formula for happiness essay

Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Five Principles of Personal Freedom

The Russian writer’s work might not be everyone’s idea of lightness and joy. But look within and you shall find.

A man writing on a typewriter with a happy face showing on his typed sheet of paper

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O n December 22, 1849 , the 28-year-old Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky faced a firing squad for anti-government activities , alongside 21 of his comrades from a radical dissident group called the Petrashevsky Circle. Blindfolded and tied to a post together, his friends were terrified, but Dostoyevsky maintained total equanimity. “We will be with Christ,” he stated, matter-of-factly. Improbably, the men were granted a stay of execution: Before any shots were fired, a courier arrived with an imperial reprieve, reducing their sentence to temporary confinement in a labor camp.

Because he was at such ease with the imminent prospect of his death, you might assume that Dostoyevsky must have been a calm and composed person—and, quite likely, an unquestioningly religious one. But you’d be wrong on all counts: Dostoyevsky was a tortured soul—a philosophical wanderer who accepted nothing and questioned everything, including his own faith. Yet precisely this deep uneasiness with life led him to create a blueprint for living centered not on comfort and enjoyment, but on meaning. This sense of meaning gave him the composure he showed in what he believed to be the final moments of his short life, as well as at the true end of his longer one, 32 years later.

You may have a bit of Fyodor in you—many of us do: a little uncomfortable in our own skin, a bit at odds with the world, easily pushed into an existential funk. A dose of Dostoyevsky’s philosophy, though quixotic and challenging, might be just what you need to achieve some peace, not only in your final moments but now and anytime.

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U nlike many of his 19th-century-thinker contemporaries, Dostoyevsky never laid out his master philosophy in a particular text designed for that purpose. Rather, he revealed it largely through novels such as The Brothers Karamazov and The Idiot , as well as short stories, novellas, and occasional essays. Through the recurring themes in his writing, a set of rules for living a meaningful life emerges.

1. The journey is the destination. In The Idiot , published in 1869, Dostoyevsky speculated on Christopher Columbus’s emotions on his voyage across the Atlantic: “You may be quite sure that he reached the culminating point of his happiness three days before he saw the New World with his actual eyes.” How so? “What is any ‘discovery’ whatever compared with the incessant, eternal discovery of life?”

Here, Dostoyevsky identifies one of life’s great paradoxes: Happiness requires purpose; purpose requires a sense of direction; a sense of direction requires goal-setting—but happiness cannot be had by realizing those goals. I have written previously about the arrival fallacy , in which people believe that achieving big objectives will give them a lot of happiness and then are bitterly disappointed to find that doing so is a letdown. After a big achievement, many people experience depression. True satisfaction comes from progress in the struggle toward the goal.

2. To be alive is to embrace freedom. Besides Crime and Punishment , Dostoyevsky’s best-known work is The Brothers Karamazov (1880). Within that novel is a self-contained story titled “The Grand Inquisitor,” about Jesus returning to Earth at the height of the Spanish Inquisition. Encountering Jesus, the Grand Inquisitor arrests him on grounds of Jesus’s belief that human beings must be free to choose what is good. No, argues the Inquisitor: That path leads to guilt, anxiety, regret, and doubt. To be happy, he insists, people must cede their freedom and follow a prescribed path. “We have corrected Thy work,” the Inquisitor chillingly tells Jesus, condemning him to death by burning.

Before you scoff at this as satire, consider that the Inquisitor could be right. We know that, in fact, unbounded freedom is most assuredly not the secret to happiness. As psychologists have long pointed out , freedom—especially in an individualistic culture—easily becomes a tyranny for precisely the kinds of reasons listed by the Grand Inquisitor. The secret to contentment might well be to think conventionally, settle down, and thoroughly conform. You might as well relax and enjoy the world’s distractions—and stop torturing yourself with all of this philosophical nonsense.

Obviously, Dostoyevsky did not agree; he was on the side of moral choice—the side of Jesus, not the Inquisitor—even when it was painful. More on that pain in Rule 4.

3. Beware the palace of crystal. Dostoyevsky believed that what the world offers in exchange for your freedom is utterly counterfeit—a “palace of crystal,” as he called it in his 1864 novella, Notes From the Underground . His time, similarly to ours, was dominated by technocratic utopianism, a popular belief that the complexity of human life and love could be simplified and solved through the expertise of science and government—if we submit to these forces. Dostoyevsky was having none of this promised future, “all ready-made and worked out with mathematical exactitude.” Such efforts, he argued, would drug us and strip us of our humanity.

Was he wrong? The past century and a half has brought technological progress that has improved human well-being in many ways, it’s true. But scholars today caution us about the dehumanizing effects of the excessive use of digital media and smartphones as they displace analog interactions and in-person relationships. Dostoyevsky would argue that facing the anguish of being fully alive out in the real world is much better than languishing, tranquilized, in the palace of crystal.

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4. The pain is the point . When it comes to that existential anguish, he goes further: Even if he could make it stop, he says, he wouldn’t—because that kind of suffering is the inevitable and necessary cost of realizing what we all truly seek in life: love. In 1877, Dostoyevsky published a short story titled “ The Dream of a Ridiculous Man ,” in which the narrator has a vivid dream of a parallel Earth exactly like this one but without suffering. What initially appears wonderful quickly becomes terrible, as it dawns on the narrator that this other world has no place for love. At this point, he pines for the pain that accompanies love. “I long, I thirst, this very instant, to kiss with tears the earth that I have left,” he says, “and I don’t want, I won’t accept life on any other!”

Before you dismiss Dostoyevsky’s contention that love requires suffering, think about the agony you may have felt in the early, thrilling stages of your last romantic start-up. If that was too long ago to recall, consider that neuroscientists have also found that we mirror the anguish we see in our loved ones (though not that in strangers). We almost literally feel their pain: If, for example, you see a photo of your beloved in pain, that will stimulate your anterior cingulate cortex and insula, brain regions that process mental pain.

5. Look up. The lessons so far might seem too difficult to absorb in the empirical circumstances of our daily experience. Recognizing this, Dostoyevsky argued that we should attune ourselves to the supernatural dimension of human existence, for only thus can we realize what we truly crave in the struggle of life. “So long as man remains free he strives for nothing so incessantly and so painfully as to find some one to worship,” he writes in The Brothers Karamazov . This perception was correct: Researchers at the University of Oxford in 2011 concluded that to believe in a god or gods and an afterlife is inherent to human nature. Typically, we also conceive of the mind and the body as separate, which gives rise to a widespread belief in the soul. Based on this and other research, you might even say that humans have a “ religion instinct .”

And if you doubt the supernatural? Welcome to the club, fellow wanderer. Belief is a question of commitment, Dostoyevsky thought, not emotion or reason. This was Dostoyevsky’s central point about his own Christian beliefs when he wrote in the last notebook he kept during his lifetime: “I believe in Christ and confess him not like some child; my hosanna has passed through an enormous furnace of doubt.” That statement, made very close to the end of his life, takes us right back to the scene of his youth: What he assumed were his last words, before the firing squad, were a profession of the beliefs he chose , not simply an expression of what he might have been feeling at that moment.

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I f, like Dostoyevsky , you have a turbulent soul, you can benefit by trying to embrace his path. Here are five resolutions, which have worked for me, that you might want to embrace:

1. My goals in life are mere intentions, not attachments. I will focus on the struggle, the journey. 2. Conformity of thought and deed is more comfortable than freedom. But I will question everything, and think and act for myself. 3. I will turn away the narcotic snares of tech distraction that steal my time and attention in exchange for my freedom of thought. 4. I will embrace the anguish that freedom and individuality bring, because I demand the right to experience love. 5. The world as I see it is not all that exists, nor does it explain all things. I will embrace the transcendent as I seek to understand it.

This is the formula that Dostoyevsky himself lived by, to the very end. When he died, at the age of 59, of a pulmonary hemorrhage, he was surrounded by his wife, Anna, and his children. On his deathbed, he read from St. Matthew’s Gospel the story of Jesus’s baptism: John, at first, protests that he should be baptized by Jesus, not the other way around, but Jesus answers, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” So John baptizes him, and Jesus receives God’s blessing.

After this reading, about a perfect submission of the human to the divine, Dostoyevsky looked at his wife—in whom he saw refracted through his earthly life just such heavenly love—and said, “I have always loved you passionately and have never been unfaithful to you ever, even in my thoughts.” With that, he breathed his last.

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Happiness According to Aristotle

Simple definitions of happiness according to aristotle.

What does it mean to be truly happy? Aristotle , a great thinker from ancient Greece, offers us an excellent recipe for real happiness. He introduces us to ‘ eudaimonia ,’ which isn’t the typical happy feeling you get from eating your favorite ice cream or watching a funny movie. Instead, eudaimonia is something deeper. It’s like playing a challenging video game, where every level you beat makes you a better player, and the real prize is becoming the hero of your own adventure.

Think of eudaimonia as the ultimate goal in life – flourishing like a sturdy tree boasting a full spread of leaves. For Aristotle, being your best self involves growing your virtues – qualities like being honest, fair, and disciplined – and using your brainpower to make life awesome. When you act with good intentions and work on improving yourself, it’s as if you’re a tree spreading your branches toward the sun, reaching your full potential and basking in the glow of true happiness.

How to Guide

Searching for this deeper happiness seems like an exciting quest, right? Aristotle left us a guidebook to finding eudaimonia:

Practice virtues like courage, justice, and temperance. You become courageous by facing fears, fair by treating people equally, and moderate by not indulging in too much of anything.
Engage in challenging activities that stretch what you can do. Keep improving and take pride in personal achievements.
Build strong friendships and help your community. Do your part to make the world a kinder place.
Always keep learning and exploring. Use your curiosity to understand the world better.
Look for a balance in life. Don’t go over the top with anything; keep it “just right” to stay healthy and happy.

Aristotle believed that by following these guidelines, you would not just have fun, but also create a meaningful life filled with eudaimonia.

Types of Happiness According to Aristotle

Even though Aristotle saw eudaimonia as the ultimate form of happiness, he recognized that people find happiness in different ways:

The Life of Pleasure: Enjoying things that feel good, like tasty meals and comfortable places to rest.
The Life of Honor: Wanting to be recognized and remembered, to feel valued and respected by others.
The Life of Mind: Loving to learn, think deeply, and ponder over life’s big questions.

Out of these, Aristotle cherished the Life of Mind, believing that true happiness comes from within and through the use of reason and intellect.

Examples of Happiness According to Aristotle

Someone who shares with people in need, not for a thank you, but out of goodness. This shows a noble character, and it spreads joy to others, which is a key part of Aristotle’s happiness.
An athlete who practices tirelessly, finding satisfaction in mastering their skills, not just in victory. They cherish personal growth, embodying Aristotle’s concept of flourishing through discipline and effort.
A teacher who dedicates their life to educating others, feeling rewarded by the progress of their students. Their joy comes from the impact they have on others, aligning with Aristotle’s vision of contributing to the greater good.

Why is Happiness According to Aristotle Important?

Aim for eudaimonia, and you’re really aiming for the highest level of human flourishing, according to Aristotle. It’s not just about feeling happy; it’s about creating a cycle of goodness that radiates from you to others. Living virtuously elevates not just ourselves but the people and world around us. How we choose to live our lives impacts everything – that is why Aristotle’s happiness matters.

By striving to be the best we can be, we set off a chain reaction of positivity. This ancient concept is as alive today as it was back then because it gets us to consider our potential impact on society. For the average person, this approach to happiness can lead to a fulfilling and meaningful life, influencing our day-to-day choices and interactions. It’s a guiding light in a world where happiness is often mistaken for fleeting pleasures.

Origin of Aristotle’s Thoughts on Happiness

Aristotle, who lived around 2,300 years ago, shared his wisdom on happiness in his work, the “Nicomachean Ethics.” He stepped out from the shadow of his teacher, Plato , to focus on the practical ways we can live well. He cared about real-life experiences and how we can nurture the best qualities within ourselves.

Controversies Around Happiness According to Aristotle

While Aristotle’s teachings on happiness are influential, they’re not without debate . Some argue that ‘happiness’ as a word doesn’t fully capture the depth of eudaimonia. Also, critics claim that achieving Aristotle’s ideal could be really tough for people facing hardships. Plus, is eudaimonia possible for everyone, or is it an exclusive state that only a few can attain? These questions spark discussions on how to adapt Aristotle’s insights to our modern lives.

Other Important Points

Aristotle’s take on happiness isn’t a short-lived joyride; it’s a long-term journey towards a life well-lived, marked by actions that enrich our character. Also, according to Aristotle, true happiness means recognizing the value of community – human connection is vital in our quest for eudaimonia.

Lastly, he preached balance in all things: too much courage could make you reckless, too little might make you a coward. Finding the middle ground, or the Golden Mean, is key to his vision of happiness.

The Formula for Happiness

As John Langan (2019) writes Lena and Miles wanted a vacation. They wanted a vacation that was nice. They wanted one that was quiet. They wanted one that was relaxing. They rented a small lakeside cabin. Their first day there was very peaceful. The situation quickly changed. A large family moved into a nearby cabin. They played music at top volume. They raced around in a speedboat with a loud whining engine. Lena and Miles were no longer very relaxed. They packed up their things.

They drove off. They returned to their quiet apartment. (p. 145)

Lena and Miles wanted a nice and quiet vacation. They rented a small lakeside cabin that was relaxing and peaceful. The situation changed quickly when a large family moved into a nearby cabin. They played music and raced a speedboat with a loud whining engine. Lena and Miles were no longer relaxed, so they packed their things and returned to their quiet apartment. The study of happiness and what creates it has become a multi-million-dollar business.

Some people say that happiness comes from wealth, but most researchers say that happiness comes from within. In pursuit of happiness, many people create goals but often find once they have achieved them, the expected happiness is not present.

Most people will set present and further goals to help them look forward to something positive. Many people think that staying in a positive mindset will help attract positivity and happiness to your life. This in return gives a feeling of happiness and joy.

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Martha Beck, a life coach with a Ph.D. from Harvard, writes that “Over and over, researchers studying happiness have found that the situational elements people crave — money, social status, possessions — don’t reliably lead to an experience of well-being. Learning to find joy in the present moment … increases life satisfaction, improves health, and allows us to live longer more fulfilling lives.” Finding joy in the present moment might be difficult to attain at first, but if one focuses on what truly matters, this joy can lead to a better life.

The first step in how to find joy in your life is to be in the present. Instead of seeing a rainy day as a negative thing, see a rainy day and think about splashing and jumping in puddles. Instead of thinking about the stressful work meeting, think of what will be accomplished at this meeting. Some people see caterpillars as fascinating, not gross, objects to observe and follow. They see life as a series of exciting gifts that need to be experienced. Instead, people should learn to find they joy in life. Whether it is taking a moment to deeply breathe in the aroma of that first cup of coffee or marveling at the way toothpaste foams, finding satisfaction in the little moments of the day will lead to a more positive outlook.

the second step in finding joy is to focus on experiences instead of things. Buying a television might be exciting at first but sitting in a room watching television alone isn’t going to contribute to a sense of happiness. Instead, people can set a movie night with family and find joy in the experience of spending physical time with someone. According to Thomas A. Glass, professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, studies show that people who live longer lives have strong social connections and those who have weak or no social connections will die earlier, despite seemingly good health. Social interaction plays a huge role in our mental health and well-being as a human being. Positive interactions have positive outcomes whereas negative interactions have negative outcomes.

Finally, it is important to live generously. Giving to the community or improving yourself by learning something helps people to be more positive. Many people report that when they spend more time volunteering or learning something new, they find happiness. This intrinsic desire to better themselves or the world around them leads people to a sense of worth and happiness. Pursuing happiness can always remain a goal, or it can become a reality. All a person needs to do is focus on the present, focus on experiences, and live generously. Together these actions can lead to a longer, happier life.

International Student Orientation Program

With the increase of international students on campus, it is important that the academic community be aware of the major issues these students face. Many international students struggle with language barriers, cultural barriers, and social barriers. In order to effectively educate our students, the counseling department, in conjunction with the College Orientation department and the Honors Student Ambassador Program, will be implementing an orientation program that all international students will be required to attend. This will allow the international students the opportunity to connect with other students and instructors of the same language and cultures. This meeting will allow the school to test all international students on their English language skills.

If they have already taken the TOESL, that score will be used in place of the added testing. Students who are more proficient will be partnered with students in the Student Ambassador program. These pairings will allow students to work with a peer to ask questions, have subjects clarified, and seek the necessary resources that will offer help. This peer mentoring will be a way to increase student engagement, help with culture barriers, and decrease social barriers thus, enhancing student success. Students who are less fluent in English will be linked up with all the helpful elements that our ESL program can offer. Not only will the orientation program offer students an opportunity to improve their English language skills, but it will offer them connections with other students and professors who are aware of the added struggles faced by international students.

To address the cultural barriers, the orientation classes will focus specifically on American culture in comparison to the cultures represented by the students in the class. Many students come from countries that view education and professors differently. With a wide variety of views on education, specific focus will be placed on American classroom culture and the expected behavior of student-professor interaction. Students will also be instructed about the many differing aspects of American social culture. Students will be encouraged to share their cultures and customs to create a deeper understanding and bond within the class. This type of learning will create a strong learning community that will aid in students’ acclimation.

The final problems many international students face are social barriers. Most students attending college are forging new social connections. This poses a barrier to international students in that they may have different approaches to social connections in their cultures. However, it is generally much harder for international students as they are also trying to learn new customs, languages, and etiquette. Within the safety of the orientation class, students will be able to form a cohort of other international students who are also facing social barriers. For many reasons, the Student Ambassadors will be vital to this part of the orientation class.

Our international students face many added challenges, and they give much to our college community. Studies show that students who attend orientation programs often are far more successful in school. Offering an orientation that is specifically geared toward the obstacles our international students face will help them to have a more positive experience, which in turn should greatly improve our retention of our international students.

John Langan, Z. L. (2019). College Writing Skills with Readings, Tenth Efition. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.

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A block party during Carnival in Belo Horizonte, Brazil; 11 February 2024. Photo by Washington Alves/Reuters

Learning to be happier

In order to help improve my students’ mental health, i offered a course on the science of happiness. it worked – but why.

by Bruce Hood + BIO

In 2018, a tragic period enveloped the University of Bristol, when several students killed themselves related to work stress. Suicide is usually the ultimate culmination of a crisis in mental health, but these students weren’t alone in feeling extreme pressure: across the campus there was a pervasive sense that the general student body was not coping with the demands of higher education. My own tutee students, whom I met on a regular basis, were reporting poor mental health or asking for extensions because they were unable to meet deadlines that were stressing them out. They were overly obsessed with marks and other performance outcomes, and this impacted not only on them, but also on the teaching and support staff who were increasingly dealing with alleviating student anxiety. Students wanted more support that most felt was lacking and, in an effort to deal with the issue, the university had invested heavily, making more provision for mental health services. The problem with this strategy, however, is that by the time someone seeks out professional services, they are already at a crisis point. I felt compelled to do something.

At the time, Bristol University was described in the British press as a ‘toxic’ environment, but this was an unfair label as every higher education institution was, and still is, experiencing a similar mental health crisis. Even in the Ivy League universities in the United States, there was a problem, as I discovered when I became aware of a course on positive psychology that had become the most popular at Yale in the spring of 2018. On reading about the course, I was somewhat sceptical that simple interventions could make much difference until I learned that Yale’s ‘Psychology and the Good Life’ course was being delivered by a colleague of mine, Laurie Santos, who I knew would not associate herself with anything flaky.

That autumn term of 2018, I decided to try delivering a free lunchtime series of lectures, ‘The Science of Happiness’, based on the Yale course. Even though this pilot was not credit-bearing, more than 500 students gave up their Wednesday lunchtimes to attend. That was unusual as, in my experience, students rarely give up time or expend effort to undertake activities unless they are awarded credit or incentives. There would be 10 lectures, and everyone was requested to fill in self-report questionnaires assessing various mental health dimensions both before and after the course, to determine whether there had been any impact and, if so, how much.

The Science of Happiness had clearly piqued interest as indicated by the audience size, but I was still nervous. This was not my area of academic expertise and there was heightened sensitivity following the media attention over recent tragic events on campus. What were the students’ expectations? Talking about mental health seemed hazardous. Would I trigger adverse reactions simply by discussing these issues?

D espite my initial reservations, the final feedback after the course ended was overwhelmingly positive. That was gratifying but, as a scientist, I like hard evidence. What would the questionnaires tell us? The analysis of the before and after scores revealed that there had been a 10-15 per cent positive increase in mental wellbeing across the different measures of wellbeing, anxiety and loneliness. That may not sound much but it was the average, and a significant impact in the field of interventions. Who wouldn’t want to be 15 per cent happier, healthier or wealthier? I was no longer a sceptic; I was a convert. I would stop focusing on developmental psychology, my own area of research, and concentrate on making students happier. Even a 15 per cent improvement might lead to a degree of prevention that was better than dealing with a student who was already struggling.

The following year, we launched a credit-bearing course for first-year students who had room in their curriculum schedule to take an open unit, which has now been running for five years. These psychoeducational courses are not new and predate my efforts by at least a decade. But what makes the Bristol psychoeducational course unique (and I believe this is still the case) is that we persuaded the university to allow a credit-bearing course that had no graded examinations but was accredited based on engagement alone. Not only was I convinced by compelling arguments for why graded assessment is the wrong way to educate, but it would have been hypocritical of me to lecture about the failings of an education system based solely on assessment, and then give students an exam to determine if they had engaged. Rather, engagement required regular weekly attendance, meeting in peer-mentored small groups, but also undertaking positive psychology exercises and journaling about their experiences so that we could track progress. Again, to test the impact of the course, students were asked to fill in the various psychometric questionnaires to give us an insight to impact.

Meditation stops you thinking negative thoughts. Not exactly a scientific explanation

We now have five years’ worth of data and have published peer-reviewed scientific papers on evaluation of the course. As with the initial pilot, the consistent finding is that there is, on average, a 10-15 per cent significant increase in positive mental wellbeing over the duration of the course. The course improves mental wellbeing but there are limitations. Our most recent analysis over the longer term shows that the positive benefits we generate during the course, and the two months after, are lost within a year, returning to previous baseline scores, unless the students maintain some of the recommended activities. However, in those students who kept practising at least one of the positive psychology interventions (PPIs) such as journaling, meditation, exercise, expressing gratitude or any of the other evidence-based activities, they maintained their benefits up to two years later.

Why do interventions work and why do they stop working? As to the first question, there are countless self-help books promoting PPIs, but the level of explanation is either missing or tends to be circular. Acts of kindness work because they make you feel better. Meditation calms the mind and stops you thinking negative thoughts. Not exactly a scientific explanation or revelation. Even though I had largely put my experimental work with children on hold because of the demands of teaching such a large course, I was still intellectually intrigued by the same basic theoretical question that has always motivated my research. What is the mechanism underlying positive psychology?

T here are several plausible hypotheses out there from established academics in the field that explain some of the activities, but they lack a unifying thread that I thought must be operating across the board. I started considering the wide and diverse range of PPIs to see if there was any discernible pattern that might suggest underlying mechanisms. Two years ago, I had an insight and I think the answer can be found in the way we focus on our self.

In my role as a developmental psychologist, I see change and continuity everywhere in relation to human thought and behaviour. For some time, I have been fascinated by the concept of the self and how it emerges but must change over the course of a lifetime. I believe earlier childhood notions lay the foundation for later cognition which is why development is so critical to understanding adults. My most recent work concentrated on how ownership and possessions play major roles in our concept of self, and I was particularly interested in acts of sharing among children. Specifically, we had completed a set of studies demonstrating that, when children are instructed to talk about themselves, they thought about their own possessions differently and became less willing to share with others. Emphasising their self had made these children more selfish. This got me thinking about the role of self-focus in happiness.

The most pernicious aspect of self-focus is the tendency to keep comparing ourselves to others

Infants start off with an egocentric view of the world – a term and concept introduced by the psychologist Jean Piaget. Egocentric individuals tend to perceive the world from their own perspective, and many studies have shown that young children are egocentric in the way they see the world, act, talk, think and behave with others. Normal development requires adopting a more allocentric – or other-based perspective in order to be accepted. The sense of self changes from early ebullient egocentrism to an increasing awareness of one’s relative position in the social order. Children may become more other-focused but that also includes unfavourable comparisons. They increasingly become self-aware and concerned about what others think about them – a concern that transitions into a preoccupation when they enter adolescence that never really goes away. As for adults, like many features of the human mind, earlier ways of thinking are never entirely abandoned. This is why our self-focus can become a ‘curse’, as the psychologist Mark Leary describes , feeding the inner critic who is constantly negatively evaluating our position in life.

One reason that self-focus can become a curse is that we are ignorant of the biases our brains operate with that lead us to make wrong decisions and comparisons. When it comes to happy choices, we want something because we think it will make us happy, but our predictions are inaccurate. We think events will be more impactful than they turn out to be, and we fail to appreciate how fast we get used to things, both good and bad. This is called a failure of affective forecasting which is why the psychologist Dan Gilbert explains that our tendency to ‘stumble on happiness’ is because our emotional predictions are so way off. We don’t take into consideration how future circumstances will differ because we focus on just one element and we also forget how quickly we adapt to even the most pleasurable experiences. But the most pernicious aspect of self-focus is the tendency to keep comparing ourselves to others who seem to be leading happier lives. Social media is full of images of delicious plates of food, celebrity friends, exotic holidays, luxurious products, amazing parties and just about anything that qualifies as worthy of posting to bolster one’s status. Is it any wonder that the individuals who are the most prone to social comparison are the ones who feel the worst after viewing social media? As Gore Vidal once quipped: ‘Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little.’

If egocentric self-focus is problematic then maybe positive psychology works by altering our perspective to one that is more allocentric or ‘other-focused’? To do so is challenging because it is not easy to step out of ourselves under normal circumstances. Our stream of conscious awareness is from the first-person, or egocentric, perspective and, indeed, it is nigh-on-impossible to imagine an alternative version because our sensory systems, thought processes and representation of our selves are coded as such to enable us to interact within the world as coherent entities.

M any PPIs such as sharing, acts of kindness, gratitude letters or volunteering are clearly directed towards enriching the lives of others, but how can we explain the benefits of solitary practices where the self seems to be the focus of attention? The explanation lies with the self-representation circuitry in the brain known as the default mode network (DMN). One of the surprising discoveries from the early days of brain imaging is that, when we are not task-focused, rather than becoming inactive, the brain’s DMN goes into overdrive. Mind-wandering is commonly reported during bouts of DMN activity and, although that may be associated with positive daydreaming, we are also ruminating about unresolved problems that continue to concern us. According to one influential study that contacted people at random points of the day to ask them about what they were doing, what they were thinking and how they were feeling, people were more likely to be unhappy when their minds were wandering, which was about half of the waking day. Probably because they were focusing on their own predicaments.

If you focus on your problems, this can become difficult to control. There’s no point trying to stop yourself ruminating because the very act of trying not to think about a problem increases the likelihood that this becomes the very thought that occupies your mind. This was first described in an 1863 essay by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, when he observed the effect of trying not to think; he wrote: ‘Try to pose for yourself this task: not to think of a polar bear, and you will see that the cursed thing will come to mind every minute.’ My late colleague Dan Wegner would go on to study this phenomenon called ironic thought suppression , which he explained resulted from two mechanisms: the tendency to increase the strength of the representation of a thought by the act of trying to suppress it, and a corresponding increased vigilance to monitor when the thought comes to the fore in consciousness. Ironic thought suppression is one reason why it can be so difficult to fall asleep. This is why one of our recommended activities on our Science of Happiness course is to journal on a regular basis because this helps to process information in a much more controlled and objective way, rather than succumbing to the torment of automatic thinking.

Could the long-term benefits be something to do with altering the ego?

Other recommended activities that calibrate the level of self-focus also attenuate DMN activity. For example, mindfulness meditation advocates not trying to suppress spontaneous thoughts but rather deliberately turning attention to bodily sensations or external sounds. In this way, the spotlight of attention is directed away from the internal dialogue one is having with oneself. It is during such states that brain imaging studies reveal that various solitary interventions we recommend on the course – such as meditation or taking a walk in the country – are associated with lowered DMN activity and, correspondingly, less negative rumination. This is why achieving absorption or full immersion during optimal states of flow draws conscious awareness and attention out of egocentric preoccupation. To achieve states of flow, we recommend that students engage in activities that require a challenge that exceeds their skill level to an extent that they rise to the task, but do not feel overwhelmed by it. When individuals achieve flow states, their sense of self, and indeed time itself, appears to evaporate.

There are other more controversial ways to alter the egocentric self into one that is more allocentric. Currently, there is a growth in the use of psychedelics as a treatment for intractable depression and, so far, the initial findings from this emerging field are highly encouraging. One clinical study has shown that psychedelic-assisted therapy produced significant improvement in nearly three-quarters of patients who previously did not respond to conventional antidepressants. The primary mechanism of action of psychedelics is upon serotonin (5-HT 2A ) receptors within the DMN which, in turn, produce profound alterations of consciousness, including modulations in the sense of self, sensory perception and emotion. Could the long-term benefits be something to do with altering the ego? One of the most common reports from those who have undergone psychedelic-assisted therapy, aside from euphoria and vivid hallucinations, is a lasting, profound sense of connection to other people, the environment, nature and the cosmos. Across a variety of psychedelics, the sense of self becomes more interconnected, which is why a recent review concluded that there was consistent acute disruption in the resting state of the DMN.

I f chemically induced states of altered consciousness through psychedelics (which is currently still illegal in most places) is not your thing, then there are other ways to redress the balance between egocentrism and allocentrism. Engaging in group activities that generate synchronicity – such as rituals, dancing or singing in choirs – alter the sense of self and increase connection with others. But if group activities or psychedelic trips don’t work for you, then take a rocket trip. One of the most moving emotional and lasting experiences, known as ‘ the overview effect ’, occurs to those lucky individuals given the opportunity to view our planet from outer space. As the astronaut Edgar Mitchell described it, it creates an ‘explosion of awareness’ and an ‘overwhelming sense of oneness and connectedness … accompanied by an ecstasy … an epiphany.’

Back down on Earth, we can be happier when we simply acknowledge that we are all mortal, interconnected individuals who suffer personal losses and tragedies. No one’s life is perfect, and indeed you need to experience unhappiness in order recognise when things are going well. As the Stoic philosopher Epictetus put it: ‘Men are disturbed not by things, but by the views which they take of things.’ In other words, it’s not what happens to you, but how you respond, that matters, and that’s where positive psychology can make a difference – but only if you keep reminding yourself to get out of your own head.

Happiness hack

How to shift your egocentric self to one that is more allocentric using language

Consider a problem that is currently bothering you. A real problem – not a hypothetical one or a world problem beyond your control. Find something that makes you unhappy and then say to yourself: ‘I am worried about [whatever it is] because [whatever the reason may be] and this makes me upset.’ Now repeat the exercise but this time don’t use egocentric or first-person terms such as ‘I’ or ‘me’. Rather use your name and non-first-person language such as: ‘Bruce is worried about his [whatever it is] problem and this makes him upset.’

Speaking in non-first-person language should automatically transpose you out of the egocentric perspective to one that is other or allocentric, making the problem seem less.

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Happiness equation solved: Lower your expectations

The key to happiness could be low expectations — at least, that is the lesson from a new equation that researchers used to predict how happy someone would be in the future.

In a new study, researchers found that it didn't matter so much whether things were going well. It mattered whether they were going better than expected.

"It is often said that you will be happier if your expectations are lower,” Dr. Robb Rutledge, the senior research associate at University College London (UCL) who led the study, said in a statement. “We find that there is some truth to this: Lower expectations make it more likely that an outcome will exceed those expectations and have a positive impact on happiness.”

Not that you should walk around gloomy all of the time. Having expectations at all — say, for a lunch date with a friend — can lift your spirits “as soon as you make the plan,” Rutledge said.

But anticipating the greatest meal of your life could result in feeling pretty disappointed. No, this study was not meant to ruin your lunch plans. Instead, researchers wanted to figure out a way to give doctors a subjective, quantitative way to measure mood disorders.

The study involved two parts. First, 26 subjects made decisions that led to financial wins or losses, all while being monitored by an MRI machine. Later, 18,420 people played a game called “The Great Brain Experiment,” which replicated the experiment with points instead of money.

Ultimately, the researchers found that it was not the amount of total money or points won that mattered — it was how winning or losing stacked up to expectations formed during past experiences.

They even came up with a mathematical equation that could accurately predict how happy someone would be during the money experiment and while playing the smartphone game. Eventually, researchers said, it might be able to help doctors predict how people with mood disorders might react to the small wins and losses of everyday life.

The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Keith Wagstaff writes about technology for NBC News. He previously covered technology for TIME's Techland and wrote about politics as a staff writer at TheWeek.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @kwagstaff and reach him by email at: [email protected]

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It’s Friday! Pursue (and share some) #happiness today!

…right away.

…do not sway.

For, the day is already underway.

Okay, OK – maybe just take a read of this happiness essay. 🙂

(Here’s the link to the NY Times article that’s worth a read…): http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/15/opinion/sunday/a-formula-for-happiness.html?pagewanted=1&bicmp=AD&_r=2&bicmet=1388638800000&bicmst=1385874000000&bicmlukp=WT.mc_id&smid=fb-nytimes&fblinkge0&#038 ;

IELTS Essay: Happiness

by Dave | Real Past Tests | 25 Comments

This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of happiness from the real IELTS exam

Please consider supporting me on Patreon.com/howtodoielts to receive my exclusive IELTS Ebooks – you can even sign up for private live lessons with me!

Some people think personal happiness is directly related to economic success, while others believe this depends on other factors.

Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

Many are of the belief that happiness is a result of financial success, while others feel there are more crucial factors. In my opinion, a certain degree of financial stability is a basic requirement for happiness but is less important overall than one’s family and health.

Those who claim that happiness correlates highly with earnings argue that it affords individuals a higher standard of living. A person with a considerable salary is able to buy a nice house, provide for their family, and purchase luxuries ranging from good food and frequent holidays to expensive vehicles and fashionable clothing. Each item taken on its own only contributes a small degree of pleasure, however, such purchases add up to a generally content, comfortable and enjoyable lifestyle. If a person is inclined to equate pleasure with happiness, then there is a legitimate argument to be made for the pursuit of happiness being the pursuit of money.

However, the majority of individuals, wealthy and otherwise, would state that happiness is more a consequence of quality time with family and good health. A comfortable home filled with luxuries is enjoyable but the most sustained happiness comes from relationships. Someone who has lost touch with their family and has frayed interpersonal bonds with their relatives, is not likely to be able to fill such a void with physical possessions. Anecdotally, towards the end of life most people recognize that their happiest moments were spent in the presence of loved ones. Additionally, good health is a more powerful pre-condition for happiness since no amount of wealth can buy relief from chronic suffering.

In conclusion, happiness depends more on one’s relationship with their family and physical health rather than financial success. There are, naturally, exceptions as happiness is subjective and can be defined differently.

1. Many are of the belief that happiness is a result of financial success, while others feel there are more crucial factors. 2. In my opinion, a certain degree of financial stability is a basic requirement for happiness but is less important overall than one’s family and health.

Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here .

1. Those who claim that happiness correlates highly with earnings argue that it affords individuals a higher standard of living. 2. A person with a considerable salary is able to buy a nice house, provide for their family, and purchase luxuries ranging from good food and frequent holidays to expensive vehicles and fashionable clothing. 3. Each item taken on its own only contributes a small degree of pleasure, however, such purchases add up to a generally content, comfortable and enjoyable lifestyle. 4. If a person is inclined to equate pleasure with happiness, then there is a legitimate argument to be made for the pursuit of happiness being the pursuit of money.

Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
Explain your main idea.
Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
Keep developing it fully.

1. However, the majority of individuals, wealthy and otherwise, would state that happiness is more a consequence of quality time with family and good health. 2. A comfortable home filled with luxuries is enjoyable but the most sustained happiness comes from relationships. 3. Someone who has lost touch with their family and has frayed interpersonal bonds with their relatives, is not likely to be able to fill such a void with physical possessions. 4. Anecdotally, towards the end of life most people recognize that their happiest moments were spent in the presence of loved ones. 5. Additionally, good health is a more powerful pre-condition for happiness since no amount of wealth can buy relief from chronic suffering.

Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
Explain your new main idea.
Include specific details and examples.
Continue developing it…
as fully as possible!

1. In conclusion, happiness depends more on one’s relationship with their family and physical health rather than financial success. 2. There are, naturally, exceptions as happiness is subjective and can be defined differently.

Summarise your main ideas.
Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here .

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

Many are of the belief that happiness is a result of financial success , while others feel there are more crucial factors . In my opinion, a certain degree of financial stability is a basic requirement for happiness but is less important overall than one’s family and health.

Those who claim that happiness correlates highly with earnings argue that it affords individuals a higher standard of living . A person with a considerable salary is able to buy a nice house, provide for their family, and purchase luxuries ranging from good food and frequent holidays to expensive vehicles and fashionable clothing . Each item taken on its own only contributes a small degree of pleasure , however, such purchases add up to a generally content , comfortable and enjoyable lifestyle . If a person is inclined to equate pleasure with happiness, then there is a legitimate argument to be made for the pursuit of happiness being the pursuit of money.

However, the majority of individuals, wealthy and otherwise , would state that happiness is more a consequence of quality time with family and good health. A comfortable home filled with luxuries is enjoyable but the most sustained happiness comes from relationships . Someone who has lost touch with their family and has frayed interpersonal bonds with their relatives , is not likely to be able to fill such a void with physical possessions . Anecdotally , towards the end of life most people recognize that their happiest moments were spent in the presence of loved ones . Additionally , good health is a more powerful pre-condition for happiness since no amount of wealth can buy relief from chronic suffering .

In conclusion, happiness depends more on one’s relationship with their family and physical health rather than financial success. There are, naturally , exceptions as happiness is subjective and can be defined differently .

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

result of caused by

financial success making money

crucial factors important elements

certain degree some amount of

financial stability have enough money

basic requirement minimum

overall generally

claim argue

correlates highly relates directly to

earnings argue money say

affords can pay for

higher standard of living good quality of life

considerable major

provide for allow for

purchase luxuries ranging from buy nice things including

frequent often

expensive vehicles pricey cars

fashionable clothing nice fashion

item taken on its own thing by itself

contributes adds to

small degree of pleasure a little enjoyment

add up contribute to

generally content overall happy

comfortable easy and nice

enjoyable lifestyle nice living standard

inclined likely to

equate pleasure make enjoyment equal to

legitimate argument clear case

pursuit of happiness trying to satisfy yourself

majority most of

otherwise or this will happen

consequence result

quality time good time spent with

filled with full of

most sustained constant

relationships interpersonal connections

lost touch not talking to, estranged

frayed interpersonal bonds not on good terms with

relatives family members

void absence

physical possessions things

anecdotally from stories

recognize know

spent in the presence of loved ones around family

additionally also

pre-condition minimum requirement

since no amount of wealth as no level of money

buy relief purchase a reprieve

chronic suffering constantly hurt by

depends more on has more to do with

rather than instead of

naturally of course

exceptions cases outside the norm

subjective can be judged individually

defined differently described in different ways

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search :

rɪˈzʌlt ɒv faɪˈnænʃəl səkˈsɛs ˈkruːʃəl ˈfæktəz ˈsɜːtn dɪˈgriː faɪˈnænʃəl stəˈbɪlɪti ˈbeɪsɪk rɪˈkwaɪəmənt ˈəʊvərɔːl kleɪm ˈkɒrɪleɪts ˈhaɪli ˈɜːnɪŋz ˈɑːgjuː əˈfɔːdz ˈhaɪə ˈstændəd ɒv ˈlɪvɪŋ kənˈsɪdərəbl prəˈvaɪd fɔː ˈpɜːʧəs ˈlʌkʃəriz ˈreɪnʤɪŋ frɒm ˈfriːkwənt ɪksˈpɛnsɪv ˈviːɪklz ˈfæʃnəbl ˈkləʊðɪŋ ˈaɪtəm ˈteɪkən ɒn ɪts əʊn kənˈtrɪbju(ː)ts smɔːl dɪˈgriː ɒv ˈplɛʒə æd ʌp ˈʤɛnərəli ˈkɒntɛnt ˈkʌmf(ə)təbl ɪnˈʤɔɪəbl ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl ɪnˈklaɪnd ɪˈkweɪt ˈplɛʒə lɪˈʤɪtɪmɪt ˈɑːgjʊmənt pəˈsjuːt ɒv ˈhæpɪnɪs məˈʤɒrɪti ˈʌðəwaɪz steɪt ˈkɒnsɪkwəns ˈkwɒlɪti taɪm fɪld wɪð məʊst səsˈteɪnd rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪps lɒst tʌʧ freɪd ˌɪntəˈpɜːsən(ə)l bɒndz ˈrɛlətɪvz vɔɪd ˈfɪzɪkəl pəˈzɛʃənz ˌænɪkˈdəʊt(ə)li ˈrɛkəgnaɪz spɛnt ɪn ðə ˈprɛzns ɒv lʌvd wʌnz əˈdɪʃənli priː-kənˈdɪʃən sɪns nəʊ əˈmaʊnt ɒv wɛlθ baɪ rɪˈliːf ˈkrɒnɪk ˈsʌfərɪŋ dɪˈpɛndz mɔːr ɒn ˈrɑːðə ðæn ˈnæʧrəli ɪkˈsɛpʃənz səbˈʤɛktɪv dɪˈfaɪnd ˈdɪfrəntli

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

Many are of the belief that happiness is a r__________f f_______________s , while others feel there are more c__________________s . In my opinion, a c________________e of f_____________________y is a b___________________t for happiness but is less important o________l than one’s family and health.

Those who c________m that happiness c__________________y with e________________e that it a________s individuals a h_____________________________g . A person with a c_______________e salary is able to buy a nice house, p__________r their family, and p__________________s r________________m good food and f__________t holidays to e___________________s and f____________________g . Each i______________________n only c________________s a s_________________________e , however, such purchases a________p to a g______________________t , c_____________e and e____________________e . If a person is i__________d to e_________________e with happiness, then there is a l_________________________t to be made for the p____________________s being the pursuit of money.

However, the m_________y of individuals, wealthy and o___________e , would s______e that happiness is more a c______________e of q______________e with family and good health. A comfortable home f____________h luxuries is enjoyable but the m________________d happiness comes from r_______________s . Someone who has l_____________h with their family and has f__________________________s with their r__________s , is not likely to be able to fill such a v______d with p__________________________s . A________________y , towards the end of life most people r____________e that their happiest moments were s___________________________________s . A_______________y , good health is a more powerful p______________n for happiness s____________________________________h can b______________f from c______________g .

In conclusion, happiness d______________________n one’s relationship with their family and physical health r_____________n financial success. There are, n______________y , e____________s as happiness is s_____________e and can be d_____________________y .

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching videos from The New York Times YouTube channel below and practice with these activities :

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice :

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/the-10-happiest-countries-in-the-world

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam :

Happy Occasions

How do people in your country celebrate happy occasions?
Why do occasions usually make people happy?
How important is the money spent on the occasion for making people happy?
Is it a good idea to spend a lot of money on a birthday party?
Is happiness today the same as it was in the past?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

In recent times, economic growth has helped many become richer, both in developed and developing countries. However, those in developed countries are not as happy as they were in the past.

Why is this?

What can be learned from this?

IELTS Essay: Developed Countries & Happiness

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25 Comments

Wonderful website

Thanks a lot!

Hello, in first body paragraph, the sentence ‘contributes a small degree of pleasure…..’ so, in such kind of sentence, when can we use contribute/contributes something or contributes to something? Do both have same meaning?e.g. contributes something and contributes to something?

They are similar – contributes to is adding to a bigger whole – contributes to the economy.

But contributes is the actual thing – contributes resources to the economy.

Great question, Sandra!

Thank you sir for making this clear!

No problem!

In 1st body paragraph, last sentence, if person is inclined to equate pleasure with happiness….. so, aren’t both same? Pleasure and happiness? Should not there be pleasure and wealth instead of pleasure and happiness?

That is a part of the question.

I think most people would say that pleasure is a part of happiness, but not the full equation.

That there are other, more satisfying elements that make up happiness.

It’s a topic for a longer essay, like most IELTS essays, so you can really just touch on it and give an opinion.

Thank you. Your website contains all topics and top notch vocabulary. Best essays .

You’re welcome as always Sandra!

There is an argument about whether individual happiness depends on being rich in money or not. In my opinion, I consider that money is not the main reason for happiness. Although wealth can solve many problems, hope is the core of happiness.

It is not necessary for rich people to worry about their survival. Money can buy more than enough commodities, such as food, clothes, or even an estate, which results in lives without being hungry or homeless. Moreover, rich people can also entertain themselves with powerful computers, new styles of wind coats, and global trips. They enjoy the toppest entertainment in the world, which can bring them happiness indeed. However, rich people may consider money so important that any single missing coin may lead to depression.

A positive attitude decides the happniess from the root. If we consider that a bright future will come, we are not fatigue. For example, a poor young graduate who just received an offer from his first selected company leads to pleasure in the mouth because his future is promising and hopeful. It is also the reason why people with huge fortunes feel happy. Furthermore, a boss of a monopoly may feel pessimistic if the company appears to be breaking apart. It is clear that money does not determine happiness, but hope does.

In sum, money can bring happiness in some cases, but hope is the origin of happiness. As a result, we should try our best to have better lives and fill ourselves with a positive attitude.

Could be a little more academic, Gakki but strong overall.

Also the phrase to begin the 3rd paragraph is a little strange…

Thanks for your feedback! I’ll keep trying.

The root cause of Happiness is TRUTH. If you back to truth Happiness , Health , Wealth success much more back to you!

Sounds about right!

Please give feedback-

People have had different views about the definition of happiness. While some assert that joyousness in life is linked to the level of success a person has achieved, others are of opinion that other possibilities play an important role in determining happiness. This essay will discuss both perspectives in the forthcoming paragraphs. I, however, side with the latter view.

On the one hand, it is nearly irrefutable to say that money can create joyfulness. In other words, money is an instrument which helps people to purchase things which can generate happiness and gratification. It allows people to be content through things, be it material possessions like cars, houses and jewelry, or buying wonderful experiences, such as vacations. Furthermore, when people’s physiological needs have been met, they would likely have achieved contentment in life. Unlike impoverished people, rich people do not have to worry about the means of meeting their basic needs. Therefore, the wealthy populace are assumed to be full of felicity since they have enough opulence to spend on things that bring happy feelings to them.

On the other hand, many people feel that loving familial relationships and excellent health are imperative for people to be joyous. People who have strong family ties are less stressed and generally in better moods because family members are not only caring but also supportive. If someone is going through any difficulties, it is the family that will stand behind them as a strong supporter and try to eradicate the problem. Secondly, people’s health is very significant. A healthy person will not be constantly bothered by pain in various body parts. Despite the fact that money can help to buy medical treatments, it does not guarantee a complete cure. For instance, if a billionaire is suffering from chronic ailments such as cancer, in spite of spending an inordinate amount of wealth, he may or may not be cured fully. Thus, having robust health is essential for people to be happy from within.

In conclusion, although financial success can assist in acquiring materialistic items engendering personal happiness, in my opinion, harmonious family relationships and a healthy body are stronger alternatives that make people’s lives happy.

Sure, Ram – a littl on the long side – try to get it down to about 275 words.

Also some vocabulary is being mis-used like joyous.

Love your examples!

Thanks Dave.

Does happiness is owned nowadays? Although, few people supports that the economic growth drives-in joy in an individual’s lives, others put forward several other sources of happiness. In my view, definitely money is paramount to happiness but certainly, there are few other requisite needs to be fulfilled in human life in order to achieve satisfaction more than happiness alone.

Supporters of the thought that “money can buy happiness” are generally mistaken for the over assumptions than reality of life. Money is needed in every transaction of materialistic items that is pre-requisite for the survival. Although, happiness is sum of the difference between the expectation and reality to be true, in general. It puts ones at very ease in life when he holds wealth in abundance. Capability to fulfill not just basic needs but also desires brings loads of excitements. But the problem with this approach is that the factors that define happiness keeps changing with time.

Opponents of the thought that “wealth is happiness” are more likely has defined joy with some other intrinsic caliber of an individual to possess satisfaction. Though, being poor or facing misery is not noble for anyone but to pertain needed balance of everything as a whole is something leads ones to satisfaction. Certainly, there is no match to love for Lord that outweighs any materialistic needs. Moreover, social and emotional support are largely the dominant factor to define satisfaction, therefore the happiness. For an instance, Elon Musk had made a statement on social media that him despite of being a richest person in

In conclusion, Joy cannot always buy or measured with economic development of the person but that comes from inside a character of the person in different forms like satisfaction.

Good work, Anubhav!

Careful with capitalizing words that are not proper nouns. Nice examples too, but some little grammar mistakes will bring your score down.

Keep working hard!

What is the band score of this essay approximately?

I have written all these essays so they are band 9 examples, Sasan!

Superb! Thanks.

You’re welcome!

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Formula For Happiness

In 1922, Albert Einstein was staying in a hotel in Tokyo. Without any money to tip a hotel delivery man, he instead gave him a couple of notes on hotel stationery about happiness and success. While the man was probably unable to read the advice, he recognized their value and held on to them. In October of this year, the delivery man’s nephew sold the notes for 1.3 million dollars. One note said, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” The other said, “A calm and humble life will bring more happiness than the pursuit of success and the constant restlessness that comes with it.”

Multi-millionaire Mo Gawdat curiously came to a similar conclusion as Einstein after trying to find his own formula for happiness. On paper, his life ticked every box . He was a top Google executive. He lived in a huge house. He married his university sweetheart and fathered two beautiful children.

He was incredibly wealthy. Once, he purchased a vintage Rolls-Royce at the drop of a hat .

People thought he had the perfect life, but Mo was as miserable as sin . Mo believed happiness could be captured in a computer code. He wanted to develop an algorithm which could bring complete happiness. Together with his son Ali, they created a formula. Mo thought it nailed the art of happiness.

And then something terrible happened. Ali was rushed to the hospital for a routine appendix removal. A needle punctured a major artery by mistake. His 21-year-old son’s organs were failing one by one. The time had come to say goodbye.

Mo and his wife kissed Ali’s forehead and left the hospital. Grief overwhelmed them.

Mo blamed the doctors for his son’s death, and he blamed himself. His wife told him blaming other people would not bring Ali back. This struck a chord with Mo.

He began to look at Ali’s death in a different light . He heard his son’s voice in his head saying, “I’ve already died, Papa. There is nothing you can do to change that, so make the best of it .”

Whenever Mo’s mind drifted toward negativity, he would ask what would Ali say in this situation.

In the wake of Ali’s death, his father remembered the happiness formula his son had helped him create. H ? e – E. “Happiness is greater than or equal to the events of life, minus the expectations of life.”

He realized that his striving for material things wasn’t making him happy. And his expectations for the way he thought life should be also weren’t making him happy.

Mo says, “I’ve changed my expectations. Rather than thinking that my son should never have died, I choose to be grateful for the times we had.”

Mo now believes that happiness isn’t something we should strive for. It’s about enjoying the present moment and being content with what we’ve got as opposed to what we want.

Read More: Einstein’s Note on Happiness Sells for $1.3 Million Google Executive Devises Scientific Formula For Happiness

In 1922, Albert Einstein was staying in a hotel in Tokyo. He had no money to give a hotel delivery man. Instead, he gave him a couple of notes about happiness and success. The man probably could not read the notes. But he did hold on to them. In October of this year, the man’s nephew sold the notes for 1.3 million dollars.

One note said that a humble life will bring more happiness than success.

Mo Gawdat also found this to be true. On paper, Mo’s life ticked every box . He lived in a big house. He had two beautiful children. And he was very rich. Once, he bought a Rolls-Royce at the drop of a hat .

People thought he had the perfect life, but he didn’t. Mo was as miserable as sin .

Mo believed happiness could be written in computer code.

Together with his son Ali, they created a formula. Mo thought it nailed the art of happiness.

Then something terrible happened. His 21-year-old son became sick. He was dying.

Whenever Mo felt bad, he would ask what Ali would say.

He remembered the happiness formula his son had helped him create. H ? e – E. “Happiness is greater than or equal to the events of life, minus the expectations of life.”

His expectations for the way he thought life should be also weren’t making him happy.

Mo says he accepts his son’s death. And he chooses to be grateful for the time he had with him.

Mo now enjoys the present moment. He says we should be happy with what we have, not what we want.

Einstein’s Note on Happiness Sells for $1.3 Million

Google Executive Devises Scientific Formula For Happiness

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189 Happiness Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

😊 key points to use to write an outstanding happiness essay, 🏆 best happiness topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 most interesting happiness topics to write about, ⭐ simple & easy happiness essay titles, 👍 good research topics about happiness, 💡 interesting topics to write about happiness, ❓ research questions about happiness.

Writing a happiness essay may seem easy at first, but many students fail to achieve a high grade because their responses are too general. To avoid falling in this trap, read this post and take note of the key points to write about.

The Meaning of Happiness

The word “happiness” means various things to various people, and it would be a good idea to explore this topic in your paper. To get some perspectives, you could ask your friends or family members what happiness is to them. Alternatively, browse sample essays on happiness online. Once you’ve done your research, consider the following:

What does happiness mean to you?
Do you think that you are happy where you are now? Why or why not?
Is achieving happiness essential to do you, or do you think that one can be satisfied with life without being truly happy?

The Importance of Happiness

This is probably among the most important happiness essay titles because there is a lot to talk about here. You would likely be surprised to find out that not all people view happiness as a crucial goal in life. In fact, most people live their days without considering whether or not they are happy. These are a few questions that you could think about:

Why is happiness more important to some people than to others?
Should a person strive to be happy? Why or why not?
What is the influence of happiness on a person’s mind and body?

Sources of Happiness

The third point you could cover in your paper is the relationship between happiness and achievements. People often believe that they will be happy when they achieve certain things and their life.

Some examples are starting a profitable business, marrying their loved one, having kids, and traveling the world. If you want to examine the correlation between happiness and other factors, these questions should give you some ideas:

Is happiness influenced by life circumstances and events? If so, how?
Why do you think some people never become happy, even after achieving what they’ve always wanted?
What external factor plays a key role in your happiness? Why do you think that is?

Happiness and Money

The link between happiness and money is possibly one of the most popular happiness essay ideas and titles.

Many people think that wealth has a direct influence on happiness, but others disagree. You could explore this theme in your paper using the following questions to guide your thoughts:

In your opinion, can a person to buy happiness? If so, how?
Why do you think people often associate happiness with wealth? If money is the key to happiness, why are there so many wealthy people who are unhappy?
Do you believe that true happiness is possible without financial success? Why or why not?

Regardless of what you choose to write about, be sure to maintain a good essay structure throughout your paper. To assist you with this, create a detailed outline and stick to it while writing.

Start your paper with a happiness essay hook, a sentence to draw the reader’s attention to your work. Support your thoughts with relevant examples or research where applicable.

Finally, make sure to close off your paper with a happiness essay conclusion. If you want to learn more about essay structure, browse our website – we also have a good selection of essay topics and other useful materials!

What Is Happiness Essay One would say that happiness is to be with a loved one, the second would say that happiness is the stability, and the third, on the contrary, would say that happiness is the unpredictability.
Can Money Buy You Happiness? First of all, given that happiness is related to the satisfaction of personal needs, there is also a need to consider the essential need of human life such as housing, medicine, and food.
Connection Between Money and Happiness Critical analysis of money-happiness relationship shows that socioeconomic factors determine the happiness of an individual; therefore, it is quite unsatisfactory to attribute money as the only factor and determinant of happiness.
I Don’t Believe Money Can Buy Happiness This shows that as much as money is essential in acquisition and satisfaction of our needs, it does not guarantee our happiness by its own and other aspects of life have to be incorporated to […]
Life as a Human’s Struggle for Happiness He said he was eager to get his degree and live his life to the fullest. After a while, Ali understood that the answer to his question was life.
Money, Happiness and Relationship Between Them The research conducted in the different countries during which people were asked how satisfied they were with their lives clearly indicated the existence of a non-linear relationship between the amount of money and the size […]
Painfulness and Happiness of Childbirth The second stage is associated with the child’s passage through the birth canal; it begins after the complete opening of the cervix and ends with the birth of a child.
The Key to Happiness and Satisfaction with Life For example, in the documentary ‘Happiness,’ the hunters and gatherers of Namibia in Africa were found to be having a high happiness index.
This I Believe: Happiness Is a Choice I know that I can choose to be happy. I was ashamed and worried that he would know I took it.
World Happiness Index and Its Six Factors This variable allows the researchers to evaluate the status of the economy since it is the estimation of the value of all products and services a company creates.
Goals of the Life: Personal Experience of Responsibility for Life and Happiness I have a lot of goals in my life and do all my best to realize them in my life. The best way to achieve your goal is to make a plan of steps to […]
Happiness and Morality This paper will look at the meaning of happiness and morality, the relationship between morality and happiness and why many philosophers hold that in order to be happy, one has to be moral.
Does Money Buy Happiness? Billions of people in all parts of the world sacrifice their ambitions and subconscious tensions on the altar of profitability and higher incomes. Yet, the opportunity costs of pursuing more money can be extremely high.
The Psychology of Happiness The psychology of happiness is closely related to philosophy, as the science of happiness is based on three major theories, namely “the emotional state theory, the life satisfaction theory, and hedonism”. As far as happiness […]
Discussion: Can Money Buy Happiness? Reason Two: Second, people are psychologically predisposed to wanting more than they have, so the richer people are, the less feasible it is to satisfy their demands.
Happiness and Success as a Life Meaning I find meaning in my life when I help people that I encounter in my life. This means that life, when a person follows the Christian rules, is full of spirituality and thus meaning.
Money and Happiness in Poor and Wealthy Societies Comprehending the motivations for pursuing money and happiness is the key to understanding this correlation. The Easterlin paradox summed this view by showing that income had a direct correlation with happiness.
Is Happiness the Beginning or the End? Jamie Anderson’s “Is Happiness the Beginning or the End?” discusses the view on happiness in the American cultural consciousness and the perceived ideological conflict regarding the specificities of its nature.
Sigmund Freud’s Ideas of Happiness One of these means, and the only one that Freud seems to feel provides any sense of satisfaction as to why happiness cannot be obtained, is found in the realm of religion.
Concept of Happiness in the Workplace The task of every employee is to find a way to work in harmony with their personal values and build successful relationships with colleagues and managers.
Happiness: Common and Personal Criteria Since the emergence of the term happiness in the times of Plato and Aristotle, the topic of happiness, its philosophical meaning, and its application to the real world became a case of many discussions.
Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness Positive psychology is a science of positive features of the life of a human being, including happiness, welfare, and prosperity. According to him, happiness is freedom from pain in the body and a disturbance in […]
Acts of Kindness and Happiness in Human Life The research at hand is aimed to prove that, to boost happiness through receiving positive emotions, a person should commit more actions that can be referred to as acts of kindness.
The idea of Happiness Although Weiner shows that trusting the leadership is a source of happiness by contrasting Bhutan with the people of Medova, one can still argue that so long as the leadership provides the required security, be […]
Moral Virtue and Its Relation to Happiness Furthermore, Aristotle believed that moral virtue is the primary means to happiness and the most important of all things that are really good for people.
Money, Happiness and Satisfaction With Life Nonetheless, the previously mentioned examples should be used to remind us that money alone is not a guarantee of happiness, satisfaction with life, and good health.
Bhutan’s Concept of Gross National Happiness The concept of GNH in Bhutan emphasizes the need for gauging the progress of this country from the perspective of its population’s degree of happiness.
Technology Fails to Deliver Happiness With the advancements in information technology and the massive use of the internet, communication has become quite effective as people can connect when they are in different countries around the world, at any time.
Edwin Arlington Robinson: Money and Happiness in “Richard Cory” It is evident that money cannot guarantee happiness in one’s life due to the uncertainties that surround each one of us.
Philosophy Issue: Truth vs. Happiness The only way the truth will be concealed and still lead to happiness is when the truth is substituted with a lie.
Psychology of Happiness in the World Psychology of happiness touches on various fields of social and cultural life and seeks to interfere with the lives of individuals for improving their talents and endowing their normal existence with greater meaning.
Social Media in Enhancing Social Relationships and Happiness Social media and technology assist to foster and maintain relationships where the people live in different geographical regions. There is a major concern that social media and technology poses a threat to the traditional fabric […]
Emotions of anger and happiness The emotion of anger is usually considered to be negative and it can lead to various negative consequences. On the other hand, the emotion of happiness is positive and it has numerous benefits to our […]
Leadership for Happiness in Workplaces The relationship between the leaders and the workforce determines how the employees react and perceive the decisions made by the management.
How Is the “Greatest Happiness Principle” Supposed to Be Useful in Determining What I Ought to Do? Therefore, the main idea of the greatest happiness principle is to make sure that more people are satisfied, however, the volume of the satisfaction is not discussed as well as the level of harm caused […]
True Happiness by St. Augustine Augustine put emphasis on one’s soul and spiritual connection with God to be happy rather than material goods and body.St. I concur with this idea and believe that in seeking happiness, one should prioritize what […]
Stay-Home Moms and Full-Time Working Mothers: Indicators of Happiness In some parts of the world, it’s considered well that a woman is working, but mostly in eastern countries, women are preferred to stay at home at look after their houses and children.
American Literature: Happiness Is Only Real When Shared This implies that he had started valuing the presence of other people in his life and the aversions that he had towards his parents started to wither after realizing that he had to share his […]
Study of the Happiness Index Parameters Thus, the chronological data allow us to evaluate not only the countries among themselves according to this criterion but also to provide the dynamics of the change in the happiness index within the country.
Bhutanese Views on Happiness and Subjective Wellbeing The purpose of this task is to explore Bhutanese views on happiness as a form of positive psychology that depicts national progress.
In the Pursuit of Liberty and Happiness: How the Life of Mohammad Yunus Continue to Impact the World By any standards, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States can be termed as two of the most fundamental and enduring documents in the Nation’s history due to the very fact […]
Happiness and Its Social Psychological Aspects The well being of an individual is very critical to performance and several meaning of life to that particular individual. Several researchers have studied aspects like obedience, intervention of bystander, behavior and altruism as being […]
My Relationship with Time and Its Effect on Happiness Eventually, I think that it is necessary to use time correctly, to sleep well and to work in the most productive hours.
Aristotle’s Concept of Happiness Aristotle’s concept of happiness is an expression of virtue that is similar to the flow state, happiness is a combination of the baseline level where basic needs are fulfilled and a broader area managed by […]
Happiness: Personal View and Suggestions For an individual to increase his or her level of happiness, it is necessary to be aware of the things that make him or her happy.
Importance of Training Mind to Find Happiness and Meaning of Life According to Buddhist thinking, mind training “…is training in stability in order to “reveal the mystery” of the ultimate nature of reality, our own and that of other phenomena”.
Happiness in Mills’ Utilitarianism Theory Mill further supports his claim by explaining that the justice sentiment is based on utility and that the existence of rights is due to human happiness. The freedom from pain involving health issues and other […]
Aristotle’s Understanding of Happiness If happiness is “wholeness”, then for a person to become happy, it is necessary to become “whole”. Thus, all a person has to do to become whole is lower goods.
Happiness: Cuddy’s vs. Dowthwaite’s Articles Comparison Although Cuddy and Dowthwaite have different perspectives on the matter, they both concur that it is natural for individuals not always to be happy.
The Happy Planet Index of Long-Term Happiness The Happy Planet Index contributes to answering the issue, “Is it possible to live happy lives without harming the environment?” The relationship between happiness and ecological footprints can be clearly understood by interpreting the data […]
Environmental Injustice Impeding Health and Happiness The authors note that there is a constant flow of the white population to the areas most protected from flooding and the displacement of the black population from there.
Ways to Ensure Happiness at Work For employers to gain a high amount of trust from their workers, they have to believe that their workers have the organization’s best interest and that their actions are driven to better their services.
Thoughts on Stress Management and Happiness Although she has all her financial needs met overwhelmingly, her failure to proceed with her studies and get employment makes her feel unsatisfied.
Happiness Areas and Goals in Personal Life The point that most of the global population leads a life of acting contributes significantly to the loss of happiness. That is why one of my goals to achieve the second area of happiness involved […]
Aristotle’s View of Ethics and Happiness Aristotle guarantees that to find the human great, we should recognize the capacity of an individual. He set forth the thought that joy is a delight in magnificence and great.
Changing a Client’s Life From a Mess to Happiness In the beginning, I disclosed these details to make the woman’s physical portrait.”She averages one meal per day”: The woman has a great risk of problems with gastritis due to the lack of vitamins and […]
Happiness in Arts: Happiness Through Virtue This way, the premise of the Marble statue resembles that of the portrait of Antisthenes, namely, that happiness is the greatest good and it can be attained by nurturing goodness.
Exegetical Paper on Aristotle: Meaning of Happiness It is in the balance, according to Aristotle, that the completeness of the human personality lies, and only through balance can a person find true self-satisfaction.
Create Happiness Organization: Marketing Donor organizations, which are going to buy the Create Happiness Organization’s cards and card devices in order to use them for discounts and making bargains.
Self-Happiness and Its Impact on Romantic Relationships This boosts self-happiness and contributes to the general success of a romantic relationship. Self-happiness is vital in maintaining relationships and the overall connection between partners for relationship success.
Happiness: The Best Way to Achieve and Prolong It If a person can combine work and rest, lives a healthy life, and has time for hobbies and family, they will be able to attain lasting happiness.
How Can Humans Find Happiness? Generally, evaluating the facts, it can be said that Aristotle’s concept of happiness is authentic, and happiness for a number of people is truly in acquiring knowledge, but this is not always true as there […]
Mental Health: Happiness and Social Interaction It is quite curious to observe the way parents are teaching their children to be kind and good to others and right after the lesson they express quite negative feelings to a family member who […]
Happiness and Deviant Behaviour in “Happiness” Movie In this manner, he was able to connect to Joy Jordan who happened to be the sister of Trish, the wife of his psychiatrist.
Changed Views of Happiness: Context and Aim of the Definition The truest happiness arrives through the task of a person’s highest function: the utilization of the coherent rule of mind. The first one is “The universal run of individuals and the crudest,” which identifies happiness […]
Influence of Television on People’s Happiness The idea of mass culture influencing the development of society is closely connected with a concept of a need to be happy.
The Role of Employee Happiness in the Productivity Among Government Employees The national UAE Program of Happiness features a set of three initiatives: Happiness in policies, programmes and services of all government entities and work environments; Promotion of values of positivity and happiness as a lifestyle […]
Effects of Gambling on Happiness: Research in the Nursing Homes The objective of the study was to determine whether the elderly in the nursing homes would prefer the introduction of gambling as a happiness stimulant.
Women’s Quest to Attain Happiness in Literature Thus, our definition of the most important difference between the characters of Janie and Emma will sound as follows: whereas, Janie never ceased to be a woman in both: the physiological and psychological context of […]
How Much Emphasis Should One Place on Personal Happiness or Fulfillment? The aim of the paper is to explore the main tenets of utilitarianism and happiness, apply them to personal vision of happiness and compare it to Aristotle’s notion of happiness and ideal life.
Psychology: Happiness from a Personal Viewpoint Because of my ability to see the good in people, I think I am more inclined to want to do things that will help them, and these times I have done this have appeared in […]
Aristotle and His Definition of Happiness The best taste a person can have in his life is happiness because of success. But in my point of view, happiness is the main feeling that comes from the success of any useful act […]
Happiness at the Workplace in the UAE The primary approach that should be taken by the governmental entities of the UAE to improve the happiness of their employees should be focused on creating an appropriate environment.
Psychology of Happiness and Effect on Human Health The main characteristics of the impact of feelings on human health are the rapid pulse and palpitations, the dilatation of pupils, and changes in the skin.
Hurricane Katrina Survivors’ Happiness Factors The paper is dedicated to the study of factors influencing the happiness of women, whose lives were affected by the Katrina Hurricane, one and four years after the hurricane.
Happiness: Health, Marriage, and Success In this paper, I will examine the issue of happiness by scrutinizing it through the lenses of health, marriage, and success the three components that previously appeared to me to be necessary for an individual […]
Happiness vs. Production in the Workplace I think that good leader has to clarify the possible levels of the job performance of their employees to understand what kind of work may be expected when goals can be achieved, and what rewards […]
John Stuart Mill’s Happiness Philosophy Consequently, the outcome of a course of action that is on the course of being undertaken or is to be undertaken lies in the value of the outcome.
Touchpoints for Improved Happiness Index in the UAE The study is aimed at establishing the critical success factors in quality management of service delivery charter in the UAE government institutions. Research question: What is the impact of the UAE government’s touchpoints in improving […]
Emirati Happiness in National Agenda and Vision 2030 Using evidence from the existing literature, this report argues that the examination of touchpoints will help promote the objective of making the UAE the happiest nation across the world.
Touchpoints in UAE Government’s Happiness Initiatives This paper aims at conducting a literature review on the concept of touchpoints with the objective of developing a sound argument regarding the extent to which they can effectively help the UAE to achieve remarkable […]
The Meaning of Happiness On the other hand, another study found that the birth of a child is associated with the loss of spousal love, and the decrease in the total level of happiness is stated to be the […]
Volunteering Effects on Happiness Taking that into consideration, it is necessary to pay an increased attention to the effect that volunteering and all the people connected to it produce on representatives of one of the social groups whose opportunities […]
David Leonhardt: May Be Money Does Buy Happiness After All The case study of Japanese citizens that support Easterlin paradox do not factor in the confounding psychological effects of the Second World War on the entire population and the country.
Happiness and Its Influence on Decision-Making The strength of this paper is that it explores not only the meaning of the word but also the results of its offered revision, including the reconsideration of the importance of the phenomenon of competition, […]
Thomas Jefferson’s Goals: Life, Liberty and Happiness Prior to the writing of this phrase, the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness were not acknowledged by the political systems of the day.
Philosophy Terms: Justice, Happiness, Power and Virtue Socrates argues that autocratic leadership is an important structure of ensuring that the rule of law is followed and that the common good of all societal members is enhanced.
Pursuit of Happiness Film Analysis Thus, while the film centers on the theme of “pursuit of happiness,” this paper shows that the film distorts the concept of happiness to represent the orientation of earthly goods through which our reality revolves […]
Money and Happiness Connection – Philosophy Based on measures of happiness and household income, these economists have claimed that money, in this case, economic development, has a significant impact on happiness.
Does Intelligence Predict Happiness? Overall, this concept can be described as the ability of a person to apply cognitive skills while using various types of information.
The Definition of Happiness For example, Aristotle’s work raises questions such as, “What is the purpose of human life?”, “What is happiness?” and “Why do people do the things they do?” On the other hand, Plato’s text raises questions […]
Relationships of Social Class and Happiness In the United States, for instance, the gap between the rich and the poor has been on the rise and the government seems to be doing very little to curb the sad realities of the […]
Psychological Research: Money Can Buy Happiness In the article, the author has given enough evidence to prove that money can be used to buy happiness. Based on the evidence presented in the article, it is obvious that proper utilization of money […]
Mill’s Greatest Happiness Principles: A Practical Guide to the Theory of Life In the given question, Mill draws the line between the moral principles and the human mind. Hence, Mill questions the link between the moral and the ethical.
Can Aristotle’s Theory of Happiness Be Achieved by Applying Friedman’s Ideas of Corporate Social Responsibilities? According to Aristotle, politics is the master of all arts since it is concerned with the end in itself. This is a central argument to the ideas of Aristotle and underscores his idea that politics […]
Happiness Meaning and Theories This essay aims to analyze Happiness, what makes happiness special to people, the meaning of it and the essence of it. The second happiness is a general consensus about the goodness of your life at […]
Secular Worldview: Attaining Earthly Happiness It is a form of religious worldview in which man is the overall measure that is; man is the ultimate judge of truth and also evaluates the values which are to be followed.
Happiness: Philosophical Description Serenity of mind to Gertrude is found by accepting things that are beyond her control and seeking the strength and courage to change things that can be changed like cloth the naked, feed the hungry, […]
Essence of Happiness of Indira’s Life According to Plato’s and Aristotle’s Views on Education She finds her inspiration in the languages and other subjects and, obviously, the girl knows that education is the best solution of solving a number of problems and difficulties that she may face during the […]
Happiness is not always fun These words show what the movie is all about, the fluctuations that accompany the pursuit and maintenance of happiness. This close connection of the movie to the viewer facilitates the general acceptance of the intellectual […]
Aristotle’s Ideas on Civic Relationships: Happiness, the Virtues, Deliberation, Justice, and Friendship On building trust at work, employers are required to give minimum supervision to the employees in an effort to make the latter feel a sense of belonging and responsibility.
Influence on Happiness of Gender, Education Level and the Number of Children According to Easterlin, the number of children a family has is inversely proportional to the level of happiness the family will enjoy; this shows that the higher the number of children, the less happy the […]
Gender, Education Level and the Number of Children Influencing Perception on Happiness It is also found out that the increase in the number of children leads to lack of love in the family and later leads to decline in the degree of happiness.
Well-Being as a Happiness Definitions Michael Marmot in his book The Status Syndrome: How Social Standing Affects Our Health and Longevity tries to justify happiness from a social perspective.
How Aristotle Views Happiness Aristotle notes that “the attainment of the good for one man alone is, to be sure, a source of satisfaction; yet to secure it for a nation and for states is nobler and more divine”.
Consumerism and Happiness To the surprise of Luedicke and Giesler, “The more goods produced and consumed in the society the higher the growth rate of the economy”.
Which is Basic in Ethics: Happiness or Obligation Logically, the basic element in any pursuit is the end itself; consequently, the task here is to determine the element that stands out as the end as opposed to means to something else.
The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness – Folks and Fairy Tales “What seems like a blessing may be a curse. What seems like a curse may be a blessing”.
The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness The following essay is concerned with the book’ The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness’ by Joel Ben Izzy. Joel Ben’s story,’ The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness’ resonates in my life.
Pursuit of Happiness by Women in Modern Day America Civil rights are what citizens in a democratic country are entitled to and they include rights such as the right to vote, right to equal treatment and opportunities, the right to life and the right […]
Breaking the Stereotype: Why Urban Aboriginals Score Highly on Happiness Measures
Electing Happiness: Does Happiness Effect Voting and Do Elections Affect Happiness
Freedom, Justice, and the Pursuit of Happiness
Individual and Contextual Factors of Happiness and Life Satisfaction in a Low Middle Income Country
Technology and Its Effects on Satisfaction in Society
Neural and Genetic Correlates of the Social Sharing of Happiness
Emotional Intelligence as Mediator Between Need for Relatedness, Happiness, and Flourishing
Serotonin the Happiness Hormone and Effect on Neurotransmitters
Defining Happiness Through Metaphorical Expressions, a Person’s Behavior, and Its Relation to Success
Cultural Capital and Happiness: Why the Rich Are Happier
Relationship Between Spiritual Well-Being and Happiness
Finding Happiness in Homosexuality, Overcoming Rejection, Identity, and Desire
Measuring Happiness: From Fluctuating Satisfaction to Authentic, Durable Happiness
Income and Happiness: Earning and Spending as Sources of Discontent
Adaptation Amidst Prosperity and Adversity: Insights From Happiness Studies From Around the World
Modern Ritualism for Finding Peace & Happiness & Living With Meaning
Aristotle’s Eudaimonia: Are Pleasure and Happiness the Final Goals in Life
Beauty and Equality: The Key Elements to the Pursuit of Happiness
Collective Happiness: Labor Union Membership and Life Satisfaction
Law, Sustainability, and the Pursuit of Happiness
Against Positive Thinking: Uncertainty as to the Secret of Happiness
Age and the Pursuit of Happiness Among Immigrants
Happiness and Its Correlation With Marriage, Earnings, and Age
Poor and Distressed, but Happy: Situational and Cultural Moderators of the Relationship Between Wealth and Happiness
Job Satisfaction and Family Happiness: The Part-Time Work Problem
Migrants, Health, and Happiness: Evidence That Health Assessments Travel With Migrants and Predict Well-Being
Adult Happiness and Prior Traumatic Victimization in and Out of the Household
Happiness and Growth the World Over: Time Series Evidence on the Happiness-Income Paradox
Economic Growth Evens Out Happiness: Evidence From Six Surveys
Children, Spousal Love, and Happiness: An Economic Analysis
Our Relationship With God as the Pathway Toward Happiness
Parenthood and Happiness: Direct and Indirect Impacts of Parenthood on Happiness
Gender and Well-Being Around the World: Some Insights From the Economics of Happiness
National Happiness and Genetic Distance: A Cautious Exploration
Basic Needs and Wealth as Independent Determinants of Happiness
Money and Happiness: Problems Understanding Its Dynamic Relationship
Buddhism: Happiness and the Four Noble Truths
Nicomachean Ethics and Reasons Role in Happiness and Virtue
Commitment Beyond Self and Adolescence: The Issue of Happiness
Absolute Income, Relative Income, and Happiness
Does Economic Prosperity Bring About a Happier Society?
What Does Sociology Bring to the Study of Happiness?
What Affects Happiness: Absolute Income, Relative Income, or Expected Income?
What’s Special About Happiness as a Social Indicator?
What the Buddha Taught – Fundamental Principles Ensuring Human Happiness
What Are the Relationship of Inequality, Happiness, and Relative Concerns?
How Does Happiness Mediate the Organizational Virtuousness and Affective Commitment Relationship?
What Are Happiness and Success?
What Is Happiness? What Makes Life Happy?
How Can People Find Happiness?
What Are the Main Factors for Achieving Happiness?
How Can Happiness Improve Productivity?
Does Government Ideology Affect Personal Happiness?
Happy for How Long? How Social Capital and Economic Growth Relate to Happiness Over Time
How Do Gender and Age Effect Happiness?
How the Economy and Institutions Affect Happiness?
What Are the Differences Between Happiness and Self-Esteem?
What Role Does Government Play in Human Happiness?
What Can Economists Learn From Happiness?
How Much Does Money Matter? Estimating the Causal Effects of Income on Happiness
What Do Happiness Indices Tell Us About Life?
How Can Enduring Happiness Arise From Friendship?
Money Cannot Buy Happiness: What Are Your Views?
What Can Happiness Research Tell Us About Altruism?
Why We’re Happier When We’re Older?
Happiness Explained: What Human Flourishing Is and How We Can Promote It?
Why Happiness Eludes the Modern Woman?
How Does the Economic Crisis Influence Adolescents’ Happiness?
Do Fulfilling Desires Lead To Happiness?
How Does Happiness Relate to Economic Behaviour?
Psychology Questions
Success Ideas
Cultural Identity Research Topics
Virtue Essay Ideas
Conflict Resolution Essay Topics
Freedom Topics
Dreaming Essay Titles
Human Development Research Ideas
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Happy By Roko Belic Analysis Essay

Happiness is a universal human objective that has recently gaining more traction in the field of human psychology, known as positive psychology. The documentary Happy, by director Roko Belic, explains that being involved in a community makes people happier. He also says that personal growth, close relationships and community feeling have a major value in people’s lives. Roko Belic states that people being productive and happy live longer. Arthur C. Brooks, in The New York Times article, “A Formula for Happiness,” discusses the community surrounding happiness.

He writes that half of where people’s happiness comes from is their past, “Half of happiness is genetically determined up to an additional forty percent comes from the things that have occurred in our recent past. ” The article justifies how being a part of a community and participating in physical activity makes people more happy. It is important to consider to what extent does monetary success maximize an individual’s happiness. Although society judges people who do not have money and are less fortunate, they seem to be the happiest by being with family.

We should also value being with community and not so much time worrying about working. In our society money can be defined as an extrinsic factor. Making money is some people’s first priority to being happy. In fact, Andrew Blackman introduces the relationship between money and happiness. “People think that experiences are only going to provide temporary happiness, but they actually provide both more happiness and more value. ” This quote explains how people continue to buy material things because they believe it is tangible.

To clarify, it shows that people with higher incomes are, broadly speaking, happier than those who struggle to get by. While Blackman is correct that extrinsic materials are important to people, those who are part of a community and are who are physically active are just as happy. People who interact with others and are active are very happy. Many say that exercising makes them happy and calm. Additionally, being active helps people who experience fear and helps people who are exposed to stressful situations.

An example of this is how bicycling and weight training reduce signs of signs of sickness. It also twists together with feelings of love, hate, fear, etc. Gretchen Reynolds, explains in her article “Why Exercise Makes Us Feel Good,” that “Exercising makes people feel good to relieve stress. It also makes people calm. ” This quote demonstrates how much physical activity can help human emotions improve. To clarify, physical activity helps the mental and emotional ability of someone’s life because those who are active are happy people.

People should value more time with community and not so much time working all the time because you lose focus on what’s really important in life. One reason is because the little things matter the most in people’s lives who are less fortunate. Additionally, some who are involved with nature and spend time with family and friends are very appreciative of what they have. Stephanie Rosenbloom illustrates this claim when she clarifies in her “But Will It Make You Happy? ” article that “The idea that you need to go bigger to be happy is false.

I really believe that the acquisition of material goods bring about happiness. ” This quote shows that you could have everything in the world, get rid of it and spend some time with nothing, you will see that you are just as happy as before or even happier. To clarify, Tammy Smith and her husband gave most of their belongings away and still were happier as ever. Focusing on work too much interferes with time spent with people. Being part of a community improves both health and happiness. In the article, “A Formula for Happiness,” Arthur C. Brooks discusses how the communities are surrounded by happiness.

While making money is a major key to some individual’s happiness, interacting with others and being active make people happy. Furthermore Gretchen Reynolds’ article, “Why Exercise Makes Us Feel Good,” explains how exercising relieves stress and makes people calm. In addition, Stephanie Rosenbloom “But Will It Make You Happy? ” justifies how people should not jump to conclusions and value more time with community and not as much time working because you will lose focus on what is really important in life. If more people balance their time to be a part of a group or community or actively workout, their happiness will be significantly increased.

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Essay on Happiness

List of essays on happiness, essay on happiness – short essay (essay 1 – 150 words), essay on happiness – for kids and children (essay 2 – 200 words), essay on happiness – 10 lines on happiness written in english (essay 3 – 250 words), essay on happiness (essay 4 – 300 words), essay on happiness – ways to be happy (essay 5 – 400 words), essay on happiness – for school students (class 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 standard) (essay 6 – 500 words), essay on happiness – ways of developing happiness (essay 7 – 600 words), essay on happiness – sources of suffering, happiness and conclusion (essay 8 – 750 words), essay on happiness – long essay on happiness (essay 9 – 1000 words).

Happiness is defined by different people in different ways. When we feel positive emotions we tend to feel happy. That is what happiness is all about. Happiness is also regarded as the mental state of a person in an optimistic manner.

Every person defines happiness in his/her own manner. In whatever manner you may define happiness; the truth is that it is vital for a healthy and prosperous life.

In order to make students understand what true happiness is all about, we have prepared short essays for students which shall enlighten them further on this topic.

Audience: The below given essays are exclusively written for school students (Class 3, 4 ,5, 6 and 7 Standard).

Introduction:

Happiness is a state of mind and the feeling expressed when things are going great. It is what we feel when we get our first car, buy a new house or graduate with the best grades. Happiness should be distinguished from joy. When joy is a constant state of mind, happiness depends on events in our lives.

Importance of Happiness:

The opposite of happiness is sadness which is a state of negativity in the mindset. When we remain sad for an extended period of time it can lead to depression. To avoid this state of mind we must always remind ourselves of happenings in our lives that made us happy.

Conclusion:

Though life throws countless challenges at us on a daily basis, if we drown in those challenges we would definitely become depressed. It is important that we find positive things in our daily lives to get excited about and feel the happiness.

Happiness is a state of mind which makes you feel accomplished in life and having everything in this world without a single reason to repent. Well, although there can be no perfect definition of happiness; happiness is when you feel you’re at the top of the world where a sense of complete satisfaction prevails.

The meaning of happiness is relative and varies from people to people. For some, happiness is when you experience professional success, reunions with family and friends, eating out, reading books or watching good movies. While for others, happiness can be accomplished by some weekend activities which might help you de-stress and get the satisfaction of mind.

If you involve yourself in social activities where you help the needy and provide support to the weaker section of the society, you can experience happiness if not anything else. When a young boy flies a kite, plays with mud, and watches the nature, for him, that is the greatest happiness in the world.

The happiness of mind is often considered quite contrary to jealousy and anger which you experience once you have failed or unaccomplished any desired goal. You should always try to rehearse the ways of keeping yourself satisfied and keeping away from negativity to experience peace and happiness in life. True happiness begins where desire ends!

What is happiness? It is a state of being happy. But it does not mean to be happy all the time. Happiness is a feeling of something good that is happening in our life. We feel happy when we achieve something. But happiness is spread when our dear one is happy as well. Some people find true happiness in playing with their pets, while some may find happiness in staying engaged in creative work.

Happiness is often derived from channelizing thoughts to positive thinking. However, it is not as simple as it may sound.

To achieve the state of complete happiness one has to practice on improving the state of life by:

1. Staying contended in life with what you have. Cribbing and grumbling never lead to happiness.

2. Staying focused on the current life instead of daydreaming of the good days or old days.

3. Stop blaming for something that went terribly wrong in life. The life is all about moving on. Stop worrying and set new goals in life.

4. Being thankful to God for all the good things that you have in your life.

5. Having good people around you who can boost up positivity in your life.

Everyone desires to be happy in life. Happiness cannot be achieved without establishing complete control of one’s thoughts as it is very easy to be carried away by the waves of thoughts and emotions surrounding us. Remind yourself of the good things of your life and be thankful about it.

What is happiness? Some would state that happiness implies being well off. Others would state that for them, happiness intends to be sound. You will discover individuals saying that for them happiness implies having love in their life, having numerous companions, a great job, or accomplishing a specific objective. There are individuals, who trust that the want of a specific wish would make happiness in their life; however, it may not be so. Having true happiness is something which is desired by all.

The Path to Happiness:

There are small things which when incorporated into our daily lives, can lead us to the path of happiness. For instance, instead of thinking about problems, we should actually be thinking about the solutions. Not only will we be happier but we shall also be able to solve our problems faster. Similarly, once in a while, you start the day with the longing to achieve a few targets. Toward the day’s end, you may feel disappointed and miserable, in light of the fact that you haven’t possessed the capacity to do those things. Take a look at what you have done, not at what you have not possessed the capacity to do. Regularly, regardless of whether you have achieved a ton amid the day, you let yourself feel disappointed, due to some minor assignments you didn’t achieve. This takes away happiness from you.

Again, now and then, you go throughout the day effectively completing numerous plans, yet as opposed to feeling cheerful and fulfilled, you see what was not cultivated and feel troubled. It is out of line towards you.

Each day accomplishes something good which you enjoy doing. It may tend to be something little, such as purchasing a book, eating something you cherish, viewing your most loved program on TV, heading out to a motion picture, or simply having a walk around the shoreline. Even small things can bring great levels of happiness in our lives and motivate us for new goals.

Happiness is not what you feel from outside, rather it is something which comes from your inner soul. We should find happiness in us rather than searching for it in worldly desires.

Happiness is defined by different people in different ways. Some find happiness in having a luxurious life while some find it in having loving people around them rather than money. True happiness lies within us and our expectation of happiness. It is something that should be felt and cannot be explained in words.

Even though this simple word has a lot of meaning hidden in it, many fail to understand the real one or feel the real happiness. Finding happiness in the outer world is the main reason for this failure. Nothing can buy you happiness, whether be the favorite thing you desire for or the person you love the most or the career you build, unless and until you feel it within yourself.

Ways to be Happy:

Bring happiness and soulful life to yourself rather than expecting it from the outside world like things, money, etc. Being happy is not as easy as advised to be one happier person. To be content and happy with whatever you have and yourself it takes time and patience. You should practice to be a happier person in all moments and eventually you will notice that no sorrow can sink you down.

Whatever good or bad happened in your past shouldn’t bother your present. Learn to live today with more happiness than yesterday and forget about your past sadness for a harmonious life. Thankfulness to the life you got is another important character you should acquire to be happy. If you compare yourself with someone with better luxurious life, then you will never be happy or content and do it the other way.

Don’t depress your mind with bad and negative thoughts about yourself and around. Try to find every goodness in a situation you face and accept the things that already happened, whether good or bad. Never forget to choose merrier and positive people to be closer to you so that their vibes will also help you in being one merrier person.

Whenever you feel low and depressed never hesitate to go to those around you to find happiness. But be aware of those negative ones that may pull you even deeper into the bad thoughts. Always surround yourself with positive thinking and motivating people so that you can rise higher even from the deepest fall.

Happiness is nothing but a feeling that will be seeded into your soul only if you wish to and nothing other than yourself can indulge this feeling in you. Don’t spoil your life finding happiness somewhere else.

Happiness is a very complicated thing. Happiness can be used both in emotional or mental state context and can vary largely from a feeling from contentment to very intense feeling of joy. It can also mean a life of satisfaction, good well-being and so many more. Happiness is a very difficult phenomenon to use words to describe as it is something that can be felt only. Happiness is very important if we want to lead a very good life. Sadly, happiness is absent from the lives of a lot of people nowadays. We all have our own very different concept of happiness. Some of us are of the opinion that we can get happiness through money, others believe they can only get true happiness in relationships, some even feel that happiness can only be gotten when they are excelling in their profession.

As we might probably know, happiness is nothing more than the state of one being content and happy. A lot of people in the past, present and some (even in the future will) have tried to define and explain what they think happiness really is. So far, the most reasonable one is the one that sees happiness as something that can only come from within a person and should not be sought for outside in the world.

Some very important points about happiness are discussed below:

1. Happiness can’t be bought with Money:

A lot of us try to find happiness where it is not. We associate and equate money with happiness. If at all there is happiness in money then all of the rich people we have around us would never feel sad. What we have come to see is that even the rich amongst us are the ones that suffer depression, relationship problems, stress, fear and even anxiousness. A lot of celebrities and successful people have committed suicide, this goes a long way to show that money or fame does not guarantee happiness. This does not mean that it is a bad thing to be rich and go after money. When you have money, you can afford many things that can make you and those around you very happy.

2. Happiness can only come from within:

There is a saying that explains that one can only get true happiness when one comes to the realisation that only one can make himself/herself happy. We can only find true happiness within ourselves and we can’t find it in other people. This saying and its meaning is always hammered on in different places but we still refuse to fully understand it and put it into good use. It is very important that we understand that happiness is nothing more than the state of a person’s mind. Happiness cannot come from all the physical things we see around us. Only we through our positive emotions that we can get through good thoughts have the ability to create true happiness.

Our emotions are created by our thoughts. Therefore, it is very important that we work on having only positive thoughts and this can be achieved when we see life in a positive light.

Happiness is desired by every person. However, there are very few persons that attain happiness easily in life.

It is quite tough to get happiness in life as people usually link it with the things and the people around them. The simple fact is that happiness usually starts as well as finishes with your own life. All those people who understand this fact easily get the true happiness in their life.

Happiness in Relationships:

There are lots of people who link happiness with the money and there are few others also who link it with the personal relations. It is very important to know that if you are not happy with yourself then, it is not possible to remain happy in your relationship as well.

The problems in the relationship have been increasing speedily and the main cause behind it is the huge amount of expectation that we have from the other individual. We always want them to make us feel happy. For example, some people feel happy if their partner plans a surprise for them or if he/she buy them a new dress. But all these things are not a true source of happiness in life.

Ways of Developing Happiness:

The lack of happiness in the relationship not only exists in couples but also in the relationship of friends, sister – brother or parent-child.

The following are the few ways that help in creating happiness in the relationships:

1. Pay Attention to Yourself:

You should always pay attention to yourself to get happiness. You should not give importance to any other person in your life in comparison to yourself and also expect the same from that person. Giving too much importance to the other and not receiving anything back from them makes a person disappointed and happiness gets lost.

2. Have some Initiative:

You can make the plan of traveling outside yourself. Don’t wait for your parent, partner or kid to take you outside. You can ask them to come along with you if they want. But, if they decline your offer then, don’t get discouraged and carry on your trip plan along with full happiness.

3. Provide some Space:

It is necessary to provide some amount of space to every individual and spend some time with oneself. It helps in creating happiness.

Happiness is Necessary for Good Life:

It does not matter that whether you are a working expert, a schoolchild, a retired person or a housewife, happiness is necessary for everybody to live a good and happy life. Happiness is essential for an individual’s emotional comfort. A person who is not fit emotionally will feel an impact on his complete health that will drain very soon.

Unluckily, despite the fact that happiness is tremendously necessary, people do not give so much importance to all those habits which can keep them happy. They are so excessively captivated inside their professional lives as well as other nuts and bolts of life that they overlook to relish the happy memories of their life. It is also the main reason that problems like anxiety, stress, and depression are increasing gradually in people’s lives today.

Happiness is an internal feeling. It is a healthy emotion. Happiness helps us to stay fit both mentally and physically. Happiness helps in lowering stress and keeping away from any health issues. The reason of happiness may be different for different person. You just need to find out what actually makes you happy. So, if you want real happiness in life then, you need to understand that only you can make yourself happy.

“There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way” this sentence has been attributed to Buddha. Well, at least that’s what it says on one sticker in my dorm room. The fact is that man has occupied himself with the path to happiness for millennia. Something happened during our evolution that made us deeply question the purpose of our existence. People like Buddha are part of the answer, or at least they try to give us the answer.

Since these questions have troubled us there have been many who sought to answer them and by doing so, they formed philosophies and religions. The search for earthly happiness will make many do incredible deeds but if this energy is used in the wrong way it can cause great suffering. How can we know which recipe for happiness is the best one and what we should devote our time and attention to? The trick is, there is no right answer and as the first sentence of this essay states, there is no way to be happy because being happy is the way. That’s how I got my head around this problem, let me explain some more.

Source of Suffering:

At the expense of sounding Buddhist, when you think about most of the things that make us unhappy are material in nature. They are the things that we really do not need but they make us feel happy. This notion is not just something the wise man from the 6 th century BC India expressed but many more have said this before and after him. Socrates and Jesus to name just a few.

What I find interesting in the struggle for happiness is the paradox present in the instructions to reach it. One has a thought all through life to be good and hard working so he can get the things he wants and needs later on in life but then as you start to struggle for the money you realize that your life is turning into a money grabbing game. So, the source of happiness and stability becomes the source of all your anxiety and aggression. Naturally, we can see how some people thought that all material things stand on the path to our happiness.

But what about the immaterial, what if you are in love with someone you are not supposed to love? The above instruction would tell you to surrender your heart’s desire and you will be free from constraints. Is this happiness? Or is it the struggle to do and achieve the impossible the real source of happiness?

Source of Happiness:

People often forget that they are animals and like all of them they have a logic to their nature and their own specific needs. Like all the other animal’s people are caught in the struggle for existence and sometimes surviving the day can be a real ordeal if you get caught in the wrong circumstances. Men has made himself safe from most of the things that could have harmed him in nature but in doing so he forgot what he has made.

Think about the present from a historical perspective. Even a hundred years ago most people lost up to 80% of all their children to diseases, clean water was a rarity for most of our existence, and people actually had to labor to make food and to have enough to feed their family all through the year. The fact is we have a lot to be grateful for in the present age and the fact that some of us are unhappy because we do not have all our heart’s desires is just a symptom of collective infancy. Having all of your loved ones around you, with a roof to shelter under and with lots of delicious food is the only source of happiness man needs everything else should just be a bonus.

Happiness cannot be found by rejecting everything that is material or by earning more money then you can spend. The trick is to find balance by looking at yourself and the lives of people around you and by understanding that there is a lot to be grateful for, the trick is to stop searching for a path and to understand that we are already walking on one. As long as we are making any type of list of the prerequisite for our life of happiness, we will end up unsatisfied because life does not grant wishes we are the ones that make them come true. Often the biggest change in our lives comes from a simple change of perspective rather than from anything we can own.

Happiness is the state of emotional wellbeing and being contented. Happiness is expressed through joyful moments and smiles. It is a desirable feeling that everybody want to have at all times. Being happy is influenced by situations, achievements and other circumstances. Happiness is an inner quality that reflects on the state of mind. A peaceful state of mind is considered to be happiness. The emotional state of happiness is mixture of feelings of joy, satisfaction, gratitude, euphoria and victory.

How happiness is achieved:

Happiness is achieved psychologically through having a peaceful state of mind. By a free state of mind, I mean that there should be no stressful factors to think about. Happiness is also achieved through accomplishment of goals that are set by individuals. There is always happiness that accompanies success and they present feelings of triumph and contentment.

To enable personal happiness in life, it is important that a person puts himself first and have good self-perception. Putting what makes you happy first, instead of putting other people or other things first is a true quest towards happiness. In life, people tend to disappoint and putting them as a priority always reduces happiness for individuals. There is also the concept of practicing self-love and self-acceptance. Loving oneself is the key to happiness because it will mean that it will not be hard to put yourself first when making decisions.

It is important for an individual to control the thoughts that goes on in their heads. A peaceful state of mind is achieved when thoughts are at peace. It is recommended that things that cause a stressful state of mind should be avoided.

Happiness is a personal decision that is influenced by choices made. There is a common phrase on happiness; “happiness is a choice” which is very true because people choose if they want to be happy or not. Happiness is caused by circumstances and people have the liberty to choose those circumstance and get away from those that make them unhappy.

Happiness is also achieved through the kind of support system that an individual has. Having a family or friends that are supportive will enable the achievement of happiness. Communicating and interacting with the outside world is important.

Factors Affecting Happiness:

Sleep patterns influence the state of mind thus influence happiness. Having enough sleep always leads to happy mornings and a good state of mind for rest of the day. Sleep that is adequate also affects the appearance of a person. There is satisfaction that comes with having enough sleep. Enough rest increases performance and productivity of an individual and thus more successes and achievements are realized and happiness is experienced.

Another factor affecting happiness is the support network of an individual. A strong support network of family and friends results in more happiness. Establishing good relationships with neighbors, friends and family through regular interactions brings more happiness to an individual. With support network, the incidences of stressful moments will be reduced because your family and friends will always be of help.

Sexual satisfaction has been established to affect happiness. It is not just about getting the right partner anymore. It is about having a partner that will satisfy you sexually. There is a relationship between sex and happiness because of the hormones secreted during sexual intercourse. The hormone is called oxytocin and responsible for the happiness due to sexual satisfaction. Satisfaction also strengthens the relationships between the partners and that creates happiness.

Wealth also plays a significant role in happiness. There is a common phrase that is against money and happiness: “money cannot buy happiness” is this true? Personally, I believe that being financially stable contributes to happiness because you will always have peace of mind and many achievements. Peace of mind is possible for wealthy people because they do not have stressors here and then compared to poor people. Also, when a person is wealthy, they can afford to engage in luxurious activities that relaxes the mind and create happiness. For a person to be wealthy, they will have had many achievements in life. These achievement make them happy.

A good state of health is an important factor that influences the happiness of individuals. A healthy person will be happy because there are no worries of diseases or pain that they are experiencing. When a person is healthy, their state of mind is at peace because they are not afraid of death or any other health concerns. Not only the health of individuals is important, but also the health of the support system of the person. Friends and family’s state of health will always have an impact on what we feel as individuals because we care about them and we get worried whenever they are having bad health.

Communication and interactions are important in relation to an individual’s happiness. Having a support system is not enough because people need to communicate and interact freely. Whenever there are interactions like a social gathering where people talk and eat together, more happiness is experienced. This concept is witnessed in parties because people are always laughing and smiling in parties whenever they are with friends.

Communication is key to happiness because it helps in problem solving and relieving stressors in life. Sharing experiences with a support system creates a state of wellbeing after the solution is sought. Sometime when I am sad, I take my phone and call a friend or a family member and by the time the phone call is over, I always feel better and relieved of my worries.

Happiness is an important emotion that influences how we live and feel on a daily basis. Happiness is achieved in simple ways. People have the liberty to choose happiness because we are not bound by any circumstances for life. Factors that influence happiness are those that contribute to emotional wellbeing. Physical wellbeing also affects happiness. Every individual finds happiness in their own because they know what makes them happy and what doesn’t.

Emotions , Happiness , Psychology

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A Formula for Happiness

The gospel of Jesus Christ contains a formula for happiness that is found throughout the Book of Mormon. This formula is embodied in the teachings of the prophet Lehi, who taught that obedience and righteousness lead to blessings and joy, while disobedience and wickedness lead to punishment and sorrow. The Savior is the sponsor of the pathway to happiness and eternal life, while the devil seeks to distort the consequences of sin and disobedience. The Lord has given us commandments as a divine playbook to guide us away from the calamities of mortality, and following these commandments is the key to finding happiness.

The gospel of Jesus Christ, revealed in the Book of Mormon, reveals the formula for happiness. Lehi, a prophet who imparts his wisdom to his sons before passing away, eloquently expresses this truth. To Jacob, Lehi teaches that “opposition in all things” is necessary (2 Nephi 2:11). He also declares that men exist to experience joy (2 Nephi 2:25). In summary, Lehi’s sermon to Jacob can be described as follows: Joy comes from obedience and righteousness, which result in blessings.

On one hand, disobedience and wickedness result in punishment and sorrow. On the other hand, the Savior serves as the mediator and advocate for all people, guiding them towards happiness and eternal life. Conversely, the devil, who is fundamentally deceitful and miserable, promotes the path of captivity and death. Despite knowing that humans would not willingly choose such a fate, the devil, who will eternally be miserable, seeks to cause misery for everyone. This is achieved through distorting the true consequences of sin and disobedience.

According to President Spencer W. Kimball, Satan manipulates the truth and transforms it into falsehoods, earning him the title “father of lies”. His tactics involve beautifying evil to make it appear attractive and desirable. He deceives us by suggesting that wickedness and sin can bring happiness. We are warned that his temptations are cunningly disguised, to the extent that he may even masquerade as a benevolent angel.

The Lord clarified that Satan rebelled against Him and attempted to dismantle the agency of man, a gift bestowed upon humanity by the Lord. Furthermore, Satan endeavored to acquire the Lord’s power. Consequently, the Lord utilized the power of His Only Begotten Son to banish Satan, who subsequently transformed into Satan – also recognized as the devil and the originator of falsehoods. The objective of Satan is to mislead and obstruct individuals, taking them captive in accordance with his own intentions.

The journey to find happiness starts with being righteous and following the commandments. These commandments act as a guide from God to help us avoid the difficulties of life. In the early days of the Restoration, the Lord called upon Joseph Smith and gave him commandments, knowing the calamities that would befall humanity.

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Joy Is Not a Strategy

By Patrick Healy

Deputy Opinion Editor, reporting from Chicago

If the Republican convention’s message for America last month had to fit on a bumper sticker, it would read, “Trump is God.” Delegates deified him relentlessly as the risen Trump after the assassination attempt. They told me over and over that he was spared to save the country with his re-election. Only on the final night did Donald Trump come crashing down to earth with his nomination speech. Divine it was not.

What a mistake. The most divisive man in America was suddenly getting a measure of good will from skeptical voters after he was nearly killed. People were tuning in to see if he’d talk like a changed man. And then he threw it away with the same old rant. All Trump had going for him was President Biden’s weakness.

Flash-forward to this week. If the Democratic convention’s message for America had to fit on a bumper sticker, it would read, “Harris is joy.” The word has gone from being a nice descriptor of Democratic energy to being a rhetorical two-by-four thumped on voters’ heads. Don’t get me wrong — there are many worse things than joy — but I cringed a little in the convention hall Tuesday night when Bill Clinton said Kamala Harris would be “the president of joy.” “Joy” is the new “fetch” from “Mean Girls”: Democrats are bent on making the word happen.

But joy is not a political strategy. And God is not a political strategy. The good news for Democrats is that Harris seems to understand this. Americans want her to lower their household costs and make it easier to find housing. Being our joyful Momala is not going to win the election.

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