Week 1- Science of Happiness Synthesis
Happiness or “selective well-being” is defined as “a term to describe the range of positive emotions including joy, contentment, pride, and gratitude.” Happiness, however, is not as simple as a single word in one’s vocabulary as it largely impacts and is partially a result of one’s day to day life. Research shows that an individual's happiness is determined approximately 50% by genes, 10% in life circumstances. That leaves the remaining 40% which we can change ourselves. When studying happiness, it is helpful to look to our ancestors to see how happiness was previously defined. Prior to the 17th century, happiness was viewed as a means that was only available by luck. In Greek philosophy, happiness was to be earned. Throughout the “happiness revolution” of the 17th and 18th centuries, the idea of happiness as a right rose in popularity. The importance of recognizing these historical views of happiness lies in the growing misconceptions of happiness throughout time. Beliefs including “you must be happy all of the time to be a happy person” or “a happy individual never experience hardship” are beliefs that became more common as people began defining pain as bad and pleasure as good. The modern exploration of happiness looks closely at how individuals can alter their lifestyles to foster happiness and how practicing intentional habits like meditation can have a positive impact on one’s success, relationships, and physical health.
Defining the basis of which happiness is being researched, happiness as a term, and applying historically relevant information is helpful in adapting methods to cultivate happiness. The idea of happiness can be confusing but identifying the power individuals have over their own happiness is a necessary first step in building lifestyles that prioritize overall well-being. Additionally, by understanding the positive effects happiness can have on one’s life it is more likely that they will mindfully practice habits.
How do you think most people your age would define happiness? What about well-being? Did this new learning change your own ideas about those two?
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of people my age might have a definition of happiness and well-being that is very much altered by monetary value. I also think that some kids my age may define large parts of happiness by their personal academic success. A lot of my peers care a lot about physical things and belongings. This may be because some of us are getting our first jobs and beginning to make our own money. It could also be because our generation values physical things very much as we care about how we are perceived by other kids. I learned this week a lot about how much money actually benefits a persons happiness and how long it will have an impact. Studies shown in the course state that as a society we are increasingly building a stronger desire for money from generation to generation. The problem is, there is no direct correlation between extreme wealth and lasting happiness. In fact, research shows that after one reaches a $75,000 yearly income, money loses its affect on happiness greatly. So for kids my age who are extremely fixated on physical belongings and seem to find great happiness in purchasing goods, that source of happiness may eventually diminish greatly in the future.
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