with living each day as if it was the last, with no worries about the rest. Personally, I find it in trying to be the best version of myself, in staying true to my principles, and in the same time in being able to make my own decisions; which reminds me of what George Loewenstein said “Just because we figure out that X makes people happy and they're choosing Y, we don't want to impose X on them.”