Happiness is best described as a state of well-being and contentment. It is a valuable goal that everyone desires to achieve. Gregg Easterbrook, author of the "The Progress Paradox," gives much insight into why we are unhappy with our lives and states that while happiness is a worthy and significant goal, to be happy is not to exercise in self-indulgence (166). Many people have the idea that happiness comes from money or materialistic possessions such as a new car or a big house. However, what we fail to realize is that those things are very short lived and while they may make us happy for the time being, our level of happiness is usually not likely to last. In fact, we may find that our level of happiness declines with the amount of money …show more content…
or materialistic possessions we acquire. Today many Westerners suffer from "unipolar" depression, or persistent bad feelings without an exact cause (Easterbrook 164). It is believed that the root cause of unipolar depression is something within our society, or within our own minds, not a physical disease (Easterbrook 165). To find happiness within our depressed culture we must first understand the values to being happy, the roots of self-imposed dissatisfaction with life, and ways to avoid this self-imposed dissatisfaction so that one can achieve, if not happiness, at least contentment. People who are happy experience many physical, social, mental, and emotional benefits. According to Sonja Lyubomirsky, Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, being happy contributes to better health and a longer life. Studies show that people who are happy have better health practices, lower blood pressure, increased immune function, and higher pain tolerance. Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman conducted an interesting study using 180 nuns living together in Milwaukee. The study revealed that the nuns who wrote positive words such as "very happy and "eager joy" in their vows to become a nun outlived most of the nuns who expressed no positive emotions in their vows ("Authentic Happiness" 1). This shows how happiness has a lasting effect on a longer life. According to Rich Bayer, Ph.D., happiness benefits people socially as well, because it encourages social relations and motivates people to have more social contact. When people are happy they have more understanding into another person's feelings and care more about others (2). Interestingly enough, in an article titled "The Six Life Benefits of Happiness," Jerry Lopper states that happiness also has an effect on how successful we are at work. Happier people are more satisfied with their jobs which in turn causes higher job productivity. Studies show that people who are happy at work experience better job evaluations and higher pay. Furthermore, he explains that if people are happy they are more likely to experience better mental health. With better mental health comes less depression, less suicide, greater self control, better coping skills, and less paranoia. Overall, happiness has many benefits, but why is it that we are not happy? Could it be that society has lead us to believe that with the more time and possessions we have the happier we will be? Or is it that we fail to differentiate our wants from our needs? In "The Progress Paradox" Gregg Easterbrook states that despite increases in just about every impartial measure of social welfare the trend line for happiness has not changed for fifty years (164).
He also states there has actually been a significant increase in the number of people who suffer from unipolar depression, or more simply, major depression (164). Gregg Easterbrook explains that the roots of self-imposed dissatisfaction with life are increased leisure time and money. It is leisure in which we have the time to experience depressed frames of mind (Easterbrook 165). We begin to start worrying about things that take away from the quality of life. It is thought that our ancestors did not experience depression because they were too busy with day to day life and had far less expectations than we do today (Easterbrook 165). Our culture assumes that if we have a lot of money, take exotic vacations, and wear expensive watches that we'll be happy. That is not the case because money actually disconnects from happiness after the middle-class status is reached (Easterbrook 169). Money and materialistic possessions are thought to stop buying happiness because the expectations of society are constantly moving (Easterbrook 170). Those who might acquire higher income levels in the future, may never achieve happiness due to the fact that there will always be the never ending progression of new things to want (Easterbrook 171). Christopher Lasch in "The Culture of Narcissism" explains that there is an image of "prosperity and well-being" that certain commodities are disguised to have. This ultimately takes away from basic human needs for survival and puts the focus on pseudo-needs, which is a false, pretend, or unreal need in one's life (137). Needs are a required necessity for life and can be satisfied. As a society, our needs are food, clothing, shelter, medical, education, and transportation (Easterbrook 171). On the other hand, wants are desires or
wishes that can never be satisfied. The more we want the more we feel controlled by our possessions and the more we feel controlled by our possessions the more we are unhappy with our lives (Easterbrook 171). The lesson that can be learned here is that money and materialistic possessions don't buy happiness it actually promotes dissatisfaction within our lives. It's important that society knows that our unhappiness ultimately comes from the choices that we make and whether or not we choose to be happy with those choices. To avoid the roots of self-imposed dissatisfaction with life society must understand that happiness is not something to be found (Dan Gilbert). We all too often look for happiness in trivial things but, fail to realize that real happiness comes from within ourselves. We, as human beings, actually have the ability to control our own happiness. We have the psychological power to be happy simply by just telling ourselves that we are (Dan Gilbert). It is Dan Gilbert, psychologist at the University of Harvard, who has come up with this theory. He states that happiness can be synthesized and that synthetic happiness, what we make when we don't get what we wanted, can be just as rewarding as natural happiness, what we get when we get what we wanted (Dan Gilbert). In other words even if we don't get what we want in life we can still make the choice to be happy with what we already have or in this case with what we don't have. The fact of the matter is that we must be willing to allow ourselves to be happy with the choices that we make in life. Once we are able to do that we will be able to find happiness within our lives. While there are many physical, social, mental, and emotional benefits to happiness society does not fully understand why it is that we are unhappy with our lives. We have been ingrained to believe that the more we attain the happier we will be. This has contributed significantly to the rise in unipolar depression within our culture. We all too often think that it is our money or possessions that will bring us happiness. However, money does not buy happiness. We find happiness in coming to terms with the fact that we are not always going to get what we want. The choices we make and how we feel about those choices profoundly have an impact on whether or not we are happy.
As Walt Disney once said, “Happiness is a state of mind. It’s just according to the way you look at things.” Walt Disney is one of the best known founders for a motion - picture production company. This infamous and plausible man is among the many who support the claim that happiness can be achieved in an assortment of ways by contenting both adults and children. Maanvi Singh’s , “You Can Buy Happiness, If It’s An Experience,” Caitlin Kenney’s “Study: ‘High Incomes Don’t Bring You Happiness’” and ABC News’ “Can We Cultivate Our Own Happiness?” assert how one can achieve happiness. Genuine happiness can only be attained if one truly accepts what their lives present them with. Even though several beliefs claim that money is the key to stimulating
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.
...s? Just like the Once-ler and his family value financial success to obtain happiness, the same goes for contemporary society. Society is convinced happiness is achieved by acquisition and financial possessions rather than a state of mind. According to Rider “Despite increasing material wealth, Americans are not happier” (Rider). Happiness does not come from fortune and many people make the mistake in perceiving it that way. True happiness comes from one’s self and their outlook of life. In the “The Lorax” Dr. Seuss not only spread an important message about taking care of the planet, but also helped his readers become aware that wealth does not lead to happiness. Every person has their own perspective of what it means to be happier and to live a happier life, but it is important to realize that happiness comes from within and not by something obtained.
Ashley Janowiak Human Happiness and External goods Happiness is a goal every human pursues, yet the ways in which it is pursued differs amongst people. Some believe prosperity will bring them happiness. Others believe material, power, fame, success, or love will bring them happiness. No matter what one believes is the right way to conquer this goal, every person will take their own unique path in an attempt to find it. But what is happiness like?
Happiness is a feeling adults experience when they receive a gift, win something, and various other reasons, but does money buy this happiness everyone experiences? Don Peck and Ross Douthat claim money does buy happiness, but only to a point in their article which originally appeared in the Atlantic Monthly (252). Throughout their article, reasons on why money can sometimes buy happiness are explained. While some of the reasons given are effective, not all are satisfying answers for adults working diligently to make a living. Money is a part of everyone’s life, yet it is not always the cause of happiness.
He further shows us that the people of today are richer than their grandparents but are not happier in their lives (from National Statistics of social pathology). Even with these facts, people in the United States still believe if they had more money all of their problems would be solved, but once they reach that next income bracket they are not satisfied and try to reach the next one. Myers et al tells us, "even if being rich and famous is rewarding, no one ever claimed material success alone makes us happy. Other conditions like - family- friends- free time - have been shown to increase happiness" (Csikszentmihaly 145). therefore we must find balance in our own lives, and not just focus on making money. Instead we need friends, family and even free time, as aforementioned doing an activity you enjoy such as listening to music or
According to Freud’s conclusion based on decades of experimentation and theoretical work in the field of psychotherapy, humans cannot be happy because a satisfaction of needs creates only a momentary phase of happiness which expires after some time. Therefore, the focus of life should not be obtaining happiness, and people should focus on avoiding suffering instead (Bullock, n.d.). However, several paradigms about well-being exist, and individual cognitive patterns and paradigms define the emotional responses to social influences. From an objective viewpoint, well-being is a state of consciousness that arises from a combination of internal and external factors, and money is an unstable external influence in defining subjective well-being.
Contrary to belief, genuine happiness is very rarely found at the bottom of a shopping basket or on the leather seats of a brand new car. Often we hear the cliché saying “Money can’t buy happiness” but this is in fact true. Whilst the elation and delight brought from finally owning a wanted item is extraordinary, you must remind yourself that your happiness should not become dependant upon your ownership of this item. Being happy is not something you can purchase from a shop or car dealership, it is the way you take on life. Unfortunately, happiness does not have its own aisle at shops and never will.
Money and Happiness are two things that we have all given a lot thought. We put lots of effort into these two things either trying to earn them or trying to increase them. The connection we make between money and happiness is strange because they are two very different concepts. Money is tangible, you can quantify it, and know exactly how much of it you have at any given time. Happiness, on the other hand, is subjective, elusive, has different meanings for different people and despite the efforts of behavioral scientist and psychologist alike, there is no definitive way to measure happiness. In other word, counting happiness is much more difficult than counting dollar bills. How can we possibly make this connection? Well, money, specifically in large quantity, allows for the freedom to do and have anything you want. And in simplest term, happiness can be thought of as life satisfaction and enjoyment. So wouldn’t it make sense that the ability to do everything you desire, result in greater satisfaction with your life.
Happiness is a feeling that humans naturally desire. Without it, one feels incomplete. In this generation, happiness has taken on a definition by how we are presented to one another. It is measured by how much money we have, how famous we are, or the things we possess. When in reality, none of these things guarantee a happy life. Happiness is something that cannot be bought with money, but rather, it must be found, earned, sought after. Each and every one of us has our own list of things that we consider to make us happy. However, happiness shines brightest through the relationships we create, and the goals we make for ourselves to strive after. Along with these two essential sources, we then can mix and match those things in life that we enjoy to create our own unique formula for happiness.
A question that always seems to come up, asks if money can buy happiness. Many people believe that it can, but just as many say it cannot. Even though there are people who say money is the key to happiness, there are several good reasons that it isn’t. First, we must recognize the difference between comfortability, and happiness. Another key, is that memories cannot be bought. And you there is no price for love. Next is the use of excess income. And how it is used to show off the amount someone makes. Another key example is the inability to buy someone’s happiness, or memories. Money can however buy time in a way. It can even make someone happy, when used appropriately. The last and closest evidence to support the idea of money buying happiness,
What exactly is happiness anyway? Happiness is when you feel complete and satisfied. It is when you’re content with where you are and what you have. It is the joy of doing something you love, or spending time with someone you love. It is an emotion and the best one yet. Money can easily make a person temporarily happy with the possessions it can buy, but true happiness is more than that. People can have everything material wise and still not be happy. Sure it can buy you many things, but the happiness from it is only temporary and limited. There’s only so much happiness you can buy with money. Money can easily buy you food, a clock, a house, education, make-up or medication; however it can’t buy you nutrition, time, a home, knowledge, beauty or health. It can buy you infatuation, but not love, acquaintances but not friendship and hierarchy but not respect. People spend their entire lives trying to make more and more money thinking that it means success. They neglect family and friends, don’t care about who they take down to reach their ...
When none of us has ever come across such words and formulas, none of the great personalities has ever mentioned it, then who the hell has instilled it in our minds that money brings happiness. But among 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 to have it with your most beloved family. It does not lie in attending honorable parties but to attend a party with honor.
Some have even suggested that this moderate connection might be exaggerated. In reality, money might have very little to do with happiness at all. Most puzzling, though, is that people often seem aware at some level that money won’t make them happy. And yet they continue to work away, earning money they don’t objectively need. First, though, let’s look at the three reasons money doesn’t make us happy.
What is happiness? According to the dictionary, happiness is a mental or emotional state of positive or pleasant emotions. Now think closely, what does happiness mean to you? Many people say money can’t buy you happiness, some people say it can. People say, “How can you not be happy when you have a ton of money?” But people also say, “Having too much money can get in the way of happiness.” To me money is just green paper that lets you buy things you want and need. But can this green paper really buy you happiness? After reading this paper of mine, think about the question again and what do you believe is true.