The concept of happiness is undoubtedly an attractive one and the ultimate goal for many people regardless of age, nationality, gender, and other characteristics. Yet, despite being universally desirable, happiness is hard to describe or characterize. 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. An idea of happiness existing “at the end of the chase” is a prevalent one in culture and philosophy, yet other accounts claim it to be an innate right that should be a given. This paper aims to analyze the author’s thesis on the subject and evaluate whether he was convincing in delivering his perspective.
American Declaration of Independence conceptualizes happiness as one of the universal rights granted to every individual by virtue of existing. However, as stated in the article, contemporary research indicates broad casual dissatisfaction with life respondents’ lives. Anderson refers to the 2013 Gallup poll stating that only 30% of Americans are happy at work, which constitutes the core of daily activities for most of the population. This data illustrates the general level of unhappiness, mainly due to the high percentage of time working Americans dedicate to their occupation. Whether due to stress or a generally negative attitude towards their field, people are much less happy with their routine than the philosophical ideals demand them to be.
Anderson later applies the findings from the lecture of Shawn Achor, who has analyzed the ways the human brain responds to casual failures and successes. Momentary satisfaction is easy to achieve, but it does not equal happiness for the majority of people. The idea of happiness has more in common with the lasting sense of satisfaction and prosperity, which, according to Achor, is not a natural condition for the human brain.
As both the paper and Achor’s lecture suggest, lasting happiness from successes and achievements is an exception, rather than the rule. After achieving a goal, people experience a brief sense of triumph and move on to the next goalpost. Therefore, the connection between these achievements and happiness is very relative, and daily successes usually have little to do with the overall feeling of satisfaction.
However, as Anderson suggests in the closing section of his paper, perception shapes the facts instead of the opposite. He effectively comments on this idea in the discussion of the role of optimism. The optimistic approach to life and conscious positivity might improve one’s level of simple happiness, as the person becomes aware of the degree to which their attitude is involved. Such ideology requires self-improvement and dedication to the new mindset, which might be emotionally taxing under daily stress. Yet overall, it is a comforting notion to know that everyone has greater power over their happiness than suggested.
In conclusion, Armstrong’s article is effective in its attempts to comment on the relationship between an individual’s attitude and level of happiness. It touches briefly on the specifics of the brain without getting into excessive neurological detail and remains comprehensible at all times. Anderson is generally successful in simplifying the abstract idea of happiness and presenting it as an accessible goal that one can achieve despite the existing difficulties.
There is a general perception that money as an economic condition has a significant impact on happiness. Economists have echoed that economic development improves the life of human beings (Bruno & Alois, 2002). 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. However, critics have opposed this assumption by pointing out that the variable of money, such as income, seems to have minimal effect on happiness.
If people’s economic situation drastically improves, they will familiarize themselves with the condition and raise projections for the future financial situation, and they cannot gain happiness. An example of a lottery winner demonstrates that we are in a hedonic treadmill; it appears economic improvement of life circumstances produces no subjective benefits. Therefore, economic growth is not a relevant indicator of happiness.
The use of money as a measure of happiness may be relative rather than absolute. Instead of measuring utility directly, economists recommend an inference from behavior. This includes treating behavior as preferences. The utility is considered as a trade-off between work and pleasure (Daniel, 2005). People are considered to make a distinct trade-off, according to their choice of work and pleasure.
Specifically, a person who is happy is considered as an individual with much free time or with a basket full of shopping or nice care. This is not a substantial approach to measuring happiness. However, according to psychology, happiness is connected to wellbeing. Psychologists have recommended a therapeutic model of viewing happiness as life satisfaction (Seligman, 2011).
A sense of satisfaction with life consists of five dimensions: accomplishment, meaning, relationship, and engagement. Positive emotions help people’s subjective experience as well as expanding people’s minds and developing their future resources. Engagement is concern about the experience of flow.
Flow is the critical state of being where people are wholly involved in the demanded task: a sense of time disappears, self-conscious fades, and the emotions cease to occupy the mind. People with positive relationships live longer with better health, positive emotion, have a greater sense of meaning and satisfaction (Seligman, 2011).
Meaning helps individuals understand the sense of living as well as recognize their place on earth. Finally, accomplishment encompasses winning, a sense of mastery, achievement, and success that people pursue. Critics argue that the concept of happiness is connected to traits of personality, jobs, family relationships, health, the quality of the personal relationship, and measures of biological indicators like time of smile and activity of the brain. A comparison of money and wellbeing to happiness may be relative rather than absolute.
Specifically, at the society level, it appears that the increase in economic growth for the past decades in developed countries has resulted in gains in happiness, although the same is untrue for the underdeveloped nations. Most surveys have been performed enquiring about the connection between happiness and economic growth, thus, making it easy to assess the relationship between the two (Bruno & Alois, 2002).
It appears people in developed countries are happier than people who are living in underdeveloped countries. The positive relation between happiness and money is high in those countries that have average incomes below 13,000 dollars per annum. However, the rise in income in rich countries has no impact on happiness. In more developed countries like the United States and China, the average incomes have risen considerably for the past four decades, but the average reported happiness has not risen (Bruno, & Alois, 2002).
A social survey done in 2005 revealed that thirty-five percent of Americans were “very happy,” fifty percent were “pretty happy,” and ten percent were “not too happy.” Twenty-five percent of the household who had an annual income of 35,000 dollars reported to be “very happy” with the resulting graph showing an inclination to fifty percent on the families who earned more than 100,000 dollars. Based on these statistics, it appears the impact of income on happiness is relative, rather than absolute.
Blachnflower and Oswald (2004), economists, developed a model in which they measured happiness as a function of utility using a survey study from the 1970s to the late 1990s (Blanchflower, & Oswald, 2004). According to their findings, money, and other factors like marriage, family, jobs, and involvement in religious activities had an impact on happiness. Therefore, to some extent, it may be argued that money buys happiness.
While it appears desirable to assess utility, it is done in an ineffective means. According to economists, it is complex to make a comparison between work and pleasure (Bruno & Alois, 2002). Economists believe that a person who scores 90 on a survey assessment of satisfaction can be perceived as more satisfied than an individual who scores 60 (Bruno, & Alois, 2002).
People with income or a tax return of $50000 are happier than those having 2,000. Based on this belief, it can be assumed that people who have a higher income satisfaction scale are more happy and satisfied that those individuals with a lower scale. Specifically, this type of analysis and the assumption has been used in making of critical government decision as well as business decisions.
Psychologists who have developed the concept of wellbeing may disagree with this notion. Government and business organizations make decisions based on a group of people and not on single individuals. Therefore, there should be a clear distinction between measures of money and the subjective measure of satisfaction or general wellbeing of monetary situations.
Money helps people to tide over bad times, at least for some time. A person can borrow money to adopt to bad times or for the significance of investment. Most significantly, money produces income and an increment of benefits. Economists have contextualized the behavior of individuals regarding utility and the function of utility but admit that there lacks an existence of utility in any significant sense.
If people were asked whether they possess little or many utilities, they are likely to provide unsatisfactory answered. However, most people would choose more if they were asked whether they prefer more or little goods and services. Interestingly, these responses do not answer the question of whether or not they are happy when they have more services and goods.
Even though most people tend to argue that happiness and utility are related and that happiness is essentially being well off, they are not correlated. If money could buy happiness, it is expected that people who have higher income, with high utility, would be better off, happy, and satisfied with life.
References
Blanchflower, D. G., & Oswald, A. J. (2004). Well-being over time in Britain and the U.S.A. Journal of Public Economics, 88(7), 1359–86.
Bruno, F. S., & Alois, S. (2002). Happiness and economics: how the economy and institutions affect human well-being. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Daniel, N. (2005). Happiness: The science behind your smile. New York: Oxford University Press.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. New York: Atria Paperback.
Happiness means different things for different people. This notwithstanding, every person is concerned about being happy. Drawing from a study by Radwan (1), defining what happiness is a very difficult task. For certain people, happiness is as a result of being content. It is a unique reaction by a person who feels that everything is going the way he or she desires. To some, it is a feeling that one experiences after attaining set goals.
According to Carlin and Capps (185), most people tend to describe happiness in ways that are quite vivid than definitions of happiness. Despite the fact that people have no problem identifying an expression of happiness when they come across one, no agreement on definitions of happiness exists. This view is also supported by Selin and Davey (294), who argued that defining happiness has been complicated by the fact that no common measurement parameters exist.
Personal View about Happiness
A major challenge when it comes to defining happiness has to do with the fact that it has many different faces (Lawrence and Lawrence 6). Despite the huge interest expressed by people in happiness and how to define it, it is very rare that most people will spend time thinking about the concept. Personally, I believe that happiness should be defined as that experience that causes an individual to feel alive. Despite the fact that defining happiness is complicated, there are certain things that can be said about happiness.
First, happiness depends on an individual’s way of looking at things. By and large, what makes one person happy may not trigger happiness in another person. For instance, while money will bring happiness to some people, it may not create happiness for others. Secondly, happiness may be realized by a person who gets what meets a need in his or her life. An individual who is financially insecure may experience happiness when he or she finally gets a job with a stable income. I am also of the opinion that happiness just occurs as people go about their businesses.
I strongly believe that true happiness always comes from within a person. It is a feeling of self assurance. While some people are of the opinion that individuals are the best judges of their own happiness, others are convinced that outsiders are better placed when it comes to judging happiness. Unlike the happiness that is from within, happiness due to external factors is bound to disappear after sometime. For example, any happiness that is as a result of one having all the money he or she desires to have fades away when the money gets depleted. While some people will be happy because they have money and everything else they may require, others are not bothered with material wealth and will be happy with or without money.
Suggestions on How to be Happy
In order to maximize happiness, nations and communities should put a number of things into consideration when formulating public policies. Among other things, policy makers should come up with plans to ensure that individuals can get rid of all negative emotions that often lead to unhappiness. It is also imperative for policy makers to see to it that public policies include a training component about happiness. Without a doubt, it is necessary to train everyone about happiness and how to go about getting happiness. As has already been explained, one approach of creating happiness in an individual is to ensure that all bad feelings are done away with. Through training, individuals may also be advised on the best way possible to determine what creates happiness for them.
Another requirement for an individual’s happiness is the ability for one to think positively. It is therefore important for policy makers to figure out how to encourage people to be positive thinkers even in the face of serious challenges. As pointed out by Radwan (1), being positive opens an avenue for an individual to be hopeful and this in turn leads to a feeling of happiness. 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. Nations and communities can take advantage of this fact to help people to be happy. Policy makers should be tasked with the responsibility of coming up with policies that lead to the creation of an environment that leads to the availability of those things that make people happy.
A number of factors have been identified as having an impact on the happiness of individuals (Selin and Davey 297). They include income, security, democracy, freedom, culture, and values. Although the actual connection between income and happiness is not very clear, research undertaken by some research professionals indicate that the level of an individual’s income has a huge effect on his or her happiness. According to McEachern (180), happiness is a basic human right that cannot be taken away from an individual and improving the economy is one strategy that a nation or a community can adopt to create happiness. Arguably, the same can also be said about democracy and happiness. In addition, culture plays a very important role in determining a person’s level of happiness. For this reason, it is imperative for policy makers to think about integrating these factors in the formulation of policies that are meant to promote happiness in people’s lives. Security is equally important when considering happiness and state governments must see to it that people live in a secure environment. According to Biswas-Diener (76), every development should be geared towards promoting happiness in the society.
Conclusion
Without a doubt, happiness is a very important need for every human being. For this reason, efforts must be made to come up with policies that will create a healthy environment for happiness to be realized. State governments are therefore expected to do everything possible to create an environment where individuals can be free to pursue happiness. Security also plays a critical role in promoting happiness.
Works Cited
Biswas-Diener, Robert. Positive Psychology as Social Change. Amherst, MA: Springer Science & Business Media, 2011. Print.
Carlin, Nathan and Donald Capps. 100 Years of Happiness: Insights and Findings from the Experts. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2012. Print.
Lawrence, Denis And Anne Lawrence. Happiness Makes You Healthy: Research and Practice. USA, Lulu, 2013. Print.
Selin, Helaine and Gareth Davey. Happiness across Cultures: Views of Happiness and Quality of Life in Non-Western Cultures, Amherst, MA: Springer Science & Business Media, 2012. Print.
Emotions are still recognized as the common language of humanity since they influence every aspect of our lives, for good or for bad. They are the most basic characteristic of the human race. It is difficult to describe what emotions are; however, they generally refer to our feelings that lead to coping activities in response to the feeling.
Emotions are recognized as cognitive aspects and they are either negative or positive. And their physical sensation distinguishes them. Some of the types of emotions include anger, happiness, hate, love, reverence, cheerful, confidence, and remorse. This paper centers on the emotions of anger and happiness.
Anger is an involuntary emotional response to real or perceived threat that activates, encourages, and energizes someone to act so as to eliminate the perceived threat. As a strong feeling of annoyance or displeasure, the level of arousal to eliminate the threat depends on its degree.
Similar to other emotions, anger has both cognitive and physical aspects. Actually, there are several complicated cycles of physiological events, which take place when someone is irritated. It has a physiological preparation period in which energy is drummed up for a fight-flight response.
All emotions that occur in our bodies start in the section of the brain called amygdala, which identifies the perceived threats to our well-being and sends out appropriate response actions. The amygdala is efficiently wired such that it is able to respond to perceived threats to our well-being even before the cortex responds. The cortex makes judgments and considers the consequences of the actions to be taken. This is why sometimes people behave badly when they are angry.
When someone gets angry, his or her body muscles tense up and the brain releases neurotransmitter chemicals referred to as catecholamines that results in a burst of energy responsible for the common angry desire for fight. Simultaneously, the heart pumps faster, blood pressure increases, breathing rate increases, and consequently, all other thought processes are eliminated as one becomes locked up in the target of the anger.
In swift sequence, other brain neurotransmitters and hormones, such as adrenaline, are also given out making one to be ready to defend himself or herself (Frijda, 1986). After attaining the angry state, the wind-down phase now follows in which the body starts to get back to its normal resting state. However, it is important to note that relaxing from an angry state is not easy since the adrenaline-caused arousal usually lasts for a long time in the body. And during this time, one is prone to getting angry faster.
Happiness is another basic human emotion that is usually portrayed by positive feelings such as satisfaction, compassion, pleasure, or joy. Contrary to the popular opinion, most people usually consider themselves happy even when they are in less than ideal situations. It is interesting to note that studies have revealed that there is no consistent positive association between happiness and circumstances that most individuals relate with it, for example, riches, good job, or brainpower.
Even though most situations cannot reliably predict happiness, some situations associate positively with it, for example, having a strong religious conviction and being in a good social network. A major aspect of happiness is its physiological impact on our bodies as well as on our brains. Happiness is a form of eustress; that is, positive stress (unlike distress or negative stress). It brings the body and the brain to an alert state and it is beneficial in assisting us to feel alive, vibrant, and “up.”
As much as the present knowledge of the structure of the brain is not able to give a precise elaboration on the complex biochemical processes that generate what we experience as “happiness,” there is no disagreement concerning the fact that the experience comes from particular regions found within the human brain.
Scientists have been able to map out the actual regions within the human brain that leads to the state of happiness. Sections in and around the limbic system have been identified to be the major source of happiness and triggering of these areas lead to complicated interactions with other higher regions of the brain, such as the cortex, to cause the positive experience.
The emotion of anger affects our health and wellbeing in various ways. As a powerful emotion, anger can lead to both positive and negative benefits depending on how it is handled. Uncontrolled anger can lead to various health problems since the frequent releasing of stress chemicals and related metabolic changes that accompany it can ultimately cause harm to several other systems of the body leading to short term and long term health problems (Peurifoy, 2002; Barrick, 2002).
The physical effects of anger such as unconstructive arguments and assault can damage social relations, which ultimately can affect our well-being. However, a well managed anger can be a beneficial emotion that compels someone to achieve certain goals.
On the other hand, the experience of happiness has beneficial effects to our lives. Studies in neuropsychology have revealed that the state of happiness elevates the natural mood-enhancing endorphins. Consequently, the feel-good brain chemical dopamine is released. And the feeling of happiness depresses the stress hormone spigot and significantly reduces the effects of the chemical cortisol.
The chemical cortisol has been correlated with negative stress behaviors and it can increase the body’s blood sugar level to dangerous levels. In addition, it also suppresses other stress-related hormones, which have been known to constrict blood vessels.
It has been observed that the brain and the body chemicals released during the state of happiness remain at escalated levels for a prolonged period, even after the happiness experience. Therefore, the release of these beneficial chemicals leads to healthier lives (Uhl, 2008).
In contrast to anger, happiness assists in building and maintaining social bonds. These benefits in the social realm improve our well-being since we are more likely to seek the advice of our friends when we are in problems.
As much as emotions of anger and happiness are universal in scope, there are some cultural and gender differences found in each of these emotions. Every culture in the world has its own unique behavioral codes and this distinguishes how they tackle the emotions of anger and happiness.
The place and the culture that we have been brought up in dictate how we interpret the thoughts and the emotions of other individuals around us. Behaviors that we think of as “the norm” were taught to us by the interactions we had while growing up. For example, there are marked differences in emotional perceptions exhibited by the eastern and the western cultures.
Studies have indicated that individuals from Japan (eastern culture) stare at the eyes for signals of changes in emotion while the people in the United States (western culture) stare mainly at the mouth for similar changes, and the former tend to suppress their emotions more than the latter. In both scenarios, the disparity in the center of attention influences the emotions of happiness or anger that someone may be having.
In addition, the eastern cultures (being collectivistic cultures) have been observed to be more conventional and less open to expressing their experiences of anger and happiness while the western cultures (being individualistic cultures) are more focused on individuation and open expression of these cultures (Weiten, 2010). This leads to different social consequences depending on the inclination of someone to either the western or the eastern culture. Gender differences are also found in these emotions.
Current investigations have revealed that men and women have different skills as appertains to sending and receiving of emotions of anger and happiness and it is usually considered that the latter are more emotional. Generally, women are more emotionally expressive, showing them through facial expression and words, while men tend to hide their emotions, showing them using actions such as participating in disorderly behavior.
In conclusion, emotions of anger and happiness are physiologically different and they have different effects to our health and well-being. 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 lives. And as much as these emotions are common to every individual, their expression varies depending on the culture and the gender of the person.
Reference List
Barrick, M. C. (2002). Emotions : transforming anger, fear, and pain : creating heart-centeredness in a turbulent world. Corwin Springs, MT: Summit University Press.
Frijda, N. H. (1986). The emotions. New York: Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge.
Peurifoy, R. Z. (2002). Anger: taming the beast. New York: Kodansha International.
Uhl, A. M. (2008). The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Psychology of Happiness. New York: The Penguin Group.
Weiten, W. (2010). Psychology: Themes and Variations. Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.
This paper explores the meaning of the word “happiness,” and proposes a way to modify its definition. Possible social and political consequences of such a modification are also scrutinized. The paper is based on a literature review; the literature mainly consists of research articles providing definitions, discussions, and examples of usage of the notion in question. It has been found out that literature often explains the term “happiness” via such concepts as well-being, satisfaction, and welfare; however, for laypeople across the world, such aspects as harmony and balance are of significant importance. 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, which seems poorly consistent with harmony and balance; the weakness is related to the limitedness of the study the findings of which provided the basis for the proposed change in the definition of the notion of happiness. Further studies may verify (or, on the contrary, disprove) the importance of harmony and balance for people’s happiness, as well as explore the possible alternatives to the rivalry in the society.
Introduction
Concepts related to people’s values are often hard to define, and the definitions, or sometimes not even definitions but only explanations, may significantly vary not only across different nations but also among one people. The views on these concepts and the understanding of them that a particular individual has (consciously or unconsciously) may often be tied to numerous circumstances, such as the dominating culture, political views of the individual, their own life experience, etc. What is also important is that these ethical perceptions have consequences in numerous spheres of life, both personal and public. For instance, a person has a particular understanding of the concept of happiness; it appears clear that they will try, at least to a certain extent, to organize their life in a way that will let them achieve that happiness. Dominating perceptions on happiness may lead to certain political decisions or policies (Oishi, Graham, Kesebir, & Galinha, 2013, p. 574) that may be aimed at helping people obtain that happiness (or causing them to feel that much is being done to help them obtain it; it seems possible to state that politicians are not always very honest).
Happiness is very often understood about welfare, well-being, success, and bodily pleasure. However, it seems that most definitions fail to capture such an important component of happiness as harmony and balance. Therefore, in this paper, after providing a broad overview of the perceptions that seem to dominate in literature, we will argue that harmony and balance should also be included in the understanding of this concept, and explain that this understanding may significantly influence the decision-making in and the very organization of the social and political domains.
Establishing the Meaning of the Word “Happiness”
It is widely acknowledged that a concrete meaning of the term “happiness” is elusive; in fact, it is sometimes substituted with a more well-defined term “subjective well-being” in the literature (Oishi et al., 2013, p. 559). However, happiness is very often understood as satisfaction with one’s life (Delle Fave et al., 2016, p. 1), general well-being, and bodily pleasure (“Philosophical Dictionary,” 2011), welfare, etc. For instance, Easterlin (2003) directly states: “I take the terms happiness, utility, well-being, life satisfaction, and welfare to be interchangeable” (p. 11176); also, interestingly, the author was a member of a university’s department of economics, which, we may suppose, had an influence on his views. Also, noteworthy, a study of documented definitions shows that e.g. dictionaries often provide definitions related to well-being, success, joy, satisfaction from receiving the desired good, etc.; in earlier times, the understanding of happiness was also tied to good luck and fortune (Oishi et al., 2013, pp. 564-567, 574).
However, Delle Fave et al. (2016) carried out a major study aimed at exploring the understanding of happiness by laypeople across some nations. The answers provided by respondents “referr[ed] to a broad range of life domains, covering both the contextual-social sphere and the psychological sphere” (Delle Fave et al., 2016, p. 1). Simultaneously, the greatest percentage of definitions (42.33%) were related to the psychological sphere; harmony and balance were deemed the most important attribute of happiness, being viewed as such by 29.13% of the participants; simultaneously, satisfaction with life was essential for 16.55% of answers, and positive emotions were viewed as paramount by 13.92% (Delle Fave et al., 2016, pp. 7-8). Interestingly, self-actualization was deemed essential only by 1.38% of the sample of the research (Delle Fave et al., 2016, p. 8), which is contrary to the understanding of happiness as a success, which can often be found e.g. in dictionaries (Oishi et al., 2013, pp. 564-567).
Further analysis of responses that fell under the category “harmony and balance,” and their variations by the country, is also provided (Delle Fave et al., 2016, p. 10). This category included responses to inner peace, balance, contentment, and psychophysical well-being. In particular, the respondents from the USA most often viewed contentment as crucial (55.10%); the second place was occupied by inner peace (40.82%), and the third one – by balance (20.41%). Strangely, psychophysical well-being found no support in the American sample (0%).
It seems obvious that happiness is a complicated, multifaceted concept that can only be properly defined if the definition pertains to many spheres of human life. Given the results of the research by Delle Fave et al. (2016), even though the sample of this study may be somewhat limited, it appears justified to state that harmony and balance should be included in the definition of happiness. Importantly, the research was conducted among lay people across the world, which provides grounds for claiming that their understanding may be closer to a more “people’s” conception of happiness rather than the interpretations of the notion offered by specialists in various areas of study such as economics or politics, whose definitions may be somewhat biased due to their professional activities.
Therefore, the definitions of happiness should include the concepts of harmony and balance, as well as satisfaction with life, positive emotions, etc. Simultaneously, success, should not be given so much attention. The general well-being should also be included in the definition, for the absence of it, it seems, may have significant adverse consequences on how a person feels.
Social and Political Consequences
The provided understanding of happiness, primarily the aspect of the importance of harmony and balance, clearly has several consequences related to decision-making, social sphere, and perhaps even to the structure of the society.
In particular, the most important consequence of this is related to the inconsistency of harmony, inner peace, and balance with the competition. For example, engaging in competition appears to mean that one wishes to outperform their rivals, often multiple ones. Because the results of the competition are often important if not crucial, one is likely to worry about the outcomes, which contradicts the inner peace. On the whole, engaging in “rat races” does not seem to support balance, and the very fact that one has rivals may be viewed as inconsistent with harmony.
Competition is often perceived as the driver of progress, as the factor that causes people to develop and industries to grow and technologically advance. This point has become commonplace in the political and social culture that today dominates in the U.S. and many other countries of the world; see, for instance, Ross (2004). However, while rivalry certainly may cause progress, concrete studies have found that e.g. certain firms entering a highly competitive market perform worse according to several criteria. For instance, Sanyal & Cohen (2009) discovered that companies transferred to a competitive environment precipitously cut their spending on research and development, which is a strongly adverse consequence in the modern world.
Competition among individuals also seems not to be the best way (not only in terms of happiness) to promote personal development. For instance, it is known that the education system in the U.S. is based on competition; students compete with one another while attempting to enter a college or university, and may have to continue the rivalry between one another for better grades. Simultaneously, the higher education system in France is completely different and is not always based on competition. Students who have successfully passed their final high school exams obtain access to university even if they received the minimum acceptable grade.
No further exams are needed; students may apply to university, and all who do so are accepted. Many of them are expelled after some time if they fail to study well (“Education in France,” 2014; “France Higher Education System,” 2014). Of course, this system also has its adverse sides. Nevertheless, it provides most citizens of France with access to higher education (which is difficult to say about the U.S.) and allows them to test their abilities and verify that they are interested in studying. And, regarding the harmony and inner peace, such a system causes much less distress among students and entrants (as well as their relatives), for it is always possible to start their education again next year should one lose their chance for this year, but still wish to study further.
Therefore, adopting harmony, inner peace, and balance as components of happiness and creating a policy aimed at achieving such happiness may involve serious consequences for society. In particular, such consequences may involve limiting the importance of rivalry and transferring to other, perhaps collaborative instead of competitive, forms of organization and motivation. Further research of collaboration or what other alternatives to the competition may be employed in the society might be needed.
Conclusion
To sum up, happiness is a difficult concept to define. Many definitions are focused on satisfaction, well-being, and welfare. However, it has been found out that laymen often view such aspects as harmony and balance is crucial for happiness. This may be sufficient grounds for including these aspects in definitions of the word “happiness,” and such an inclusion might lead to the need to significantly reconsider and reorganize the social and political domains by e.g. lowering the importance of competition in the life of the society.
References
Delle Fave, A., Brdar, I., Wissing, M. P., Araujo, U., Castro Solano, A., Freire, T.,…Soosai-Nathan, L. (2016). Lay definitions of happiness across nations: The primacy of inner harmony and relational connectedness. Frontiers in Psychology, 7(16), 1-23.Web.
Easterlin, R. A. (2003). Explaining happiness. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 100(19), 11176-11183. Web.
Sanyal, P., & Cohen, L. R. (2009). Powering progress: Restructuring, competition, and R&D in the U.S. electric utility industry. The Energy Journal, 30(2), 41-79. Web.
What most people wish for in life is how to remain happy. However, being happy and remaining satisfied with one’s life is a great challenge. Today, people associate happiness with having money and the ability to afford world pleasures. Many studies have shown that happiness is affected by different factors and money may not be among the top factors. For example, a study by Lingnan University’s Centre for Public Studies (2015) showed that there was an increase in the happiness index for people with a monthly household salary ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 by 7% while those with a monthly income less than $10,000 rose by 3%. Interestingly, those with high-income brackets of between $20,000 and $30,000 had their happiness index drop by 4.7%. These figures denote that happiness is not solely dependent on one’s wealth. Being surrounded by people especially friends and family is the key to happiness because they provide moral and social support, directs an individual in doing what pleases him, and provides real and lasting contentment with life.
Happiness has been mainly associated with moral and social support. Citing the sentiments of St. Aquinas and Aristotle, Mills (2014) pointed out that belonging to a tight-knit society enhances the feeling of being wanted which is a key factor in being happy. Even though the arguments by Aquinas and Aristotle were mainly based on the sense of belonging to a religious community and trusting in a Supreme being, their sentiments depict the importance of moral and social support. In modern society, such support can be realized if people have supportive families and friends. The social bonds between an individual and the family or friends provide a system where one feels protected and comfortable (Shannon, 2016). This is based on the understanding that compassion and the feeling of closeness between two or more people lead to a genuine and happy union in general life (Wu, 2014). It is in this regard that Mills (2014) states, “New friends expand your world by providing an entrance to new interests, opportunities, and activities and can be an invaluable source of support and information – and, just as happiness-inducing, you can play the same role for them” (p. 10).
Family members can guide individuals in the carrying out of the activities that please them. According to Shannon (2016), living well and happily is mainly dependent on one’s relationship with a spouse, other family members, and friends. For example, in the documentary ‘Happiness,’ the hunters and gatherers of Namibia in Africa were found to be having a high happiness index (Belic, 2013). This is despite their poor living conditions in the forest. Their happiness can be attributed to the family ties and support system that they use in the course of hunting and gathering. In the documentary, Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor at the University of California, advises that people should have the intention to be happy irrespective of the prevailing situation. For instance, the hunters have the intention to stay happy because they do not worry about material things. Their meaning and purpose in life are tied to getting daily food.
In conclusion, happiness is not defined by having material things. From the examples provided in the documentary “Happiness” and the assertions by Aristotle and Aquinas, the aspect of compassion that emanates from belonging to a social network, such as the family, leads to the feeling of satisfaction. Thus, friends and a supportive family are invaluable sources of happiness.
People need to have goals in their life. According to Aristotle, “Man is a goal-seeking animal. His life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals”. Achieving our goals makes us happy. As the result, our happiness depends on us. Nobody is guilty if we fail to do something in our life. We are responsible for our life and happiness.
I have a lot of goals in my life and do all my best to realize them in my life. Sometimes, these goals are changed or if I achieve some goals I define new ones for making my life better. I think there is no man in the world who doesn’t have any goal in his life. When a man doesn’t have any goal, life becomes senseless.
I am a happy person because I have a sense in my life and I realize my goals. I follow certain rules or steps in achieving good results. Firstly, I define for myself what is really important for me and what I want to achieve in my life. It is very important to establish a priority in your values. My family, health, career and friends are very important in my life. The goals should be formulated precisely and clearly. If you want to have a successful career, you should realize what it means for you. For one person it may mean to run the own company, for the other one it may be work which gives pleasure. Pay attention to the relationship between your career goals with private ones. Your goals should not contradict one another. Otherwise, achieving one goal you fail to achieve another one which makes you upset.
Napoleon Hill in his book Think and Grow Rich provides the following advice: “The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat.” There are some ways which help to keep your goals in mind. You may visualize your goals. I usually write down all my goals for a certain period of time on a separate sheet of paper pointing out a particular date when I must achieve these results. The best way to achieve your goal is to make a plan of steps to follow and check all steps which you have done already. I usually use my day planner or a handwritten list where I write the list of steps that help me to realize my goal. There are deadlines for every step which stimulate me to make efforts. This list helps me to analyze the situation and assess my results. If I fail to do the necessary point by the deadline, I don’t change the whole list; I just mark my delay and try to make up leeway. I review my overall progress regularly making certain conclusions about what I must do and what slows down my progress. Don’t give up if you fail to do something, don’t let your goals fade away.
The author of the book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey points out: “All things are created twice. There’s a mental or first creation, and physical or second creation of all things. You have to make sure that the blueprint, the first creation, is really what you want, that you’ve thought everything through. Then you put it into bricks and mortar. Each day you go to the construction shed and pull out the blueprint to get marching orders for the day. You begin with the end in mind.”
I usually visualize my dreams and goals printing out them on separate sheets of paper and hanging it on the wall. A picture on the wall reminds me about my goals every day and makes me work to realize these goals. For example, if you want to travel to many countries, you may find the most beautiful pictures of all places you want to visit and hang them in a plan view. You may cut your photo and stick it on those pictures which help you to imagine yourself in those places of interest. Whatever you want to achieve, visualize your goals. If you want to buy a house or a car, you may also find the pictures of the particular model of a car you wish or a house of your dream and hang them on the wall over your worktable. Other people create a special stand or box of goals and dreams. We should keep in mind all our goals every day which helps us to become closer to their realization.
Nevertheless, everything is changing in our lives and we also change our dreams and goals. Make sure that the goals that you are aiming at are really yours and they are really what you want. Set realistic and attainable goals otherwise, your results will be a disappointment for you. Those people who dream are more likely to experience them in their life. But wishes and dreams are not goals till they are written as a certain plan on paper. One of the most successful businessmen in the world, Lido Iacocca says: “The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.” Everything that happens with us has already happened in our life.
I have a special plan list that helps me to achieve the desired results. Of course, I changed my goals and perhaps I will change them in the future. Nevertheless, these steps always help me to realize my goals and make me happy. As an American writer Elbert Hubbard says: “Many people fail in life, not for lack of ability or brains or even courage but simply because they have never organized their energies around a goal”. If you want to make your life better, write your goals on paper and do all possible to achieve them. This method really works.
An important lens through which happiness should be looked at is children. It is commonly thought that children are a source of happiness and joy. However, thanks to a number of the U.N. sociologists, it was recently found out that in most cases, families experience a drop in their general levels of happiness and satisfaction with life after giving birth to a child (Helliwell, Layard, & Sachs, 2016).
The report states that “a negative relationship between parenthood and life satisfaction” was discovered; this relationship “turns positive only for older age groups and for widowers” (Helliwell et al., 2016, p. 6). However, it might be stated that such a reduction in the level of happiness should be expected. Indeed, a baby needs a significant amount of attention, and parents may often be overwhelmed by the number of chores that they have to cope with from the moment the child is born.
In addition, the child often demands much additional spending, which also adds difficulty to the parents’ situation. 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 result of this; however, it is partially compensated by the positive and altruistic feelings towards the baby that the parents experience (Grossbard & Mukhopadhyay, 2013).
In any case, it can be summarized that small children often might reduce the level of happiness instead of increasing it. On the contrary, perhaps this is what happens in the short term; in the long term, if the children are properly brought up, they often may bring a great deal of joy to their parents.
Job
Another essential lens to look to view happiness through is a person’s job. It is often considered that a job plays a significant role in one’s happiness. Indeed, it is possible to state that most people spend a large amount of time working. Even if one works eight hours a day, the job takes one-third of their time on most days of the week; in addition, there are many persons who have to work more than 8 hours a day, and who have more than five working days a week. Therefore, it is only logical that the amount of satisfaction from work has a strong effect on how happy an individual is.
Whereas one might assume that it is necessary to have a well-paid job as a white-collar employee in a solid company to feel happy about it, it is not always so. Of course, having such a job may significantly add to the employee’s satisfaction, but it is also possible to be happy while carrying out more difficult effort-requiring duties. An example is a story of Liso, a South African person who came to the U.S. in order to earn some money (Orner, 2008).
Her family in South Africa had a significant amount of debts they had to pay off, and she illegally migrated to America hoping to find a better life, as well as to help her family to deal with the debt. The life in the U.S. turned out to be extremely difficult, and the protagonist had to change a number of jobs due to different adverse circumstances; for instance, in some cases, the conditions of labor were completely intolerable; in other cases, apart from providing poor labor conditions and low pay, Liso’s employers attempted to make her pray to the same god as they did.
However, the woman was able to find a job which she grew to like; she started working as a nanny. Despite the fact that she was paid $400 a week for spending her whole days and nights with the children, which is approximately two dollars and some cents an hour (a sum that most people would not agree to work for), she felt relatively happy because she liked the children she looked after and was also able to send some money home (Orner, 2008).
Thus, it is possible to be happy even while doing a job which is difficult and badly paid; although, of course, chances that an individual will be happy about their work are much greater if the conditions of labor and the pay are adequate.
Adverse General Conditions of Life and Unhappiness
It is also important to consider the meaning of happiness through the opposite lens, that is, by taking into account the perceptions of the unhappy. In some circumstances, it might even happen that a person does not feel completely unhappy while living in terrible, degrading conditions and doing a difficult, unpleasant job.
There is a number of examples of such cases in Orner (2008); one of them is that of Mr. Lai, a man who was forced to free from his homeland, China, due to the legal policy which demands that families have no more than one child. After his wife had got “illegally pregnant,” Mr. Lai’s family was visited by law enforcers, and they had to illegally flee to the U.S. in order for the wife not to be subjected to compulsory abortion and/or sterilization.
In spite of their hopes for a better life, life in the USA turned out to be more severe for the immigrants than what the family had at home. They became separated, and Mr. Lai was forced to work as a cook in numerous restaurants in order to be able to send money to his family. The labor conditions were usually degrading and terrible, and in many cases, he was not paid for his job simply because the employers had the power to take his money, but he could not protect himself due to his status as an illegal immigrant.
However, the man stated that he did not feel particularly unhappy about his life in the U.S. Perhaps he simply adapted to the harsh conditions; having become something like a routine to him, these conditions do not cause him much suffering.
From this case, it is possible to conclude that, in order not to be completely unhappy, a person does not always have to live in exceptionally good conditions. Perhaps this is simply because the brain becomes accustomed to the general routine and launches some preservation mechanism, stopping perceiving it as something outstandingly terrible and clinging to the positive feelings instead. The unhappiness, therefore, becomes chronic rather than acute. Clearly, though, no one should be placed in such degrading, unfair circumstances, being forced to slave away and still barely make ends meet rather than live inadequate conditions.
Conclusion
Therefore, it should be stressed that happiness is a complicated phenomenon, and it is hard to define the term comprehensively. Many instances of those phenomena which are often considered its elements often may lead to a decrease in the level of happiness instead; at the same time, an individual might get accustomed to difficult, even profoundly adverse circumstances. In any case, it is paramount to uncover the most often occurring elements of happiness and promote them, simultaneously attempting to address the conditions which contribute to the unhappiness of individuals, even if this unhappiness is chronic rather than acute.
Becoming a mom is an extraordinary experience, full of excitement and happiness. Nine months of pregnancy for a woman is a lifetime, during which there is a unique communication with the child, and maternal feelings are formed. The process of giving birth to a baby can and should be one of the most significant and bright moments in life for a woman in labor. To do this, every woman needs to prepare for this magnificent event. Although the birth of a child carries some painful sensations, the birth of a baby can still be the happiest moment in a woman’s life.
Main body
Undoubtedly, in my case, childbirth has become one of the most painful but happiest events in my life. The birth of a child takes place in three stages, the first of which is the process of opening the cervix. Mencarini et al. state that it begins when contractions become regular and end with the complete opening of the cervix, and this stage is one of the most painful (7). When the cervix was fully opened and the baby was ready to pass through the birth canal, I was inspired and supported by the realization that very soon, I would see my child and receive my reward for my labors. 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 (Downe et al. 12). It also causes quite a lot of discomfort and physical pain. The last stage is the expulsion of the placenta. It usually goes away quickly and painlessly compared to the previous two.
For me, the primary source of joy was the knowledge of an imminent meeting with my baby, the realization that his first birthday would take place very soon. The completion of pleasure comes at every stage of a child’s life: when he begins to look, walk, talk and laugh. The baby’s birth was an unforgettable moment and very happy not only for me but also for many mothers.
It must be said that childbirth is a physiological process, and, as everyone knows, no physiological function in our body is accompanied by pain, except for complications caused by illness, fear, and tension. Accordingly, in the presence of a positive psychological mood for childbirth, the absence of anxiety and stress, a woman rarely experiences significant discomfort during childbirth (Bayat et al. 2). Thus, the main idea that every woman should learn is that a positive attitude to childbirth, knowledge, and mastery of relaxation methods during childbirth is the key to a happy birth.
All women have the same scenario of development. However, each woman has her version of the scenario. Moreover, if a woman gives birth for the first time, all she feels is a new experience. Therefore, they talk about a situation of some uncertainty in childbirth. Women will need courage and willingness to make decisions according to the problem, here and now (Nejad et al. 1082). A woman needs to work hard mentally and show self-control and patience, but patience is an essential maternal quality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the birth of a child is quite a painful process for every woman. Nevertheless, the happiness that the newly appeared mother will experience from the baby’s birth will be worth the suffering that she experiences during childbirth. Despite all the difficulties and possible pain, it would be wonderful if every woman experienced the happiness of having a baby. The recommendation that I could give to every woman would be to maintain the motivation to accept and live childbirth.
Nejad, Farnaz, Nejad, Fahimeh, Golmakani, Nahid, Khajehpoor, Mahin, and Mayvan, Fatemeh. “The Relationship between Happiness and Fear of Childbirth in Nulliparous Women.” Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, vol. 5, no. 4, 2017, pp. 1082-1089. Web.
People have always tried to find meaning in everything, especially in life itself. There are different standpoints on the matter. I also used to think of that but could not find the necessary answer. However, now I understand that life is a human’s struggle for happiness. Noteworthy, the battle does not necessarily mean fights, pain, suffering, etc. (though sometimes people have to experience these things as well). The struggle is more about trying to enjoy life as it is, to live life to the fullest. My uncle’s life and even his death are the best illustrations of this kind of struggle. His experiences made me understand how to look at obstacles and how to overcome them.
Uncle Ali was a bright and inspiring student. He was full of energy and always knew what exactly he wanted. We all believed he would become a successful man whatever career he chose. He was a model for me as he understood the importance of education and development. I shared his viewpoints on lots of issues. Irrespective of the age difference, we were quite close to my uncle. It was my last year at high school, and it was his last year at the university when he found out about his health problem. Of course, it was a horrible blow to everyone when Ali was diagnosed with cancer.
He did not expect that, and he did not even know how to react. He could not believe it was happening. He made several tests to make sure there was no mistake. Unfortunately, the diagnosis was correct. Ali was devastated. It seemed no one could comfort him, and he would go into his shell. However, this period lasted a few days. Soon, he became the Ali we had known before the diagnosis. However, he would not talk about his health and diagnosis. He did not want to talk about it, and we did not dare start the conversation concerning his condition. He was a bit different, but he was still a hardworking student and a caring member of our family.
There was one evening when we all got together for a meal. Ali started talking about his health and his future plans. He said he had been thinking for a long time about his life. He understood that there was little hope to recover, but he was determined to continue his studies. He said he was eager to get his degree and live his life to the fullest. He also told us about his struggle with himself. He said that first, he decided to continue living his normal life.
Meanwhile, he wanted to find the answer to his questions. After a while, Ali understood that the answer to his question was life. In other words, he preferred living and achieving his goals rather than giving up and thinking of his disease and his fate. Once he understood that, he became confident and even happy.
Admittedly, Ali had many really horrible days when his pain was intolerable. He also suffered a lot, but he never complained. He kept studying and spending time with his friends and relatives. We did not talk much about Ali’s health. However, he told me once that the disease made him cherish every moment of his life. He graduated from university, and he got his degree. He was happy, and we were really proud of him. Several months after the graduation, Ali died.
I lost my close friend, but his experiences and his struggle made me understand a really important thing. First of all, I understood that positive thinking is something possible and really helpful in certain situations. Ziglar and Ziglar Norman (2009, p. 3) claim that it is crucial to living “life on life’s terms.” Ali had this positive attitude and managed to enjoy his life. My uncle managed to understand that it is essential to accept the things you cannot change. I also understand that being positive helps people go on.
However, the major lesson my uncle taught me is, of course, his decision to remain a part of society. He did not want to be in his shell and suffer from his pain (physical and emotional). He found joy in communicating with his peers, friends, and relatives, or even professors. It was a good lesson for me. There were moments when I thought I did not need anyone. I thought I was a loner, and it was better for me and my future. Clearly, I was wrong. People need society. We need other people’s support and understanding. Being lonely and thinking about some problems can be dangerous for an individual. When we are interacting, we find the strength to go on, and we can even forget about our sorrows.
Now, I can confess that I have acknowledged what the meaning of our life is. People live to set goals and achieve them, to interact and develop human society. We all live to bring meaning to our and other people’s lives. I used to look for something larger than life, but I understand that living with other people is the major aim of any individual. I am not chasing after greater goals and predestinations now. I understand that my choices and my life have an enormous impact on other people’s lives.
My uncle’s experiences helped me understand this. I believe this understanding can help me face any issues. I think people can handle any problem if they understand that their life is meaningful, and each day brings joy and happiness.
Of course, now I also know that some tiny issues I face are nothing compared to my uncle’s experiences. I understand that I can overcome any issues, and I do not get upset because of some difficulties related to my studies or personal life. Some students develop depressions because of their poor marks or unanswered love. I think this is ridiculous, and they simply do not know what the most horrible things are. I am even a bit sorry for them as they seem unprepared to face real constraints. As far as I am concerned, I am ready to cope with any issue. At least, I have a really great example of courage and wisdom.
In conclusion, I would like to note that the death of my uncle, who was young and full of energy, made me understand a very important thing. There is no point in trying to change things you cannot change. There is no point in being alone and trying to handle everything on your own. This makes people miserable. On the contrary, it is vital to remain open and live among people and to interact with everyone. Now, I understand that even the most serious problems are experiences that have a certain impact on us and the rest of the world.
Reference List
Ziglar, Z., & Ziglar Norman, J. (2009). Embrace the struggle: Living life on life’s terms. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.