Are you happy with your life? This seems like a simple question to answer, but there are many different things to ask yourself when answering this question. Is “happiness” achievable? How do you define “happiness”? What does “happiness” mean to you? In the workplace today, mood-tracking devices are being more widely used to lower stress levels and increase productivity. But with this new technology, new opinions are being formed.
Some individuals believe happiness should not and could not be measured. More specifically, Davies believes that happiness shouldn’t be the goal of utmost importance. As technology that measures happiness increases, it is being used more as a tool to reshape individuals to enhance positive emotions. “Wearable technologies,
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Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology begins her argument with the Greek legend of Icarus. Icarus, the son of Daedalus, had wings made of feathers and wax. He did not heed his father's warning of flying too close to the sun and his wings melted, resulting in him falling to his death into the sea. The story of Icarus often symbolizes balance. If Icarus were to fly too high his wings would be melted by the sun whereas, if he were to fly too low the spray of the ocean would weigh down his wings. “Avoiding extremes — both surfeit and deficiency — is a wisdom preached by Aristotle, Confucius, Aquinas and many other thinkers and writers” (Lyubomirsky 4). This teaching has been around for centuries and can still be applied to so many aspects of life today. When you don't have a balance in life, there can be negative repercussions. In this instance, Lyubomirsky claims that if you desire happiness too much, it can be disheartening when you feel as if you aren’t reaching your full potential. “An unhealthy preoccupation with happiness by the few, however, doesn’t mean that its pursuit should be renounced by the many” (Lyubomirsky 4). “The Pursuit of Happiness” has been an idea in Western culture since the Declaration of Independence. Humanity has always wanted to be happy and that can become an obsession. However, a healthy balance of doing things to result in happiness can not only