Preview

Happiness

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1363 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Happiness
Relationship Between Materialism, Religion and Happiness

1. Definition of Happiness
A.Difficulties of pursuing happiness
B. Different levels of happiness needed in different stages
2. Relationship between happiness and materialism
A. Definition of materialism
B. Materialism is negatively related to happiness
3. Relationship between happiness and religion A. Definition of religion
B. Reasons why religious people are happier (Christian and Buddhist)
C. Religion is positively related to happiness
4.Conclusion

Relationship Between Materialism, Religion and Happiness
Happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Happiness is something we’ve learned to strive for and there are different levels of happiness needed in different stages during our life journey. However, sometimes even if we can find happiness, we are too exhausted to enjoy. According to the article “ the pursuit of happiness”, it mentions that there are two difficulties when we are pursuing happiness. One of the difficulties is to know we’re happy as it is not possible to gauge happiness while we are experiencing it. Another difficult is that we’ve stereotyped happiness. Only good feelings are indicator of happiness. (Artel LiLi, 2004)Pursuing happiness may be the purpose of our life, but the most important thing we should bear in mind is that we should know joy. There are many factors that may affect happiness. This paper reports two factor which most people may think it gives an impact on happiness---Materialism and religion. And also it will focus on analyzing the reasons why less-materially-oriented people and religious people are much happier than others.
Materialism
Materialism is the interest in and desire for money, possessions rather than spiritual or ethical values. “Materialism as an orientation that emphasizes possessions and money for personal happiness and social
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    What Happiness Is
    • 396 Words
    • 2 Pages

    What Happiness Is

    In the short essay of “What Happiness Is” by Eduardo Porter, he gives explicit details pertaining to the complex word, happiness. In its own term, happiness is defined as, the state of being happy. According to Porter’s findings on happiness, he says that psychologists and economists believe this: “Most psychologists and economists who study happiness agree that what they prefer to call “subjective well-beings” comprises three parts: satisfaction meant to capture how people judge their lives measured up against their aspirations; positive feelings like joy; and the absence of negative feelings like anger” (457). Porter suggests that this does exist and that because it does it helps individuals through certain times, like: hardships, economy, family, country, sickness, and even death. He is saying that because happiness exists, individuals are able to overcome obstacles in their life, and are able to live longer and healthier. Porter does focus on the main issues and key abstract views of the word happiness. He covers important issues, by giving detail; he talks about the views of psychologists and economists’ views. “ In 1980s a new discipline called Prospect Theory—also known as behavioral economics—deployed the tools of psychology to analyze economic behavior” (458).…

    • 396 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Great Expectations By Charles Dicken: An Analysis
    • 74 Words
    • 1 Page

    Great Expectations By Charles Dicken: An Analysis

    For centuries, society has shaped these abstract ideas of what happiness means and how one could achieve happiness in their lives. However, in order to even understand what actions could lead to one’s happiness, one must be able to understand the definition of happiness itself. Having read Charles Dicken’s book Great Expectations, happiness persists as a pleasure or sense of a meaningful and rich psychosocial integration in a person’s understanding of himself or herself.…

    • 74 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Bwvw Study Guide
    • 1449 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Bwvw Study Guide

    Materialism- A tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values. Ex. (social application) A society devoid of absolute Truth, and no spiritual anchor. Seeking satisfaction and meaning in possessions.…

    • 1449 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Happiness In Brave New World Essay
    • 1490 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Happiness In Brave New World Essay

    Instead, we will look to a second definition of happiness by Miriam-Webster presenting a definition that more reasonably proposes that happiness is one’s position on life rather than a transient feeling. Miriam-Webster states that happiness is “a state of well-being and contentment.” By introducing this idea of well-being to an explanation of the inspiration of happiness, Miriam-Webster’s definition suggests that different elements, such as health and comfort, are required to create happiness. Many people over the course of history have attempted to define happiness, and some definitions are quite interesting, however, who is to say that any of the definitions are correct or incorrect? To answer the original question asked, “What is happiness?” there is no definite way to define happiness, especially not a definition that will be valid for every person. Happiness is something that is achieved, and once achieved, that person knows that something is different. It is something strived towards in our society because there are so many people facing adversity that many are unable to find their happiness due to their worries. In his book, Brave New World, Aldous Huxley introduces a type of society quite different from our own in which happiness…

    • 1490 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Four Annotated Bibliographies Of Positive Psychology
    • 1184 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Four Annotated Bibliographies Of Positive Psychology

    This emerging field of study has challenged the conventional thinking that humans are far more prone to misery than happiness. Research conducted by Ed Diener and Myers (Myers & Diener, 1996) measured the degree of subjective well-being among 1.1 million people in 45 nations, and found that most people are happy and satisfied about their lives. Further research has gone on to reveal that certain traits and temperaments seem to predispose one to experience happiness. The state of subjective well-being is also not achieved through “extrinsic” factors like high income, wealth or possessions, but comes from appreciating the “intrinsic” quality of one’s life, work, friendships and relationships. Subjective well-being is also positively co-related with religious faith, where one derives a sense of meaning and purpose beyond the pursuit of materialistic goals. Myers believes that research on subjective well-being will complement society’s emphasis on material and physical well being; and psychology’s preoccupation with negative emotions. By exploring the roots of happiness, we will hopefully help to reshape prevailing cultural attitudes and envision a world that enhances human well-being. (198 words…

    • 1184 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Geography Of Bliss Analysis
    • 206 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Geography Of Bliss Analysis

    What is happiness? Sometimes we do not clearly understand. Happiness is not far away but it exists all around us every day for hours. Why we always have to looking for it? According to ‘The Geography of Bliss’ by Eric Weiner, the writer has traveled around the world to look for the true meaning of happiness. There are many reasons that make us happy such as money, cars, houses...which are all kind of the materials. There are few people realize that the happiest period of time is the moment in which we live. Life, which contains many challenges, difficulties and adversities. How to best adapt to this life is to accept the reality and believe in yourself. By themselves, each of us, in any circumstance, to know the feel and find their own happiness.…

    • 206 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Happiness Definition
    • 1061 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Happiness Definition

    What is happiness? Marketing and media have brainwashed people’s brain into believing that happiness means to own possessions such as cars, big houses, or brand new devices among others. Unfortunately, this overstated fable is far from real. In fact, most people misunderstand that happiness is a choice that lies inside them. Weather to be happy or not, is up to any individual to choose as they please. Namely, true happiness is no more than a positive attitude, a good healthy habit, and life meaning.…

    • 1061 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Happiness Explained
    • 411 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Happiness Explained

    Jane McGonigal is a prominent game developer who has dedicated her recent years to developing games that try to help the world out instead of just entertaining a few. In the tenth chapter of her book Reality is Broken, she argues that happiness levels in the United States and around the world are alarmingly low, and people are very depressed. She then introduces a term called “Happiness Hacking”. McGonigal herself defines it as “…the experimental design practice of translating positive-psychology research findings into game mechanics. It’s a way to make happiness activities feel less hokey, and to put them in a bigger social context”. (McGonigal. Reality is Broken, pg. 188). In other words, McGonigal believes by turning ‘weird’ happiness activities into games, more people will start to perform them since the new generations have their minds set into games, so anything game-like they will enjoy. She cites many researches in which subjects thought happiness activities were awkward to perform, corny, and believed self-help didn’t work. I agree, because after reading I came to my own conclusion (and thinking back into my life as well) that indeed, when you are sad and some one tells you to smile, all you think is ‘please shut up’. So what can makes us be happier? In her book, McGonigal maintains that “The two most frequently recommended happiness activities across the scientific literature are to express gratitude and practice acts of kindness.” (pg. 189) Her point is that to make our selves happy, the best way is to make someone else happy, because this is rewarding to our brain. She came up with some games that will remove awkwardness and shyness from these activities, like killing someone with compliments and stabbing them with a smile, or uploading a video of yourself dancing with a mask to make you feel better with the positive feedback people give you without revealing your identity.…

    • 411 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    William James The Nature Of Religion Analysis
    • 696 Words
    • 3 Pages

    William James The Nature Of Religion Analysis

    If the image of God is to act as moral support, a friend, and an object of love, is he also the answer to happiness. If religion is based on experiences of the individual, men themselves are already acting out upon it to find their own happiness. Therefore religion cannot be roofed under one “science of religion” for every man has their own view of what true happiness is. Perhaps real religion is our own faithfulness, how far our faith is willing and will go to ensure what we do know, and possibly reveal our future happiness. The divide in the science and living religion, is what will ensure happiness, following one’s own faith as contrary to…

    • 696 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Happiness Tal Shaahar Analysis
    • 243 Words
    • 1 Page

    Happiness Tal Shaahar Analysis

    I really appreciate how Tal Ben-Shahar points out that there is no definite definition to happiness, and that we should focus less on how to be happy, but how to be happier. Happiness is seen as the end goal, something that is the drive for many of the things we do. Taking smaller steps every day that we can stick to is much more productive in becoming happier than making huge changes that we can’t keep up with. If we all just spent a small part of our day every day focusing on happiness, we’d all be happier people. I think that most people, myself included, don’t really think about happiness. We just go through our daily lives and do the things we have to do. The topic of happiness is a more subconscious thing. It’s not something we actively…

    • 243 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Definition Essay On Happiness
    • 782 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Definition Essay On Happiness

    Happiness. What is ‘Happiness’? Everyone has a different perception towards happiness. Throughout our life, each of us as human being had been struggling to find the key to happiness without realizing that the key to happiness is actually within us. Some might say that the rich are often the happiest because they have the most luxury. Others might say that the poor are often the happiest because they are poured with love and gratitude. We all should never use the rich and the poor as example in terms of happiness. Happiness is a state of being happy and the feeling of contentment. It is a fuzzy concept that can mean different things to each one of us. Everyone deserves happiness in their life. Open the door to your heart and let…

    • 782 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Existence of Happiness
    • 1118 Words
    • 32 Pages

    The Existence of Happiness

    Happiness, the intangible emotion that we all desire. Is there proof that this emotion even exists? Eduardo Porter has written an essay titled “What Happiness Is”. In this essay Mr. Porter took the time to study the emotion of happiness that we all experience in life. He makes an attempt to question not only his reasons as to why he is happy, but to have the reader question their own sense of happiness as well. What is it that makes us feel joyful emotions, and how can vastly different experiences cause us to feel the same emotion that we call happiness? While searching for the proof of this feeling Eduardo Porter reflects upon his own personal experiences, professional studies and ultimately decides that his questions may never be answered. Porter states that, “most psychologists and economists who study happiness agree that what they prefer to call “subjective well-being” comprises three parts: satisfaction, meant to capture how people judge their lives measured up against their aspirations; positive feelings like joy; and the absence of negative feelings like anger.” This is an important analysis of how we form the idea of how joyful we actually are. Something in life that one person might be ashamed of could improve the level of cheerfulness for another person. For example, the thought of getting a tattoo might cause one individual to feel guilt while another individual might feel pleasure at the same thought. Because there is no definitive formula that provides a calculated experience of happiness for everyone, it is interesting to question what actions or lack thereof in our lives cause us to be cheerful or to lose some of the happiness that we have already gained. The organization of this essay was well thought out and effective. The author opens with the statement, “Happiness is a slippery concept, a bundle of meaning with no precise, stable definition.” This opening statement provokes the reader to question their own beliefs in…

    • 1118 Words
    • 32 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Analysis Of Darrin Mcmahon's Essay In Pursuit Of Unhappiness
    • 467 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Analysis Of Darrin Mcmahon's Essay In Pursuit Of Unhappiness

    Everyone's goal in life is to be “happy”, they go out of their way to fulfill temporary pleasures. But what is very ironic is that striving for this possession filled happiness, many become sad, weary and give up on their dream of so called “happiness”. The article written by Darrin McMahon “In Pursuit of Unhappiness” , goes over this issue in great detail. Achieving true happiness is nearly impossible in the way we try to maintain it.…

    • 467 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Definition Of Happiness Essay
    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Definition Of Happiness Essay

    Happiness is defined as being pleased or delighted about a particular thing. The ability to be in control is defined as authorities. Happiness is one of the three unalienable rights of life. There are many things that make a person happy. These things range from, a personal object, a close relationship with a person or an idea. Yet, happiness is not a solid state of mind. It must be developed over time and is based on the decisions made in one’s life. Many people question whether we can control our happiness or not; in my opinion that is the only way to achieve it completely and utterly.…

    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Theme Of Happiness In To Kill A Mockingbird
    • 1453 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Theme Of Happiness In To Kill A Mockingbird

    Many people aspire to be fully content with their lives, but fail to realize the effort that it takes to reach the idealized state of happiness. Some believe joy shall fall upon them so long as they wait patiently for it. However, those who are truly gleeful can give credit to their hard endeavors of understanding the nature of happiness, overcoming their fears, and accepting others.…

    • 1453 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics