Pre-draft essay #1

Happiness. Could it be the hardest thing to achieve in life? Happiness isn’t just something that happens over night. You either earn it or you don’t. “How to by happiness” by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton. Money buying happiness doesn’t seem natural in anyway. It’s unethical to have the amount of your happiness based upon the money you have in your pocket. “What suffering does” by David brooks. Explaining a whole new meaning on how happiness can be accomplished. Suffering…. Shaping us as new people as we go through it, with the end result of happiness. Learning who we really are and what we a capable of brings new meaning to what people call happiness.

Achieving Happiness

Wouldn’t an individual want to know the tricks and secrets on how to achieve happiness? Ones goal and desire is to be and live a happy lifestyle. There is various definitions on what happiness is and what brings an individual happiness. Although, every individual is different there has been several studies that show how one can boost their happiness in their everyday life. Most people will assume that the rich are happier than the poor. Shockley having an excessive amount of money does not influence in ones happiness. Happiness is achieved by factors such as socializing, experiences, and the way an individual spends money not by the amount.

Introduction of Essay Draft 1

Happiness is a paradox in today’s society. The concept of happiness has been altered throughout time. In our current society, individuals have the belief that accumulating wealth will help them achieve happiness. However, the article “The scientific pursuit of happiness: How To Buy Happiness” by Sonja Lyubomirsky and the Op-Ed “How to buy happiness” by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton, infer that there has been a misconception of how happiness is achieved. Individuals have adopted this concept through changes in society, the main one is due to the use of money. Therefore, money has altered the view of individuals on how they should achieve happiness.

 

essay 1,First Draft thesis

   Happiness can be expressed in so many ways and can be shown in so many actions . But experiencing happiness is different for every one. Every human is different , different likes and interests. I think thats why happiness is such a huge trend because every one wants to look and feel happy. But I don’t think being happy is something that should be number one on every ones list  . From the texts I’ve read , it is said that people learn from there experiences and also their mistakes . So can we learn from happiness as well ?

Pre-Draft Thesis Paragraph

What is happiness? What brings happiness? Where does it come from? Many have done studies to figure out the answer to these questions. “How to Buy Happiness” Written by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton and “What Good is Money if it Cant Buy Happiness” written by Sonja Lyubomirsky argue that its what we do with money and when it is shared with someone is what brings happiness. “How Happy are you? A Census Wants to Know” written by John Tierney studied a town and asked them questions to figure out what made them happy. John Tierney came to find out that when changes are made to better people it brings happiness. Also you can not really find out how happy someone is by doing a census because people reply to the census depending on the mood they are in. Happiness cannot be judged, people cannot direct a specific way of life to bring happiness. The only thing we can assume is that happiness is the essence of what brings us joy.

Essay 1 Pre-Draft: Thesis Paragraph

“True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new” (Antoine de Saint-Exupery). Several people might agree with this quote because happiness can be found by helping others and by making new experiences. However, happiness is a controversial issue in which people have different opinions on how it is built. The article “How to Buy Happiness” by Sonja Lyubomirsky and the the article “What Suffering Does” by David Brooks show two different perspectives about how happiness is reached. To me, the key to happiness is about making our lives better through accepting the past and through experiences, because experiences aren’t quantitative, they’re not defined by numbers or worth, but qualitative, that is what quality experience you have.

Essay 1 Pre-Draft: Thesis Paragraph

Is happiness a factor of how we really should be or how society thinks people should be and act? Happiness is not only brought through experiences but also experiences of other people. When you give to other people you share happiness with them and yourself. But also with happiness comes suffering as was stated in the article “What Suffering Does” by David Brook he states that “Often, physical or social suffering can give people an outsider’s perspective, an attuned awareness of what other outsiders are enduring”. Through suffering you get to reveal more and more stuff about yourself. Happiness is really brought by sharing with others in your experiences and relating to others to share that happiness and well-being.

Essay #1 Pre- Draft : Thesis Paragraph

 Does having a surplus amount of money allow you to fulfilled and obtain full happiness?

Can Happiness be obtained? This is proven in the article, “How to buy happiness” by

Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton and the article, “How to buy happiness” by Sonja

Lyubomirsky that explains the amount of money we have and how we spend it can

influence and be very beneficial to obtaining happiness and well-being,. Both of these

articles given idea of happiness but at the same times it’s illustrated by a different stand

point.

Essay 1 Pre-Draft: Thesis Paragraph

Happiness can be determined throughout many variable ways. Many things or certain ways can make people happy. Throughout all the stories we read about happiness determined it in many ways in the article “How to Buy Happiness” by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton argues how we spend our money does it bring us or happiness or for the moment, and in “How Happy Are you?” by John Tierney discusses the happiness levels of people in the population on what in particular makes them happy. Therefore their isn’t a measure of quality on happiness just as love, you can be in a relationship with someone for years and feel nothing, but can be in a relationship for two months and feel everything. Time is not a measure of quality; of infatuation, or love. I think it’s based on how a person feels and what makes them happy and more positive about themselves.

 

Essay 1 Pre-Draft: Thesis Paragraph

Some people say that they’re rich in life with or without any significant currency in their life or their person. So what is it to be rich? Is it an evaluation in happiness? (“How Happy Are You”? by John Tierney; April 30, 2011), Are there stark contrasts/cultural differences? (“Why Conservatives Are Happier Than Liberals” by Arthur C. Brooks; July 7, 2012). Is it a question of “old vs. new” traditions? Is it surviving a traumatic experience or experiences? Or is happiness draped in poverty, plight, empathy and being humane in one’s selflessness aka philanthropy? Or is it when one is so low on the totem pole of life, that he/she has no choice and nothing to look forward to, that they’ll sit in this lowest level of status and wallow happily in their misery. See that’s the thing, this “happiness” that has everyone so culturally contrary is really just a matter of perception. Isn’t it? Hmmm… Â