Happy Feelings Essay Example for Free

Happy Feelings Essay Happiness is something that does normally come to everyone in one way shape or form. Happiness is not something that just comes, it’s something that you create. In a person’s life if you are waiting on something to change in order to be happy, then you’re not living life. When you adopt a positive attitude, life becomes a rewarding instead of something to get through. If you wish to be happy, you have to be less involved in your own happiness and more involved in the happiness of others. Make others happy and you become happy as a result. Involve yourself totally, throw yourself into what you are doing in life, and happiness will result. If you are compromising, i.e. doing something you hate as a means to an end so that good will result one fine day, STOP! Begin to do more of what you love now and let that grow until it fills your life. Then happiness will be yours, and you will be better able to bring happiness to the world, (Asoka Selvarajah). We look for happiness outside ourselves, thinking that if we and the right job, homes , and the right friends we would be truly happy. All our life we have tried to surround ourselves with people and things that make us feel comfortable. A step in seeking happiness is learning that we first have to learn how negative emotions are not helpful and positive emotions are helpful. †We must also realize that these negative emotions are not only very bad and harmful to one personally, but are also harmful to society and the future of the whole world, (Dalai Lama). The Dalai Lama believes that happiness is a state of mind is the source of happiness must lie within the mind. If our mind is pure and peaceful we shall be happy, regardless of our external changes. Dalai Lama believes that happiness is achieved through compassion and training the mind. To achieve happiness begins with distinguishing between spirituality and religion. To have a spiritual portion in your life, you will appreciate the happiness in your life. My first subject I chose was Jennifer Aldred, She is a close friend and someone that I recently began dating. Jennifer is 33 years old and holds a degree in Computer Science. Jennifer is employed at the Chick-fil-a Corporate Office as an Administrative Communications Assistant. The questions I had presented to Jennifer were as follows: 1. What is your definition of Happiness? 2. Has your definition of happiness changed over time? 3. What experiences have influenced your definition? 4. Do you expect your definition to change again over time? 5. Do you think the happiness of other around you affect your happiness? 1. Happiness is a relative-term that is based off of the levels of serotonin in the body. â€Å"I have a science background; what can I say.† 2. My definition of happiness has only changed slightly over time; more dramatically from childhood into adulthood. As a child, happiness was more about receiving a material gift. Now, as an adult, time is more valuable to me. And, being able to spend time with my peers gives me that same sense of happiness as when I was a child and my parents would give me a new toy. Of course, most of our basic needs such as food, shelter, love and peer bonding have continued to make me happy over time. As we age, the definition of happiness will mature as with our lives. 3. Looking into the past, I associate key events (birthdays, being able to drive for the first time, the birth of my friend’s children, getting married, vacations, etc.) with my happiness. Currently, I am very content with where I am in life so there for each day is filled with an undertone of happiness. Contentment = happiness. 4. I completely expect my definition of happiness to change again. As I progress into different stages of my life, whatever is most valuable to me will become my greatest source of happiness. 5. Yes, the happiness of others directly affects my happiness. My second subject I chose was Kristie Thompson, She is a work associate and is an Executive Assistant and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Kristie is employed at the Chick-fil-a Corporate Office. The questions I had presented to Kristie were as follows: 1. What is your definition of Happiness? 2. Has your definition of happiness changed over time? 3. What experiences have influenced your definition? 4. Do you expect your definition to change again over time? 5. Do you think the happiness of other around you affect your happiness? 1. Happiness is defined as following the path that God has lead out for you and being in His will. Only when you are doing what God has called you to do can you really be happy. It is knowing that I am doing what He created me to do regardless. 2. Happiness has changed as Ive matured, as a kid, happiness was the next big present received or achievement for parents to be proud of you. As an adult, happiness is rarely about you or your achievement. 3. As a Christian, everything is influenced by what I learn in the Bible and my life experiences, whether good or bad, just support that. 4. No, I believe that I’m am pretty set in my ways. I have my family, home and everything that I need. I’m 38 years old and believe I have found I am pretty set in my ways in what I like and don’t like. 5. The happiness of others around me may impact my mood, but not my true happiness. I’m not going let other bring me down. I can say I have brief moments of happiness, for example when my children accomplish something, but don’t overall affect my overall happiness. www.cedarfire.com/art.word-asoka.shtml Richardson, Hugh E. (1984). Tibet Its History. 1st edition 1962. 2nd edition