Jessie+Chang+RP+Post+5

So, from the research i have conducted I have learned quite an amount of information on happiness, though i do not completely understand or grasp the concept of it yet. I don't even know if it is possible to do such a thing. Through reading through all of my sources i have gathered some conclusions and varying amounts of opinions on the questions that have been repeatedly asked.


 * To begin, according to psychologists,** the people who are happiest are actually surrounded by their friends and family (Fram and Trevor). They do not tend to compare their happiness with others because this will prompt them to do unnecessary things and slowly become materialistic. People who identify themselves as happier than others are those who surround themselves with people and others they are close with, as opposed to spending their time in solitary confinement/being alone. **Along with that,** it is also stated by psychologist Ed Diener from the University of Illinois that "materialism is toxic for happiness" (Elias). **For example,** people who focus on objects rather than relationships are not as happy. Because everyone has a set point in happiness, even if someone won the lottery and gained $1 million dollars, they would eventually become used to the life of luxury and crave even more ("Happiness").

Some research that i have come across in the response to the question of the timeless question "if money can buy happiness" is quite interesting. **According to** some studies, "rich nations aren't necessarily happier than poor ones" (Brooks). This proves that although a person could not be as fortunate, they could still be happy. Also, from the same source, according to a study done in 1978, two psychologists reported that the 22 major lottery winners had a more difficult time enjoying life's simple pleasures such as watching TV, shopping and even talking with friends. Basically, the more we get, the more we need. It has also been said that the amount of money people make is actually irrelevant to their level of happiness. It is HOW MUCH MORE we make than OTHERS that matters. This brings us back to the issue of comparing ourselves to our neighbors.

Then again, there is the argument that money actually is able to buy happiness. Although when asked, money is not the very first or near the top of the list of things that make them happy, financial issues IS at the top of the list of things that make people UNHAPPY. Family and friends are often cited in my various amount of sources as the things that make people happy but in a study, the people who make around $50,000- $74,999 a year, say that money makes them the most unhappy and this doubles for those who make less than this amount (Brooks). This is not the only incident where people have reported that money brings happiness. Though not directly answered but confirmed by two sources, people whose family reported higher incomes were generally more happy with their lives (Noveck and Trevor) (Fram and Trevor).

This particular emotion that many people experience more than once a day is very ambiguous and still a mystery to people everywhere. What is happiness? A three syllable word, simple yet complicated. Many people know and are aware when they experience this emotion, but do not quite understand it. "It is like the wind/That is felt but not really seen" (Puzon). Where can you find happiness? While some say that money CAN buy happiness, others beg to differ. It appears that happiness is more dependent on relationships and such than money, though some extra coins in the pocket certainly do not hurt. The more research that is conducted, the more of the fact that happiness is relative jumps out. "For Wifey/A house in a state disorderly", "both sad, angry and merry" (Ronberge). "For Hubby/30 minutes/Uninterrupted, alone" (Ronberge). This poem emphasizes the difference between husband and wife, man and women. Most importantly, the point the author focuses on quite profusely is that the emotion is different for everyone. It is completely relative and opinionated.