Dima Saif

Psychology 1010
Section 14
11-10-10

What Makes Us Happy?

Have you ever wondered if the rich is happier than the poor? Being in love makes you

happier then not being in love? Having the power rather than following it? Having a social life

rather than being alone? Will before you answer the following questions first ask yourself what

is happiness? How can we find happiness? And what is the power of happiness? Psychology

research relieved the studies and gave us answers to fall back on to.

Happiness is defined in variety of ways and identifies its sources but according to

positive psychology happiness is the state of mind or feeling characterized by contentment, love,

satisfaction, pleasure, or joy. Happiness is being aware not only of the positive events that occur

in your life but also that you yourself are the cause of these events that you can create them, that

you control their occurrence, and that you play a major role in the good things that happen to

you.

In my point of view I do define happiness as the state of mind and feeling that is made by

love, emotions, pleasure, joy, and your satisfaction. Happiness can mean different things to other

people and the way they feel happy. It is true, happiness can’t be made if you aren’t aware of the

positive things you do and happen in your life, we create those moments to give us meaning for

the term happiness, happiness is created when negative events do not happen. That is when our

mystery comes in for good or bad events that happen in our lives, could both really be part of

happiness?
Dima Saif
Psychology 1010
Section 14
11-10-10

So how do we find happiness? Positive psychology say happiness is found by starting to

attempt as many positive events as one is capable of and of course being successful in them. A

person must first find what really makes them happy, it doesn’t matter what it just have to be

that, that person is happy with whatever they are doing, wither making million dollars or sitting

in the park admiring the nature, at the end of it all it must be something that will trigger your

mood up. After you found what makes you happy you need know how to be able to create those

events, maybe going out with couple of friends having a good time, or even having a romantic

evening with your loved one. A person must be motivated to do these happy actions, whatever it

may be, take the chance and be happy. One must always remember to just try to avoid negative

events, thoughts, emotions in their lives. “We need the sense of mastery, of control; the feeling

that something good has happened because we caused it to happen” (Reich).

I think happiness can be found in many ways, yes a person must first know what makes them

happy, but also what kind of environment they are around, a person can’t be happy when the environment

they are around is putting them down. Social life, love, nature, power, money, being beautiful or

even food can make each and every one of us happy. Happiness is found in everyone’s daily life.

A person’s view of the world needs to fulfill their needs for happiness. Believing that you can be

happy is the first step in order to find what makes you happy and how to fulfill that. Second we

all need to accept who we are and stop comparing with each other, we are all special in our own

way always have pride in that. No one will ever make you happy if you aren’t happy with

yourself it all comes from inside. I have always thought that happiness is to please others, but

then I realized I wasn’t happy at all. I found happiness in beauty, friends and family love, and the

power of making my own choices.

Dima Saif
Psychology 1010
Section 14
11-10-10

Lastly what is the power of happiness over us? Positive psychology states that positive

emotions have been linked with better health, longer life, and greater well being in numerous

scientific studies. Compare it with chronic anger, worry, and hostility increase the risk of

developing heart disease, which make people react to these feelings with stress and high blood

pressure (Siegel). A study in Harvard School of Public Health states that people who are

generally hopeful were less likely to develop hypertension, diabetes, or respiratory tract infection

than those who were less hopeful.

The power of happiness is very powerful, when we are happy we tend to be calmer,

relaxed and opened hearted. Happiness keeps us focused on life and the beauty of it, it keeps us

healthy more motivated to take the next step into the world. I had a time in my life where I lost

someone very close to me and I thought that I can’t go on, things won’t be the same without

them, but then many people made me realize that things happen for a reason moments like these

should be cherished. We should never be upset because of a negative event or thought that

occurred. Happiness is the key to life, the key to make us be successful in life and be able to take

the next steps into the world.

Happiness can be deafened in many ways, but always make the word “happiness” mean

whatever you are comfortable with. We find happiness in things that we enjoy and around the

people that we love and feel closely connected with. The power of happiness is a powerful thing.

it’s a power that will keep us healthy and to look forward into life and the things we do. Always

remember to make yourself happy first before you make others happy.
Dima Saif
Psychology 1010
Section 14
11-10-10

Citation

 WALLIS, C. (2005). The new science of happiness. Retrieved

from
http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/images/TimeMagazi
ne/Time-Happiness.pdf
 Siegel, R.D. (2009). Positive psychology: harnessing the power of
happiness, personal strength, and mindfulness . Retrieved from
http://www.health.harvard.edu/special_health_reports/Positive-
Psychology
 Epstein, M. (2009). Opening up to happiness . Retrieved from
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200910/opening-
happiness
 Lambert, C. (2009). The science of happiness. Retrieved from
http://harvardmagazine.com/2007/01/the-science-of-
happiness.html