Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Pursuit of Happiness
This week in class we had to read an excerpt from a book called Thrive. It was all about how to live a happier life and what aspects of your life you need to change in order to do so. Most of us usually just relate money to happiness. So, to become a happier person, most of us think we need to just win the lottery. But, Salituro and the book taught us that this isn't necessarily true. Although money gives you freedom, it doesn't always guarantee happiness. In fact, studies have shown that people who win the lottery usually increase their happiness levels for a little bit. But, their happiness levels usually go back down to where they usually were. While doing community service a couple of days ago, I met a woman who told me that she used to work a lot to support her family. But, she discovered that she wasn't actually benefiting her family because she was always away from them. Once she quit her job, she was able to spend more time with the people she loved and although she's not a gazillionaire, she's doing what she believes is important.
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I can also see how winning the lottery doesn't brig permanent happiness. It makes you happy for a short while then goes down because you get used to what you have.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree, everyone thinks that with money we can buy things to make us happy but it's really our relationships that make us happy.
ReplyDeleteBefore reading Thrive I would think the lady you met is crazy. But after reading the article I realize that money doesn't always give you happiness.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that money does not bring you happiness. As Americans, we value materialism and always want more than we really need in order to make us truely happy.
ReplyDeleteBefore reading this excerpt, I always wanted a hardworking job that would pay very well for me, but I also realized that money won't solve anything for me since it's your surroundings that create happiness in you!
ReplyDeleteI thought it was really cool when you told us about the lady you met at volunteering and how she is so much more happier even tho she doesn't have so much money.
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing that the lady was happier with her family instead of out making money. It shows that family brings happiness and not materialism.
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