Essay on How to Achieve Happiness
The Pursuit to Happiness
“Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond our grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you” is what Nathaniel Hawthorne once said. (Palha) Unfortunately there is no handbook that one may purchase to achieve happiness, because no one is the same. Therefore, it is nearly impossible for one to obtain happiness through someone else’s viewpoints and research, but there are in my opinion, basic needs that will jumpstart the road to happiness. In contemplation and also through research I have come to the conclusion that people in our lives, experiences, privileges, and attitudes are the key components to achieve happiness. First and foremost, family plays an important role in happiness. One needs to know and trust their “roots”, and also have a good relationship with family. A study produced by the Associated Press and MTV concluded that the top answer to the question “what makes you happy” was “spending time with family.” Also, the same study concluded that 75% of the people that were questioned said that the relationship with their parents made them happy. (Emerson) Family is like the foundation of a house. Without the foundation there is no stability. Without stability in one’s family life would ultimately affect everything else around oneself. Families carry our history with them, and they generally share our future as well. Who better than siblings, parents, and other close relatives can reminisce with us about our childhoods, or remember pieces of ourselves that we have forgotten? This connection to fond memories, support in times of need, and near-unconditional love is a unique way that family brings us happiness as well as relief from stress. Friends are family we choose for ourselves. I am sure it is a saying that everyone has heard at some point. Friends share a different yet equally important bond with us just as our families do. One can confide in a friend about things that
“Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond our grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you” is what Nathaniel Hawthorne once said. (Palha) Unfortunately there is no handbook that one may purchase to achieve happiness, because no one is the same. Therefore, it is nearly impossible for one to obtain happiness through someone else’s viewpoints and research, but there are in my opinion, basic needs that will jumpstart the road to happiness. In contemplation and also through research I have come to the conclusion that people in our lives, experiences, privileges, and attitudes are the key components to achieve happiness. First and foremost, family plays an important role in happiness. One needs to know and trust their “roots”, and also have a good relationship with family. A study produced by the Associated Press and MTV concluded that the top answer to the question “what makes you happy” was “spending time with family.” Also, the same study concluded that 75% of the people that were questioned said that the relationship with their parents made them happy. (Emerson) Family is like the foundation of a house. Without the foundation there is no stability. Without stability in one’s family life would ultimately affect everything else around oneself. Families carry our history with them, and they generally share our future as well. Who better than siblings, parents, and other close relatives can reminisce with us about our childhoods, or remember pieces of ourselves that we have forgotten? This connection to fond memories, support in times of need, and near-unconditional love is a unique way that family brings us happiness as well as relief from stress. Friends are family we choose for ourselves. I am sure it is a saying that everyone has heard at some point. Friends share a different yet equally important bond with us just as our families do. One can confide in a friend about things that
Cited: * Palha, Sol. “Money, the eternal quest for happiness and good health.” In Search of Truth May 2005: 04. Financial Sense. Web. 28 Oct. 2009. < <http://www.financialsense.com/fsu/editorials/ti/2005/0504.html> * Emerson, Ralph Waldo * Twain, Amy "Our Pursuit of Happiness through Friendship." Our Pursuit of Happiness through Friendship. 24 Oct. 2008 Web. 28 Oct. 2009 <http://ezinearticles.com/?Our-Pursuit-of-Happiness-Through-Friendship&id=1615848>. * Weiner, Eric. The Geography of Bliss. New York; Twelve Hachette Book Group, 2008. * Mirriam-Webster Word Central.”Student Dictionary.” 2007. Web. 28 Oct. 2009. <http://www.wordcentral.com/cgi-bin/student?book=Student&va=Traditions>. * Weiner, Eric. The Geography of Bliss. New York; Twelve Hachette Book Group, 2008.