Nihar Mehta
E319 Kersemeier RUBRIC
4/2/18
A Thorough Analysis on How One Can Master the Art of Being Happy
Happiness. We are all familiar with it, considering that every decision and action we make is in pursuit of it. It is the essence of human drive and existence. It is fairly easy to recognize, but defining it is a much more grueling task. One might describe happiness as a sense of general contentment or well being. Such a definition would certainly be fitting. However you define it, one thing is certain: we all strive to attain it, and for good reason too. The perks of happiness go beyond just enjoying life (though for most that would be a good of a reason as any); they also plays a hand on our psychological and physical well being. There are over 200 studies that have found a correlation between happiness and a lowered risk of cardiovascular disease. Many of the studies also found that happy people are more likely to have normal blood pressures, healthier body weights and lower blood fat profiles (Landau, Elizabeth). With the benefits of happiness being so paramount to our well being, it should come as no surprise that humanity has taken such an active interest in achieving it. However, for many the search is to no avail; while everyone may want happiness, only a few know how to actually achieve it. So how does one increase his own happiness? And what tips and strategies can he use to aid him on his quest?
Happiness Break Down
Before we can teach happiness we must first understand where it stems from. Unsurprisingly, a lot of our happiness comes from genetics. A study done by the University of Minnesota examined the happiness of a pair of identical twins. The twins were separated at birth and raised by two different families in hopes to separate nature from nurture. The study found that a large proportion of our happiness, 48%, to be exact, is the result of genetics (Brooks, Arthur). Studies also show that another 40% of our happiness comes from isolated events, such as getting into your dream school, or landing that job you’ve been trying so hard to get. However, while these events may seem life changing in terms of the happiness they will bring, they rarely are. The main problem is that the impact brought upon by these events is temporary, and the happiness they forge usually dissipates in a matter of months. With 48% of our happiness being the result of our genetics, and an additional 40% coming from the events in our recent past, that leaves us with a remaining 12%. That last 12% of our happiness is for the most part derived from our behavior. While 12% may not sound like a large number, depending on how we utilize it, it can be the defining factor in whether or not we are happy. Luckily for us, that remaining 12% is entirely subject to our control. Comment by Craig Kersemeier: That's really a pretty amazing number. What about the poor people who are just born genetically predisposed to not be very happy?
Misconceptions about w...
