Definition Essay: What Is The Pursuit Of Happiness?

One thing that all humans have in common is the pursuit of happiness. Everyone aspires to be happy in some aspect of their lives. Happiness is not always easy, but it is important. There are multiple factors that can contribute to how content people are or can be with their lives. Everyone acquires different methods in their search for happiness, because every individual is unique in their own way. However, some keys that may assist individuals in achieving happiness include taking chances and recognizing the simple things in life. Many people prefer clinging to a routine and focusing on what they know. Often, those who are accustomed to routines, favor staying within their comfort zone. Danah Boyd, at Microsoft Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts states that “our increasing reliance on recommendations means people can end up living in a “filter bubble” that narrows our field of vision” (de Lange). However, research suggests that happiness is fueled by chance (de
Flora suggests that these people tend to see beauty and opportunity whereas others may see flaws in the same situations (65). This reflects that it is important, when pursuing happiness, not to expect too much. If people focus too much on searching for happiness alone, their ability to see the simple, good things in life may be at risk. In the article, “Get Out of the Groove,” it is acknowledged that “human beings are constantly trying to make sense of the world” (de Lange). This suggests that people often do not realize what truly makes them happy, because they are too busy focusing on attempting to know everything about the world around them. It is important to acknowledge simple things, rather than overlooking them and searching for a greater factor of happiness. Searching for something that is out of reach, is more likely to decrease happiness, rather than increasing