Part ONE -- Consider this: Life is a quest for happiness. (Regardless of how you define happiness.)
Do you agree with this statement? Why? Why not? Explain.
Part TWO -- What do you need in order to be happy?
(Don’t just think hypothetically, think reality, think
practically, think pragmatically.)
I believe the first statement is true because as you go through your life you always try to do things that make you happy. When you try to decide what career you want to go into, you try and choose one that makes you happy. When you get married to someone, you marry them because they make you happy and you love them. As you go through life even if you don't realize it you are always making decisions that keep you happy.
ReplyDeleteHaving a family and having really close friends is what i need to be happy. I could say i need money or a car or anything else, but at the end of the day the only thing i really need is to have a family to come home to and my best friends, they are always there for me and i can count on them to keep me happy whether its a simple practical joke, or a surprise party, i can always count on them. I have been through everything with my closest friends that i consider them family. Everything we have gone through, no matter how big the fight or how long we haven't talked, we can always go back to being happy at the end of it, no matter what. So yeah i could put up an argument that says i need all these other things to be happy but at the end of the day all i really need are my family and friends, nothing else matters.
I agree with the first statement much like Matt. Through our lives, we seek to find those things that make us truly happy. If your partner doesn't make you happy, then why choose them? I think everyone has a goal to achieve happiness if other goals are too far out. I cannot think of a time where you wouldn't want to be happy in your decision of anywhere from what to eat to where you want your career to take you.
ReplyDeleteIn order for me personally to be happy, I need reassurance that I have people I love around and supporting me through the battle of life. Without some of my "personal cheerleaders" like my best friends, my parents, my godmother, or teachers, I don't know if I would be truly happy right now. Life without my friends who have integrated themselves into my own family and my family, happiness would be very difficult to achieve. One of my closest friends and I met back in 3rd grade and throughout our friendship we've been through pretty much everything together. She's been the mama bear figure when I really needed her to be, standing up for me and almost literally shoving someone to the ground so she could see me be happier. I might not talk to her all that often, I know if I drove across the nation and came into her house with no announcement, I know I will be welcomed in and her and her amazing family will help me find that happiness again.
I agree with the first statement to a certain extent. I think for many people, life IS a quest for happiness. However, I do not believe this is our true purpose. I think we seek gratification at the expense of their mental and spiritual well-being and label it personal purpose in an attempt to turn a fleeting emotion into a permanent state of being.
ReplyDeleteHowever, happiness is most certainly important and good in the correct context. I personally believe that in order to experience real happiness (not just a rush of serotonin or societal approval, but REAL happiness), you need something permanent in your life that tempers the brevity of emotion, something that cannot be eroded by emotion or corrupted by the world. I believe that the only unchanging, eternal thing is God. So therefore, God is the foundation of joy, or happiness, or whatever constitutes a permanent state of being, because God is the only source of permanence.
I, like Emma, agree with this statement to a certain extent. I believe that many people seek happiness or things that make them happy but I do not believe that this is our purpose for living. As a Christian I believe that God created us to worship and love and follow Him. That also means to me that as a Christian I get my joy from worshiping God and no matter the circumstance I will have joy and happiness, therefore i do not need to seek it.
ReplyDeleteI would like to say that things make me happy but I have seen many people who live on nothing at all and they are still happy and I know I could be too. I would also like to say that I need friends to make me happy but I have found that if my friends are sad then so am I so I cannot rely on them for happiness. Then I continue to think that I need my family to be happy but i contemplate the times that my family makes me sad or angry and while they often do make me happy, there are times that I might be happier without them. The only thing that I can come up with to really give me happiness is God. He is my strength and I can always depend on Him. I have joy because I know that Jesus is my personal Lord and Savior and I know that I will spend eternity in heaven with Him and that makes me happy. My family, friends, things, and boyfriend are all gifts from God that make me happy but I do not rely on them for happiness because they are all temporary (earthly). But I am thankful for what I have that can bring me happiness.
I agree with the statement that life is a quest for happiness, because every single movie is centered around the idea that good needs to triumph over evil or injustice in some way. Every story is this way, really. In the end, it's about whether or not the main character or characters are happy, and if they aren't, it can leave a bad taste in our mouths. If we aren't satisfied or happy after eating at a restaurant, we don't go there again if we can help it, because it doesn't make us happy. People want their money's worth in every situation, or they won't be happy. I don't think happiness would be so sought after if it weren't something special. There's a goodness to happiness. If we didn't have it, how miserable would we be? People compare themselves to others and their experiences, and say that they've had a better or worse life than whichever person they're talking about. I think that means happiness is relative. It's relative because what makes one person happy won't necessarily make another person happy at all.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes me happy is when people are in harmony with one another. As cliché or cheesy as it sounds, I get stressed out when my friends argue about something stupid or arbitrary, and I'm a much happier person when I see them at peace with one another. We aren't enemies, so why should we treat each other as such? We shouldn't, is my point. I feel like if people would hold their tongues more often, everyone would be a bit happier. Some people don't have any tact, and that makes others unhappy. I also become happy when I get to spend money on things I enjoy or people I value. I really enjoy making somebody's day a little better by buying them a candy bar during lunch or whatever else may be helpful. I totally buy into the idea that happiness is contagious, and I feel like I have to see others being happy for me to be happy. Alone time also makes me happy, too, especially when people I'm around aren't at peace with one another. It's a good time to clear my head and daydream about things that sound pleasant. I dream about talking to somebody about something and them receiving it well, which almost never happens exactly as I fantasize it. Still, it's fun to dream. Because when I'm alone, no one can interrupt that and say it's unrealistic or childish. Personally, I don't care if it's childish or foolish. If being a fool to society means I get to be happy, I'd rather be a fool my entire life. That isn't blissful ignorance, either. There's a difference, in my opinion. I think some people are just naturally going to discourage others from the things that make them happy, perhaps because they don't find happiness as easily obtainable. I know I've had those moments. Friends also make me happy. Friends aren't really most of the people I see at school. They're the ones I hang out with outside of school. The ones I can be with for hours and know that they won't be looking for flaws in me, but that we can laugh and support each other and have fun being who we are. If you can't be yourself around your so-called friends, perhaps you should re-evaluate who your friends really are. I apologize for going off on a tangent! Like I said, daydreaming and wondering makes me happy, so I tend to get off topic very quickly.
I do not believe that life is a quest for happiness. I believe that it may be a quest for fulfillment, but happiness does not control our every action. Although they may not truly fulfill us, we follow certain things in life until we achieve them, thinking that eventually we will find ourselves in perfection, with happiness, accomplishment, and stability within us. I thus believe that fulfillment is a completely different thing than happiness, and happiness is just a part of fulfillment.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I'm not sure what I need in order to be happy. I find myself often forgetting about things like that often, and struggle to find happiness in everyday life. That's not to say that I don't experience moments of joy, but overall, my every thought is consumed with my education, college, and the various responsibilities I hold and things I must do. I find myself living event to event, test to test. I find that when I try to do things that I believe may make me happy, I am unable to really enjoy them a lot of the time. I'm always thinking about the things I have to do or the many uncertainties of my future. My many fears often control my mind and block out any chance of happiness. I know this isn't really an answer anyone would want to hear-- it'd be much more interesting if I could have a definitive answer or two-- but I can't sit here and lie. I just don't know what makes me honestly happy or fulfilled anymore; I can only hope that when things start to settle down in my life, I'll find true happiness again.
Part 1: I agree with the statement life is a quest for happiness, I personally believe that the life we live here is given to us for a short period of time. humans are emotional beings, and not robots, their for, we share the emotion for earning, to find our purpose in life, and I believe we find that easier by associating happiness with it. We earn to be happy while we are here, we don't earn to be miserable, because that makes us feel empty, and humans earn to feel full, and I believe happiness makes us feel full.
ReplyDeletePart 2: in order for myself to be happy, as of now, I just need my life filled with people who make me feel supported and loved, who make me feel happy/full as a human. But for the future in order to be happy I just need to be doing what my heart wants to do, weather that be traveling the world helping on missions trips, and helping my community, or performing somewhere, for me to be happy in the future I would need my heart to be in the right place, and to be pursing what I need in order to be fulfilled
I agree with the statement that life is a quest for happiness. No matter what definition you have for happiness, it is something that everyone wants and needs. Happiness is what you should be living for. People live for love, family, friends, and many other things, that in the grand scheme of things makes them happy. Happiness is also such a high idea that it is something you have to work for, and it is something you should make a very big goal in your life.
ReplyDeleteFor me to be happy, I personally need family, friends, support and time by myself. I believe I am fairly introverted, so I need my family and friends as a support group in my life, to cheer me up and make me happy and give love and support But I also need time by myself, so I can recharge and not be consumed with stress, or anxieties that can be brought on by the outside world. With those things I feel like I have gained great happiness, and though I may not have reached supreme happiness, like capital 'H' Happiness, I am happy.
part one: I agree with the statement about questing for happiness. Who ever you are you are not going to go through life and try to find the opposite of happiness. When we try to acquire happiness we feel a lot of fulfillment while we try to achieve the happiness and maybe more then actually achieving happiness. Happiness is a good goal to look forward to because it seems better then looking forward to a sorrowful goal.
ReplyDeletePart two: For me to be happy I need to be able to experience something for a long time. So for example if I had ice cream I would not get true happiness. But if I buy a ice cream truck then that would be a very good happiness. Sadly i do not like ice cream any more so I geuss I would have to replace that with coca cola or TV Show.
I agree with the statement, life is a quest for happiness. Whatever your definition is for happiness, its something we all come across atleast once in our life. Whether its family, relationship, friends, goals or defiantly even food that brings you happiness then thats consider something you have in your everyday life. Hapiness may not even be something you have to work for it could just be something that happens. Without happiness would it even be worth living here? Without happiness our lives would most likely be miserable all the time. For me family would be the main thing that I need to be happy (besides food atleast lol). Happiness for me, is having the people that mean the most to me being in my life. The love and support I have gotten from family and friends brings be happiness and what pushes me to bring happiness to someone else. Happiness is about doing something you love and the goals you accomplish in life. Theres many things that can go on in your life that can make you happy, you just have to know the thing that makes you the most happy!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with this statement in it's entirety. What motivates people? The reward of happiness. Why do people take risks? For the slight chance of gratification. What drives us as humans to do ANYTHING in our daily lives? Happiness. This is the only thing that I think about all day long. What can I do to make you, me and everyone else I care about happy? What could I possibly do to bring my happiness level from a 5 to a 6 and how can I keep it there? What will make this person happy and how can I achieve it for them? If happiness weren't a dangling carrot of a reward in front of me, I would have no motivation and little success rates. I don't believe that anyone would do anything if they weren't promised some sort of gratification. Whether is be instant or prolonged, short and sweet, or something you have to work for, everyone is searching for happiness. So yes, I completely agree with this statement and if I weren't trying to be "happy" or on a quest for happiness, I would not be doing half of the things I am putting myself through. I would not be putting myself through stress and disappointment if I did not think the return factor would be great enough to heighten my happiness levels. I need my loved ones to be happy for myself to be happy. If my loved ones are not happy and do not have access to the things that they deserve or need, I am extremely unhappy.
ReplyDeleteI believe that different people have different quests. Of course everyone wants to be happy... but they seek happiness in he moment. For example, some people like to go out and get drunk. That makes some people happy but in the long-run it will not lead to eternal happiness. I am a Christian and my ultimate goal is to get into heaven. One thing that is important to keep in mind when I make decisions is how it'll help me reach eternal happiness. A lot of people forget about the long-term effects of short-term decisions. They like to "live in the moment".
ReplyDeleteWhat i need in order to feel happy is to never feel alone. I like being surrounded with people that I love, and love me back. I could be surrounded by many strafers and feel incredibly alone.
I do agree with this statement above because, from birth to death we create, buy, and use different things to make us happy. I believe that if we were not to have an imagination, most people would not be as outgoing as they are now. My imagination is so strong and vivid, sometimes it scares me how real somethings feel. We all daydream about different things such as, future events, scenarios where you become rich and famous, etc. All these things make us feel happy, and it makes us believe that they actually will happen. I also believe that the few of us that will become successful, in the financial realm, will be able to "buy" temporary happiness. As you said in class, Mr. Phillips, your friend (John?) became truly happy when he was playing the drums. Other people become truly happy when they volunteer for charity events, or give a percentage of their paychecks to a charity. Different people perceive happiness in different ways, so we all will experience true happiness... Differently.
ReplyDeleteMost people will pull the whole "I don't need money to be happy" card and I think that is complete bull because without money, you can't buy that new gaming system, or that new Iphone, etc. I, personally, need my closest friends and my family to be happy (that also includes my future family). I was brought up on the mentality that if you give someone a gift, do not expect something in return. So I always feel joyous when I give a gift to someone and I just see there face light up with happiness. It just makes me feel all warm and cozy inside, knowing I just made someone's day that much better.
I completely agree with this statement. Everything I do in my life is directed towards my own happiness. Although the guy in the TED talk said that people's emotions control what they do sometimes, I always work towards my happiness. Whether that means that I go and do something stupid or smart or loving towards my girlfriend I am doing it for my happiness. I don't want that to change either because I feel like if you don't have happiness in your life, you have nothing. People can buy tons of things, gadgets, and people's love for them, in some cases, but they will never be fully happy with themselves.
ReplyDeleteHappiness to me, is being completely accepting of yourself, and I think that everyone in this world should strive towards that. That is what everyone should strive for, is their own happiness. No matter how many people love you, if you don't love yourself you won't be able to love other people or completely enjoy things in your life. The example that you used in class, Phillips, about your friend who was the drummer, backs my point. He had a great job, a ton of money, everything that anyone could ask for, but until he found what truly made him happy and made him feel like he was big "A" alive he wasn't happy with his life. That is why everyday I strive to learn something about myself so I can at some point be truly happy.
I agree with the first statement. Happiness is a quest that everyone is trying to seek. In every moment and every decision I think people look to see which choice will benefit themselves and make them happier. Although, most people get caught up in the things that make them happy for short term instead of looking for the big picture or the big H Happiness. When you make a decision the person will think how will this make me feel for the moment until that feeling passes they will just be looking for another thing that will make them happy for a little longer and so on. Some people will look at what they do and make the decision on which is going to make them happy for eternity, which I would say is big H Happiness. Everybody has a different thing they need to be happy. For me I think some things are striving to be the best in a sport, being known by people around you, being appreciated, having love in my life, and really just trying to be a better person people can look up to. All of those things make me feel happy and full filled. Although, one of the main things that I need to feel the happiest and have fulfillment is worshiping God and learning about him and just feeling his love in my heart. In the end God is the final happiness and the big H Happiness.
ReplyDeleteBrenden Henderson's Post:
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement because when I look at what I do in life I don’t do stuff that makes me unhappy but instead I try and do things that make me happy. So obviously this leads me to the conclusion that life is a pursuit for happiness. When you really boil down to what you want life it usually ends up being things that make you happy now or will make you happy that is just human nature.
What I need to be happy is to be able to have something every day that challenges my intellectually whether it be a job, a person, or just an object. I also need some intelligent people who don’t talk too much and aren’t annoying. Finally I need something that will keep me from being bored whether that is books, video games, a job anything that will keep me busy and entertained every day.
Friday Morning... if you haven't posted... U-R-LATE
ReplyDeleteEntered everything into grades...
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement that life is a quest for happiness. And I do believe it's possible to achieve total happiness. That does not mean that you'll always be happy for the rest of your life and never sad or angry, but it means that your overall mindset of your life is optimistic and joyous. In order to achieve happiness, one of the most important things you need is positive people surrounding you. Everyone needs people in their life that have their best interests in mind. These types of people will build you up, comfort you when you're down, and always be looking out for you. I also think you need a clear moral value system and some belief in a higher power. I think a lot of our happiness is road blocked by our thoughts of the after life, where we go, and how we should live life while we're on earth. If you have strong faith in some spiritual place after death, you'll become more comfortable and content in your life on earth.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with that statement because we always have something we are looking for whether it is a want or a need. Though, if we get what we want then it fills us with this happiness and joy we cant describe. So technically your are working to achieve a goal, which in turn brings some form of happiness.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, me as "Rowdy" I have to be moving 24/7 doing something active fun. Going to school everyday then coming home and repeating that for 183 days is an EVIL in my mind. Its what holds me back from exceling in life and it does the opposite and doesn't bring me happiness. Its the capital H in hate for me. Therefore, I must be constantly active and seeking adventure, or I go crazy. That's my happiness.
I understand that this is completely late, but I just want to post this anyways. I agree with statement in part 1 because however you define happiness, you will be pursuing that thing until you achieve your happiness. Whether you are consciously doing it or not, I believe that you will always go with what you believe will make you happy in the long run.
ReplyDeleteMe personally, (this shouldn't come as a shocker for anyone), I love being alone in my lab. I mean when I'm home and just working away, trying to yield some chemical product from a chemical process, I'm just lighting up inside. I mean to just be creating, to start with a few initial "ingredients" (if you will) and end up with something completely different, I just am absolutely in love with the science behind it all. And even sitting here explaining it has a smile on my face. This is my life currently, and I will do everything in my power to achieve a career as a chemist (whether that's a chemical engineer or at a research facility) and continue to have a life full of chemistry, full of creation and science. The pursuit of knowledge is a big thing for me. Know one person can know it all, but I love going for it. It makes me happy to think that no matter how much you think you know about a scientific subject, there will always be so so much more that you don't know, and I want to be able to go after that, I want to search for the answers in a hands-on experimental way. This is the basic principle of what makes me happy. The whole "creation" idea is also why i love baking and cooking, which also makes me really happy.
I belive that we are always on the pursuit of happiness. Everyday we wake up and want to make the day happy and fun! Making people happy makes me happy. If I can make one person smile then I am a ball of joy for days. I like being the reason someone smiles. Cheering makes me happy. The sparkles and bows and big hair and yelling brings me so much joy. I cannot describe the feeling but it just make me a little ball of sunshine. Seeing my dad proud of me makes me the happiest of all. I find myself constantly searching for his approval and when he says "good job" or "way to go" I feel on top of the world.
ReplyDeleteI do not think life is a pursuit of happiness; I think it is a pursuit of fulfillment. Trying to make yourself happy all the time would never happen, because I think happiness comes to us and cannot be intentionally sought out. Fulfillment can be received from something we do, though. Some people may feel fulfillment after they have worked hard to accomplish something.
ReplyDeleteI think to be happy i must be entertained by something or entertaining someone. I do not like having nothing to think about.
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ReplyDelete-I agree that life is a quest for happiness. In my opinion we're all on this earth for a reason; to do something that God has planned for us to do. We are all here to follow Jesus Christ and to live the life that he sacrificed for us. In order to do so you have to do it in a good way which requires happiness. Being a Christian we are here to share what the Bible has to say & Gods name to everyone. We have to help others in a dark place to find happiness & help ourselves to find happiness.
ReplyDelete-In order to be happy you have to do what makes you happy. It's all different according to the person. In order to be happy you have to forget about other people and their opinions. In order to be happy you need to set goals and achieve them. You need to focus on yourself and making yourself happy before you can focus on another person because f you can't make yourself happy how could you make someone else happy? to be happy you need to make sense of how things work somewhat. You have to have morals & your way of living. You need to love yourself & love others.