Happiness Revisited

Although I missed WISE class yesterday, I did receive the article that everyone else got. It's titled "Happiness Revisited" and had a lot of intriguing viewpoints on how to achieve happiness, and whether or not it's something we have to look for.

Questions:

1. When do I feel most happy?

That's tough. I feel like the majority of my time I'm happy, especially with the way my project has been going. I've lost 21 pounds total, and people have been complimenting me which makes me extremely happy, because while I may not notice any change, other people are. Lately I've been thinking a lot about the future...About my classmates now that I'll probably never see again beyond June 20, the friends I'll lose touch with, and the ones I'll hopefully stay in contact with. I guess this has all made me realize happiness is an essential component of life, and I need to stop searching for it, but rather wait for it to come. I can't force good things to happen, and happiness is a close second I cannot force. I just hope to be able to experience happiness over the course of my life.

2. Respond to the article.

 "..happiness is not something happens. It is not the result of good fortune or random chance. It's not something money can buy or power demand. It does not depend on outside events, but, rather, on how we interpret them. It is a condition that must be prepared for, cultivated, and defended privately by each person."

I think this is great. It's showing that happiness isn't bought, and that being materialistic (although it's very common) can't bring the happiness and joy that non-tangible things or things we don't expect in general will. Overall the article challenged me to think about my happiness, and where it has come from over the last 18 years. I've always thought happiness isn't something we can purchase, because that item purchased will bring short-term happiness. Rather happiness is something bigger; an ideology that I think many people forget about while they're running their kids 10 different places every week and going to work early and staying there late. We're all in gear to make money to spend money to make money, and everyone has the mentality that happiness can be achieved during retirement. This article really made me think about how I want to spend my life, and how to get to happiness while living the live I've dreamt of for so long.

3. Where am I on the flow chart?

 On the flow* chart I'd say I'm around between A1 and A4. I like what I'm doing with life but not 100% enthralled with what I'm doing. I think that's my general outlook right now, because I'm a senior and see the life ahead of me. But I shouldn't forget that I have a wonderful life to live now, and shouldn't waste it on what's happening in two or three or four months from now.

*flow- The state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience itself is so enjoyable that people will do it even at great cost for the sheer sake of doing it.

4. How has this changed or remained the same throughout the course of my project? (Follow-Up question to 3)

 I think my flow has stayed fairly constant. I've enjoyed my project focus and more importantly the health benefits and results that have yielded from my project.

5. How can I achieve flow?

 I think to successfully achieve flow I must find what I like to do. I need to stay relaxed and understand everything happens for a reason. I sometimes get too caught up in things happening and spread myself too thin- Finding an outlet to distress is something that could be valuable for me in college and beyond.