happiness
Throughout modern human history people have desired purpose in their lives. They have struggled to find meaning in a world that they do not understand. Knowledge is not the driving force behind this chase. Happiness is the ultimate goal. Once they have purpose, they believe that they can achieve happiness. Many religions preach that happiness will be achieved in death. But how can we know when we attain happiness, if we do not know what happiness is.
In 1830 happiness was defined as: the state in which the desires are satisfied. That definition has now dropped to the number two slot. Happiness is now most commonly used to mean good luck. The event that people now most often relate with happiness is winning the lottery. Happiness is no longer a state of existence. It has been taken down to a chance, fleeting occurrence. The change in the definition of happiness is a reflection of our society; we are no longer concerned with long-term plans or goals. We need everything now. If we can’t have it right away, it is not worth having.
When asked what makes them happy most people say money. However in countries where per capita income is higher, happiness does not tend to be greater. The people have more electronic devices and cars, but they are no happier than before. As long as people are not in abject poverty, money seems to have little to do with absolute happiness. Robert H. Frank, the H.J.Louis Professor of Management at Cornell's Johnson Graduate School of Management and the Goldwin Smith Professor of Economics, Ethics, and Public Policy in the College of Arts and Sciences, believes that “…if we use an increase in our incomes, as many of us do, simply to buy bigger houses and more expensive cars, then we do not end up any happier than before. But if we use an increase in our incomes to buy more of certain inconspicuous goods–such as freedom from a long commute or a stressful job–then the evidence paints a very different picture.” Income can be used to increase happiness, but only if it is used to improve quality of living without buying shiny objects. Day to day situations affect our happiness much more than possessions or big events.
Humans adapt very easily. We live on almost every continent, and can survive in any conditions. While many people say they would rather die than become paralyzed for life, paraplegics tend to get over the immediate depression, and are about as happy as everyone else. No handicapped group tends to be particularly unhappy. Conversely, people who win the lottery tend to get over the immediate euphoria and sometimes become less happy than they were before. Human beings can find happiness in almost any situation, but happiness is dependant on fulfilling desires.
Happiness is about being satisfied. There is a limit to what a person needs, and anything beyond that will not increase happiness. While the rich of one country might be relatively happy compared to the rest of the country, this is only because of how it changes their daily routine, and frees them from many of the stresses of work and commuting. Possessions do not make people happier, as much as commercials make us believe they do. If people wish to be happy they must free themselves from the desire for shiny objects, and use their money to improve the quality of their lives
In 1830 happiness was defined as: the state in which the desires are satisfied. That definition has now dropped to the number two slot. Happiness is now most commonly used to mean good luck. The event that people now most often relate with happiness is winning the lottery. Happiness is no longer a state of existence. It has been taken down to a chance, fleeting occurrence. The change in the definition of happiness is a reflection of our society; we are no longer concerned with long-term plans or goals. We need everything now. If we can’t have it right away, it is not worth having.
When asked what makes them happy most people say money. However in countries where per capita income is higher, happiness does not tend to be greater. The people have more electronic devices and cars, but they are no happier than before. As long as people are not in abject poverty, money seems to have little to do with absolute happiness. Robert H. Frank, the H.J.Louis Professor of Management at Cornell's Johnson Graduate School of Management and the Goldwin Smith Professor of Economics, Ethics, and Public Policy in the College of Arts and Sciences, believes that “…if we use an increase in our incomes, as many of us do, simply to buy bigger houses and more expensive cars, then we do not end up any happier than before. But if we use an increase in our incomes to buy more of certain inconspicuous goods–such as freedom from a long commute or a stressful job–then the evidence paints a very different picture.” Income can be used to increase happiness, but only if it is used to improve quality of living without buying shiny objects. Day to day situations affect our happiness much more than possessions or big events.
Humans adapt very easily. We live on almost every continent, and can survive in any conditions. While many people say they would rather die than become paralyzed for life, paraplegics tend to get over the immediate depression, and are about as happy as everyone else. No handicapped group tends to be particularly unhappy. Conversely, people who win the lottery tend to get over the immediate euphoria and sometimes become less happy than they were before. Human beings can find happiness in almost any situation, but happiness is dependant on fulfilling desires.
Happiness is about being satisfied. There is a limit to what a person needs, and anything beyond that will not increase happiness. While the rich of one country might be relatively happy compared to the rest of the country, this is only because of how it changes their daily routine, and frees them from many of the stresses of work and commuting. Possessions do not make people happier, as much as commercials make us believe they do. If people wish to be happy they must free themselves from the desire for shiny objects, and use their money to improve the quality of their lives
posted by Hank at 8:29 PM
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