Arguably, the happier an individual is, the better the quality of their life, and the better off they are. But despite this, there are people who will even argue that lower levels of happiness are the best because you maintain the ability to progress in life and your motivation is still present. Although many people will only see two sides to this argument, there is a totally different view that provides the optimal quality of life and the most beneficial outcome in the big picture; and that is moderate happiness. Cliff Oxford’s essay “High Performance Happy” evaluates the effect that an individual’s happiness has on their beneficiality to society and how you should always strive to be the happiest you can be. Oxford’s main point is that
Happiness plays an important and necessary role in the lives of people around the world. In America, happiness has been engrained in our national consciousness since Thomas Jefferson penned these famous words in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Jefferson). Since then, Americans have been engaged in that act: pursuing happiness. The problem however, as Ray Bradbury demonstrates in his novel Fahrenheit 451, is that those things which make us happy initially may eventually lead to our downfall. By examining Guy Montag, the protagonist
The fact that happiness is a state of well-being pursued by humans since the beginning of humanity is not new. Since the ancient Greek philosophers, happiness has always been a goal for people. However, the definition of happiness is still subjective and controversial as Mark Kingwell, an award-winning social critic, essayist, and professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto, presents in his article “In pursuit of Happiness." The author begins to build his credibility by calling everyday facts and emotions, also by citing philosophers, researchers, and other authors. Using the sources effectively in a persuasive piece, Kingwell demonstrates, through examples and science researches, the difficulty in defining happiness, which can result in unhappiness.
However, the winning group did not view themselves happier compared the devastating victims group. The results were alarming because the concept of happiness was not viewed as materialistic belongs but, a range of actives that makes people be happy. The
Bhutan, a country with high levels of happiness, is unique in its own way in which the higher national goal is for gross nation happiness (Belic, 2011). Unlike other countries, Bhutan’s society presented the government the responsibility to allow and build opportunities to gin happiness (Belic, 2011). Through this, the government has control over the levels of happiness that citizens gain. Beneficially, citizens of Bhutan are offered opportunities that allow each to gain happy experiences but the level of happy they become, depends on the effectiveness of their civic engagement. Without the government containing the responsibility of providing opportunities for happiness, citizens would not have the highest chance to work within the
"Happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great. When it comes to one, it comes as naturally as sleep. " This is Jim 's representation of happiness at a young age, back when he barely knew Antonia. He had enjoyed her company and was glad to help her learn English. But he can 't teach her everything in his mind and make it stick in hers.
In Bhutan, “there is nothing greater than compassion” (63). The Bhutanese display compassion on a daily basis since it correlates with their philosophy on mortality. Anyone and anything could be related to them so kindness must be shown always making happiness a policy within Bhutan (49). Besides compassion, the Bhutanese’s policy of happiness includes
In Mark Kingwell’s excerpt, “In Pursuit of Happiness,” he discusses the challenge of defining happiness. This work serves to inform the audience on a topic they may never have considered while using evidence and support from philosophers, authors, and even scientists to contribute to various viewpoints on the subject. At the end of the excerpt, Kingwell discusses happiness, even unhappiness, and concludes with his own opinions on the subject. Since the beginning of human existence, people have tried to define happiness, but no one has described it sufficiently, which means the search continues.
“Anyone who could maintain a state of happiness, given the state of the world, is living in a delusion (Phillips 430).” This statement from Some Dark Thoughts on Happiness addresses multiple issues regarding happiness, society, as well as international awareness. The article also touches on the relation of happiness to optimism and pessimism. The following paragraphs will build an argument against the the above statement in Jennifer Senior’s article. Arguments such as what delusion is, how where a person lives plays an affect on happiness, and what percent genetics play in happiness and that people have the option to choose to be happy.
Eric Weiner, the author of The Geography of Bliss, has found that happiness can be found in a multitude of ways. In his travels Weiner was exposed to many different cultures; and in his research, opened the possibility of a culture's effect on one's happiness. He explores this in his chapters discussing Qatar and Iceland. What I believe Weiner is telling us here, is that culture does not determine one's happiness, due to what he has found of the people and culture in both Qatar and Iceland.
Not many achieve happiness in their lifetime. Either they do not live long enough to witness it or they are not prepared for what their happiness is. Happiness is very subjective. Each person’s version of happiness is different. This version of happiness is universal.
One study revealed that money was an essential need for happiness, but it was not what made the people happy. They established satisfaction in close relationships with loved ones, community work, fulfillment and pride from their work and accomplishments (Diener and Biswas-Diener 162). The highest life satisfaction was found in societies of wealthy nation while the unhappiest nations were the extremely poor ones. When it comes to materialism, it does not matter if someone is rich or poor, all that matters is that “your income is sufficient to your desire,” and that “differences in aspirations lead to very different amounts of happiness” (Diener and Biswas-Diener 170).
I am a free African American, but in a since I am not free. I am not a free person because I am not allowed to vote or speak out for myself and my country where I live in. I want to have rights, but I am not allowed to due to some circumstances. Even though I am a free African American, people are saying that there is no proof that I am a free African American. Also, when a white American captures me, I do not have proof that I was a free African American, and I will be sent into slavery.
A collection of philosophical, religious, psychological and biological approaches had attempted to define happiness and analyze its connections. Researchers have found that about 50% of people happiness depends on our genes, based on studies of identical twins, whose happiness was 50% correlated even when growing up in different houses. About 10% to 15% is a result of various measurable life circumstances variables, such as socioeconomic status, marital status, health, income, and others. The remaining 40% is a combination of intentional factors and the results of actions that individuals deliberately engage in to become happier. Studies have also found that most of us are born with a fixed “set point” of happiness that we fall in throughout our lives.
Happiness is a Choice There is no greater feeling in the world than being happy. Believe it or not, happiness is a choice that comes from within. According to a theory in Psychology, all humans have a happiness “set- point” that determines their overall well-being. When something positive happens to a person, he becomes happy. On the other hand, when something negative happens to him, he becomes miserable.
