Think about happiness and answer one or more of the following questions: What resonated with you most after viewing Happy? What makes you truly happy? Give a specific example(s) and/or tell of a time when you felt happiness. What gives your life meaning and purpose? Is there a common thread we human's share with regard to happiness? Is there such a thing as enlightenment? How does one achieve enlightenment?
Be sure to read what others have said and respond to someone else's comment.
It makes me happy when I see that people I care about are happy. Seeing those close to me smiling and laughing and having a good time genuinely makes me happier. It also makes me want to add to that happiness so it never goes away.
ReplyDeleteThis is the same with me, whenever I see my family and friends happy I always get happy and I feel that when they're sad I'm sad as well. The only way to be happy is if everyone is happy.
DeleteI totally agree with you, I love seeing those I care about truly happy and helping them when they're down.
DeleteI think qualities like this are important for humans. If everyone is trying to make everyone happy the world would be a better place.
DeleteThe one thing that resonated with me the most after viewing happy was when the scientist said the point that money can buy happiness and money can't buy happiness. He stated that the happiness from 0$ to 50,000 is a lot, but $50,000 to 50 million is almost nothing. Once the basic needs are met for people the happiness from money is almost non existent and almost worse. He talked about how when you have money that you always crave more and I think I can relate to that because whenever I get something new I always want the better version or another model and can never be happy. This resonated with me the most because it was the main thing that I took away from this film. The common thread that we share with happiness is helping others because no matter who the person is, helping people will always give you happiness.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you're saying about how once basic needs are met, money no longer gives you happiness.
Deletemy loved ones, people who have helped/helping me become the person I am today make me happy and give me a purpose.
ReplyDeleteLike me, you show me your happiness when I'm around, and it does give you a purpose. This is because whatever you are happy with will lead to your lifelong purposes depending on who you are and what you desire.
DeleteThe idea in Happy that most resonated me is the one of "flow", where happiness comes from doing things where each step happens one at a time and there is no time to think ahead beyond what you are doing right now. This idea resonates me with my experience playing an instrument, where there is a strong focus on the current note, allowing the mind to be freed of having to think beyond the present and worry about things in the future. I am very happy when I play my instrument, because doing so allows me to disconnect from the rest of the world, only focusing on what I am doing in the moment to produce music.
ReplyDeleteWhat about planning though?
DeleteUsing "flow" when trying to organize large projects seems to guarantee failure.
For me, flow is one of the most important points from the film because I do not usually think of flow as happiness. We may not show signs of happiness when, say playing an instrument, but we can feel the happiness inside. This shows the versatility of happiness and how it is not restricted to smiling and laughing.
DeleteHow does one achieve enlightenment?
ReplyDeleteWe can achieve enlightenment through our actions. If we contribute to the society and help poor we can achieve happiness which can change our lives. As shown in the video, people found happiness when they shared their experiences with other people. Talking to family and friends about the day and things in general and positively a person's happiness. As the video says "Money can or cannot buy happiness" is incorrect. We should focus on our intrinsic growth which would help us be more happy. And through happiness we can achieve enlightenment.
I agree, that enlightenment is achieved through your actions. Through my experience I always felt more happy when there were people around me to talk to rather than being alone and bored.
DeleteI agree that enlightenment is achieved through actions because in order to show how grateful you are and to show how happy you are, you need to take certain initiatives. I also agree that money cannot buy happiness because as we saw several people around the world found happiness despite their financial situations.
DeleteThe thing that most resonated with me the most after watching happy is how important community is. An an example of this in the movie was when they showed the slum in India. The people living in the slum were very poor and worked very hard and demanding jobs, but with the community and family around them they were very happy and content with their lives. I think one can achieve enlightenment when they truly care for others and not focus on themselves but helping others and bettering society.
ReplyDeleteThe movie Happy gave me a sense of motivation that I can be happy throughout finding something that truly will help me in my life. Probably the time I was actually happy was around 6th grade because I came into a school where I didn't know anybody. And with that said. I made 2 best friends within that year and the next after that. I guess you can say that making friends is hard but once you put yourself out there, it shouldn't be that scary. One of the things that do help me become happy is cooking food because I do love food and being creative with different ingredients can bring out my inner self and what I am as a person. My purpose in life is finding who I really am and what I'm going to do to become successful.
ReplyDeleteCooking is definitely a good de-stresser! Everyone has their own passions and when you find something you genuinely love because you LIKE doing it, that's when you are happy :) There's no room to fail, you're just experimenting with the craft and having fun with food!
DeleteAfter viewing Happy, I feel that their discussion of the victims of stress in Japan resonated the most strongly with me. Japan has truly modernized a lot in the past decades, and their success is something to marvel at. However, this documentary made me realize that there is a lot more to consider when measuring success; without happiness and relaxation, pure material success through hard work isn't sustainable and isn't quite worth it. I believe there is such a thing as enlightenment, but we have to constantly remind ourselves of its existence in order to someday achieve it. We may have to put off some business opportunities to achieve it, but, in the end, it is what really matters.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with this point. Especially with rapidly industrializing countries, it is crucial that countries do not prioritize production over everything else, but also care about the wellbeing of their own citizens.
DeleteOverall, I would consider my way of getting happiness more extrinsic than intrinsic, and I would consider merit and achievements to be one of the greatest indicators of my happiness. The thing that makes me truly happy is to achieve success in anything that I feel is hard for me to achieve success in, such as getting a reward in a club activity that is hard to get an award. One example of achievement gives me happiness is me getting reward at the Santa Clara Valley Model United Nations in January of 2017, it was the first time I get an award in that club and I feel very happy about it. In my personal opinion, I do think that it is hard to find a common regard to happiness between all humans, as some people would consider extrinsic aspects before intrinsic ones(like me), some would consider intrinsic as way more important. Enlightenment exists and could happen in both extrinsic and intrinsic ways.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement that says about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and achieving something of a challenge. It is probably one of the hardest things in my life, showing myself out there.
DeleteI really liked how they covered happiness in different parts of the world to show how culture and location shape happiness and a sense of community. A lot of things make me happy, especially volunteering and witnessing random acts of kindness. What gives life meaning and purpose is what you create of what you've been given and what you are willing to work hard for. Human interaction is one of the main factors that influence our happiness and how we choose to live. Sometimes good and sometimes bad but because other people are also living, they help give us purpose but maybe not define it. Personally,I don't believe in God but I think that if religion is able to help people be happy during their time on earth, they should be allowed to do what they want. Just don't hurt others who don't believe in it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about how the main factor that influences our happiness is how we choose to live. Living with purpose is good, but for one to be happy you also need to like what that purpose is otherwise it becomes a chore and unemployable. Relating to religion, interestingly enough in the film it mentioned that the people who are against those religions especially the extremist and hatred groups are not happy at all and in fact some of the least happy people
DeleteAfter viewing Happy I learned doing the little things(helping a friend in need) really will take a toll in your life. Happiness
ReplyDeleteis 50% of what we choose to do, so we really can make a difference with our happiness. I feel truly happy when I am with people that I love and spending genuine time with them. Also, encouraging people and lifting them up when they need it the most. Most of my happiness comes from being with other people.
I completely agree with your idea of that small things can make life happier, and we can choose to make our own lie to be happy. Most of the times, people are depressed because they choose to stress themselves in many small things during life, and by accumulating the effect of small events, a great pressure is created. It is very important to identify the problem before solving it, and your post clearly reminds me of the most important aspect of how to become happy by one's own choice.
DeleteI love the little things that make people happy! And I feel like a lot of the little things are ALSO things that involve other people, like giving heartfelt compliments and showing up to social events with food to share, haha.
DeleteI wish more people understood that they have more control over their happiness than they think.
I agree that what we do determines our happiness. I feel happy when I spend time with others as well.
DeleteYeah I think that's really interesting, also the fact of introverted and extroverted people, and people can be happy doing so many things
DeleteWhat resonated to me the most was the part with the old women in the island off Japan. Their strong sense of family and community struck me as very pleasant. We all say that what we want in life is to be happy, and it seems as if those old women found that. I think back to my own grandparents, who seem almost miserable and bitter, being along all the time. I hope that as I grow up, I'll find a community that I can be a part of that cares for each other.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that a sense of community and belonging is very fulfilling, Jason! Group activities are very fun!
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DeleteI agree that it is important to find a community, especially if we are older and more confined to home. I found it interesting that 20-30 year old people on that Japanese island went out of their way to entertain the community and bring the community to the elderly.
DeleteThe part about how people who live the simplest lives seem to be the happiest resonated with me. I always thought our lives in Silicon Valley were considered one of the "happiest", considering the economical standpoint. However, there are other factors in our lives that contribute to unhappiness as well, such as high stress. Yet in that little village in India, the residents turned out much happier despite poorer conditions. I remember that 40% of happiness comes from what an individual can do, and 50% is from genetics. I now realize that their lifestyle choices in their environment brings them even greater happiness than our lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteI really agree with this. It's not all about the money if there's no one to share it with.
DeleteMe too! I think that I'll drop out of high school and move to somewhere in India
DeleteI also agree with this! Money can't buy true happiness and such with materialistic items.
DeleteThe biggest thing that resonated with me after watching happy was how fortunate I am to have all the things I have. After watching the video, it reminded how worse off some people are yet simple things make them so happy. I learned from the video that ironically to make yourself happier, you should make someone else feel happier. Acts of kindness, charity, and compassion fulfill people while helping someone else.
ReplyDeleteI agree it is easy to be happy when you do good for others and there is happiness around you.
DeleteWhenever I'm super stressed,I make a list in my head of some really great things that are happening in life at that moment. It's kind of like counting my blessings, but I feel like that implies bigger things that apply to specifically me. I just name things like, for example, the color of the sunset, having a really nice pair of shoes, how the room smells like cinnamon. Then, I can say something like "Everything is falling apart and I don't know what I'm doing... BUT ALSO the room smells like cinnamon." Sometimes these statements don't make sense but at least they're funny, and somehow uplifiting.
ReplyDeletei like that you count your blessing and remind yourself of what you have, some people forget that little things like nice shoes, or the color of the sunset is something to be grateful for
DeleteThat's a really nice method that I hadn't thought of. Maybe I should try that next time I feel frustrated. You brought up a good point of when people appreciate life, they particularly take note of the things that relate to them.
DeleteThe part about people in Japan working themselves to death resonated with me. I usually see myself as able to suppress my emotions and just work hard for something, but this might not be a great idea after all.
ReplyDeleteI still think that life is meaningless and that we are all just self-replicating biological machines, but we should still strive to be happy, productive citizens to keep the cycle going.
The aspect of competition vs Cooperation resonated with me the most. Especially in Lynbrook, competition is widespread as students are trying to reach the top so they can go to a good college. But in the video, it says that cooperation is the key to happiness (shown in the part about Okinawa). This puts me in a weird situation as even though I want to be happy, I don't feel comfortable completely letting go of my competitive side. There should be a mix. One has to be authentic to themselves while also practicing cooperation. Additionally, I think we humans share a common thread with regard to happiness. I think the common thread is helping others. Whether we admit it or not, when helping others we get an internal feeling of joy. Watching others feel joy from our actions feels incredibly rewarding. In the Happy Documentary, all of the examples in the documentary involve people helping/accepting one another. This common thread of helping others is extremely rewarding and it helps us obtain true happiness.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! Our world in Silicon Valley is in a high stress and competitive environment, although definitely not as extreme as Tokyo. Even so, competition is often what drives us forward, but doesn't create happiness. In a perfect world, everyone would be cooperative, which would both create progress and happiness
DeleteAfter viewing Happy I realized that money and social status does not represent your level of happiness. People that live simple lives are in fact more likely to live happier lives. Living a simple life allows oneself to focus on social bonding and interaction versus financial well-being. Trying to be happy in life, may result in selfish motives, so giving back to those in need serves as a pathway to help others achieve the same goal. I feel happy when Iḿ surrounded by those that I love. Also, I enjoy giving back to the community.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! People find happiness in different ways. People with less money find happiness in simpler things, while it takes more for people with more money to find happiness.
DeleteTo experience happiness we must satisfy both our own fundamental desires, our connection to others, and some spiritual outlet (for many, religion serves this purpose). In How I Met Your Mother, Barney says that nothing's legendary unless your friends are there to see it, but as we can tell with Robin Williams, all the friends in the world alone can't satisfy your personal happiness and sense of meaning. A feeling of spiritual communion with the universe (or whatever omnipotent being you believe in) is also necessary to transcend happiness in the context of a practical life.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Everything gets better if we can share it with anyone. It can help us achieve happiness which will positively impact our lives.
DeleteThe most resonating stories for me are probably those of the families in Kolkata and Denmark.
ReplyDeleteThe father in Kolkata had a very simple life in comparison to my life, yet he was hard-working in his job and very grateful for all that he had in his home.
In addition, I found the interview of the Danish cohousing kids enlightening because, though they did not look like it, they really emotionally benefited from having such tight relationships with their neighbors. Likewise, I thought the mother's interview helped me understand more how co-housing can be mutually beneficial financially and mentally.
I definitely agree that the Kolkata and the Denmark stories were very resonating. Both revolve around the idea and people are happier when they cooperate together. The community was a very big part of both stories. Watching the two was very heartwarming.
DeleteI agree that committing acts of kindness brings happiness, because it makes you feel that what you just did had a purpose, that you are useful and able to contribute to this world. People of a tendency to want a sense of belonging, and feeling useful is one of the methods to believe that you belong. If I engage in a sport/activity I like, even if it's tiring, I feel happy because it is something I enjoy doing. I do not know what gives my life meaning and purpose. Humans experience short term happiness by trends/activities that do not give pleasure for very long. For example, fashion trends have many bandwagoning certain clothing designs, but only to have them fade out later. Regular volunteers who offer their free help in community services experience longer-lasting happiness.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Kindness is all everyone needs just to be happy. Whenever a person receives an act of kindness, it could easily make their day. It can go the other way around as well. If you do an act of kindness to someone, you could feel happy yourself.
DeleteI agree that kindness makes you feel like you are contributing to the world. People do have a tendency to want a sense of belonging, and being nice also helps people feel that way.
DeleteWhat resonated with me the most is that the one thing that everyone had in common was a type of community that they existed in. Be it in a family, or a friend group, or a group of people with similar interests to yours--they were surrounded by other people. One of the key things to be happy is to be surrounded by people you care about.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! As exemplified by the Danish communities, having a close group of family and friends increases one's happiness :)
Deletei concur bc we r innately social creatures and arguably our greatest desire is for real human connections that make us feel less alone in the tragedy of life. if we can satisfy this then poverty and our other conditions become significantly less consequential in determining how happy we are
DeleteAn individual's community is a factor in one's happiness. I agree with what you said! Surrounding yourself with people who care about you and people you care about is a great way to have a positive outlook.
DeleteFor me, happiness comes from the little things. It doesn't matter how much I have or how far I am in life. The little acts and things that happen everyday is what gives me happiness. Just talking to my mom and dad about my day can really make my day. To connect with those who mean a lot to me and who I cherish is something that makes me happiest. While I used to focus on the clothes and materialistic possessions, I easily became unhappy and only wanted more things, never feeling a sense of achievement or fulfillment. For me the internal factors such as compassion and gratitude are much more impacting than external factors.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that focusing on family and people close to me gives me genuine happiness. Happiness through possessions and external focuses have less value the more we use it or become acquainted to it. We will always want something else after gaining what we wanted before.
DeleteKindness, anything positive in mind is what brings happiness to people. The warmth feeling people give off brings a chain reaction to the rest of the people. What makes me truly happy is when I see people in a good mood, and when I am in a good mood as well. For example, I felt happy when the badminton team and I were all having fun at the post season banquet. We all sat together like a big family and talked about anything we wanted to talk about. There was no back talk and no trash talking at all during the banquet. That was the time I was truly happy. Enlightenment does exist. All you have to do is to feel happy. Don't let the negative thoughts come into mind. If you "kick" out all the negative thoughts and bring in the positive ones, it should be 99% guarantee that you will feel happy.
ReplyDeleteWhat resonated with me the most was that we get so caught up with our own lives and success that we forget about what is truly important to us and makes us happy. For me, I love sports and fashion. For me, clothing isn't just surface level happiness as the documentary documented, but I genuinely enjoy designing and styling not just shopping; it's what makes me happy. For sports, it's not always about winning just being with my teammates is gratifying and the friendships bonds us all. I believe that enlightenment is a state of mind that the person must work to achieve. Instead of focusing on what the world wants for you, think of what you want.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! I feel especially in the high-stress environment, we look so far into the future that we forget about being happy now! Taking a step back and enjoying things that make you happy is definitely the way to go!
DeleteI like how you mentioned that even though your passions include materialistic factors, you enjoy the pursuit of it because it genuinely makes you happy. There does come a point where we keep asking for more whether it's money, clothes, or technology, but because you focus on the purpose of why you do it instead of what others want you to do with it, you can be happy.
DeleteWhat resonated with me the most was the man who was caring for the dying people. I agree with helping others who need help. What makes me truly happy is living in a good environment with my friends. My goals and what I have and truly appreciate gives me meaning in life. For example, whenever my friends and I have an important test, we will always help each other study and review for the test. I appreciate this because my friends and I care for each other and help each other achieve our goals in this sense. We are all trying to work to a better future for all of us. A common thread people have for happiness is doing something that one loves to do. To achieve enlightenment, one must understand their own purpose in life as well as the meaning of life.
ReplyDeleteI think ambition is the one thing that gives a life purpose because it gives you a reason to work hard every single day. Yet the thing that makes people happy is enjoying the journey while you use your ambition to get to your end goal. If we only think of the future, we fail to live in the present and enjoy life as it happens. But the concept that I completely agreed with was the concept of decreasing marginal utility when it came to earning money. After a certain point when you have your needs met, you don't need additional resources to make you truly happy. Its things like the company of friends, enjoying time to yourself or time with your family that makes you truly happy.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I think that we should enjoy the journey instead of just racing for the end goal.
DeleteI think I'm happiest when I'm surrounded by my friends and family and they are happy too. When all of us are focused on having fun and doing stuff together, we all get along well and it feels good. I think one example of this are the birthday parties I go to. People set aside their time to all gather together to celebrate a special day for somebody and usually they are really fun.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way. Humans interacting with each other is where true happiness comes from, not from materialistic things.
DeleteI agree because I find the most enjoyment and happiness from experiences and friends versus objects or possessions
DeleteThe thing that resonated with me the most was that people will naturally lean towards working with each other and that it is the natural state and is the easiest way to be happy. It made me wonder why in today's society we often try to not work together and put others down if it is not natural or the easiest way to happiness.
ReplyDeleteI finally friended Kitchen Sensei on Facebook last night. It made me really happy because immediately after he accepted, he messaged me asking about my life. I thought it was a very kind gesture, and it made me happy to know he was still interested in my life. I think it's important to let the people in your life know you care.
ReplyDeleteI could see how this would make you happy! When some of my friends message me or text me on their own, it makes me happy because I know that they were thinking of me! Tell Kitchen Sensei that last year's Japanese 4H class misses him!
DeleteThe movie Happy made me contemplate what makes me happy in life. I learned that truly live life to the fullest, everyday one should experience happiness. Although materialistic objects can give one short term happiness the best kind of happiness should come from just enjoying life and helping others out. Happiness is something that is free and can be shared.So everyone should take the opportunity to be happy.
ReplyDeleteWhat you said is so true! After watching Happy it really made me reflect on my own life and what happiness means to me. I agree that materialistic objects are only short term happiness. I think the best kind of happiness is also surrounding yourself with your friends and family. :)
DeleteAfter watching Happy, I realized that being happy gives your life a purpose. What resonated with me was that doing something meaningful in your life can make your life happy. In the documentary, the guy helped in a home for people who are dying. This really had me thinking about what was meaningful in my life, and what I can do to be more happy. Looking back at the things I do, volunteering at the hospital makes me happy because it is meaningful. I am able to communicate with many people from different backgrounds.
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DeleteYes! I agree with this. I also thought that it was interesting how doing something meaningful in life can make your life happy. Before this video, I didn't really think about what makes me happy. After this video, I'll probably think about what really is meaningful to me whether it is to do with volunteering, how I do things during my daily life, or certain hobbies in order to increase my level of happiness.
DeleteI agree with you! Happiness does add a lot to your life. I hope you continue to have a meaningful life. And volunteering does make people happy because they can help other people, sharing the happiness. :)
DeleteIn this community, everything we do is for our futre and security. There are always underlying motives for our actions, whether it be in grades, pride, or success, but I find that it is not often that people do things out of pure passion, let alone practicing compassion and altruism on a daily basis. Viewing Happy, I saw that many people who were content with their lives did not care about only themselves. Rather, most of the happiness obtained stemmed from helping others achieve happiness and security. I find that most of my happiness that stems from my successes are short lived and easily forgotten, but the happiness I obtain from giving or doing something for another person and serving them is what makes me truly happy. Volunteering and interacting with homeless in a homeless shelter, I find joy in serving others instead of myself.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I feel like when people focus on what they don't have, they are unhappy and want more. It's essentially this vicious cycle that never ends. However when people focus on what they have and extend that to others, it's much more effective than focusing on what one doesn't have.
DeleteThe story about the lady who got crushed by a car and still managed to find happiness resonated the most with me, because despite the adversity and challenges she faced, she was able to overcome it and still find joy in her everyday life. What makes me truly happy is performing in front of people and seeing them genuinely entertained. The best example of when I felt happiness was probably my junior year of dancing because the audience roared and cheered when my team did the choreography. I also find joy in making other people happy and laugh with my corny jokes!
ReplyDeleteThe story about the lady who got crushed by a car also resonated with me. How she managed to become truly happy again after that changed my views on change. She went through so many moments of trouble with being paralyzed and disabled, but she managed to get married to someone who loves her for who she is.
DeleteI agree that the woman who got crushed resonated with me to an extent as well. She is happy because she faced failure and challenge, focusing less on personal beauty – an extrinsic desire– and more on her passion for horses and spending time with her children – an intrinsic desire – after her face was damaged. Circumstances have occurred where I felt happier because I faced a challenge, knowing I would not make the same mistake twice.
DeleteI also agree that making other people laugh can bring happiness because I generally feel happy when I can spend time with my friends.
DeleteI think that happiness is possible regardless of how much material wealth one has. What really resonated with me was how in the film it showed some poor people in the slums, and also tribal people who had very very little, but still make the most out of life and are happy with what they have. Also regarding the American Dream of moving up and being successful is portrayed in the film subtly as actually adding more stress on people going for it. Long story short, life and happiness is affected by what you do with what you have.
ReplyDeleteI agree with that as it feels like even though rich people have a better living standard, they could have as much, if not more obstacles compared to middle/lower class.
DeleteWhat I found most interesting was comparing communities in the video to life in the Silicon Valley. Around here success is measured often times by money, not family or how you treat others. Connectivity is lost amongst our communities and people focus on their own selfish agendas in this fast pace life. I've learned I need to slow down and try to bring small acts of kindness to brighten the world. Continuing to try to accomplish too much and never being satified with just being my best often gets the best of me and brings me down. I see now I need to find time to just simply breathe, relax, and spend more time caring for friends and family.
ReplyDeleteI agree Anna very profound statement!
DeletePersonally, I was pleasantly surprised by the various depictions of happiness in "Happy". Many different people from around the world have a different definition of happiness and what makes them happy. The lifestyles they were raised with made them appreciate things in different ways. I was surprised to see how some people in foreign countries that were living in poverty found happiness and joy in the simplest things. It really made me feel fortunate for my life and realize how much I take things for granted. To me, happiness is being in a positive environment where everyone is supportive and genuinely cares about each other.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching Happy I felt very intrigued with all of the research and example of happiness that the documentary managed to gather up because usually when I feel happy I never actually think about it or what it is and seeing all of the science behind the emotion of happiness just blew my mind. With all of the information from the documentary I started about thinking of what makes me happy and I came to the conclusion that socializing with people that I like makes me happy regardless of the situation.
ReplyDeleteHaving not watched the Happy documentary, I cannot really comment on any connection that I share with the video or anything that resonated with me.
ReplyDeleteAnimals make me happy! Whenever I see my dog, i always forget my previous emotion, whether its anger or guilt. The moment I make eye contact with Ollie, my entire world lights up. Expanding on that, the reason my dog makes me truly happy is because I love him. So perhaps, it isn't my dog that makes me truly happy, but it's love. Therefore, that makes love a common thread of happiness?
Dogs sure are wonderful. They are happy all the time, even those that has had a tough life. You see plenty stories of a stray dog who become the happiest thing ever once they are adopted into a loving family.
DeleteI absolutely love what you said there!! That's so sweet and precious-- bet your dog Ollie is so cute bahhh :3 :3 <3
DeleteI also agree with Love... that the reason your dog makes you happy is simply because of love. If you love something/someone genuinely, it makes you happier than you realize
DeleteI think that there is a commonality that humans share regarding happiness. I believe that every individual is capable of feeling happiness and it is something that everyone wants.Even though that there is a similarity with people and happiness but there are different versions of happiness that different people value. -Elias Perez
ReplyDeleteWhat resonated with me the most is the idea of being grateful and satisfied with what you have. There is no point reaching over the top for materials that has no meaning. I think true happiness is to look at your life, even if there are flaws, and be able to focus on good things in it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this message. Happiness is determined by relative happiness with one's life. One can be happy with nothing or with great wealth.
DeleteIt really brightens up my mood seeing a smile on other peoples faces, or seeing them smile. I find happiness and joy in telling people jokes or good puns and seeing them laugh. Although everyone around the world attributes happiness to something different depending on how they were raised, the smile is truly the universal symbol for being happy. After watching the documentary, I realized how happy I actually am and how grateful I should be for all of my possessions, friends, and family.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way; watching this film really opened up my vision and made me think about everything and everyone in my life I have to appreciate and be thankful for.
DeleteI totally agree, looking at the minimalistic lifestyle of others makes me appreciate what I have.
DeleteI was very intrigued by the science behind human happiness. I thought my happiness was a factor almost entirely based on the quality of my lifestyle, but the documentary proves by comparing the happiness levels of humans living in third world living conditions to that of people living in developed countries (which are relatively similar) that happiness levels are not determined by the quality of our life.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree that one's happiness is not wholly determined by superficial things!
DeleteWhen the rickshaw driver explained that he was very happy despite the fact that he has to work through cold winters and sweltering summers and has to endure the beatings by drunk passengers it made me realize how wrong society's been in identifying what gives them the most happiness. For instance, a man in the video revealed to the interviewer that money would make him the most happy. It is interesting, however, to discover that things with extrinsic value actually gives you less happiness than things with intrinsic value such as spending time with family and friends. Similarly, spending time with my closest friends and my family makes me the most happy.
ReplyDeleteI agree! The rickshaw driver being genuinely happy about his community really put things in perspective.
DeleteThe part that resonated the most with me was the idea that our happiness level would basically adapt to our socio-economic level. It was interesting to see how a tribe in Africa can be just as happy as some multi-billionaire, but it makes sense when you think about it. While the rich would be able to afford things to make them happy, these tribes see more value in bringing happiness from community and togetherness. It seems like the way money brings happiness is mostly by raising our living standard, but other than that, we find happiness through our actions more so than our background.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree that happiness levels change based on where you live in the world. They learn to enjoy what they have, and always look on the bright side.
DeleteI think the whole documentary really goes to show how money does not actually buy you happiness. Anyone can be happy regardless of who and where they are in the world
DeleteTrue happiness does not come from materialistic things, but from others. What makes me truly happy is seeing others around me happy. That feeling is on another level. It is something that you must experience to know, and can't be described in words. Humans are all linked at some level, and emotions are a huge part of that. Emotions are what separates humans from robots, and happiness is one of the biggest things.
ReplyDeleteI agree. There are so many instances in which my stress levels dragging me down because I was trying to achieve academic success. But when people around me shared their feelings with me and were happy to be with me, I felt a different feeling from my heart.
DeleteWhat resonates with me is that the Japanese, Denmark, and Kolkata people are happy with just their normal lives. Simply being surrounded by their family and friends makes them happy. The Japanese people don't do much other than farming, but it seems like they are happy. The Denmark people even though they don't have much and live in such a cramped place, they seem happy to be surrounded by people who care and support them. Lastly, the Kolkata people despite not having anything technology related and having to live around restrictions set by nature, they all seem to be happy to "cure" each other and do everything together. It seems that people who live a simple life but with their loved ones around them are happy.
ReplyDeleteI agree, seeing all the people happy with their normal lives by being surrounded with family is very interesting. Seeing how much of a difference these countries are to the U.S.
DeleteI agree! I think it was really interesting how those who were surrounded by the close family and friends were much happier than some of the people who pursued materialistic/extrinsic goals.
DeleteAfter watching this film, I can safely say people's happiness isn't necessarily correlated with how much money they have, or how much material wealth they have. Happiness can't be quantified, and it is our ability to feel contrasting emotions (happy vs sad, etc) that make us human. I feel happiness when the people I care about are happy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this. It was shown throughout the movie that many of the people that felt happy weren't happy because of wealth, but connections they have.
DeleteI feel that after watching the movie, true happiness comes from others. Having materialistic things does not necessarily bring happiness. What resonated with me was how someone with almost nothing in a third world country is as happy as someone who makes a lot of money in the United States. What makes me truly happy is being able to help out others and seeing how thankful they are afterwards. It is a great feeling, be able to do something for others.
ReplyDeleteWhat resonated with me the most after watching Happy was that success and money do not necessarily entail happiness. Rather, happiness is doing something you love and surrounding yourself with the people you care about and those who care about you. In the film, some of the happiest people didn’t have a lot of money, but instead they had their family.
ReplyDeleteI agree, because you don't need materialistic things to be happy. Friends and family can be enough.
DeleteI agree wholeheartedly. Sometimes I feel like the parents of our generation need to see this documentary too. It might be a culture thing where success and money are hailed as the ultimate goal and happiness in life.
DeleteI think it was really interesting that the researcher who talked about intrinsic versus extrinsic values and the comparison between someone who had close familial relationships and support from friends were really happy while the extremely rich people were often unhappy. I think it boils down to the desires you have in your life - if you continue to focus on materialistic wealth and happiness, you will constantly be displeased with what you have and only look toward what you have left to gain. On the other hand, support from family and friends and happiness from altruistic gestures makes life much more meaningful through impactful actions. I think it was also fascinating to see how the frequent meditation that the monk did correlated with the increased activity in the part of the brain that correlated with happiness.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your viewpoint. Materialistic wealth is measured by finite digits while spiritual wealth has no measurement and no limits. Carrying out altruistic gestures has the potential to provide infinite happiness to the giver. The measurement of happiness becomes entirely subjective.
DeleteIt may be cliche, but I do believe that I am happiest when I am able to help other people through their troubled times. It fills me with the utmost joy and gratitude that there are people who trust me and know me enough to be comfortable with sharing personal struggles with me. When I am able to help friends or family get through their troubles, their happiness, in a sense, pool into mine. The fact that my voice is heard and appreciated by others is enough for me. I do think, however, that this is a slightly dangerous mindset to have, as I do depend on others for my happiness, but I think that while I am still learning to love myself and other people, this is my step forward into being able to be happy on my own. After that, helping friends and family can only boost my happiness even more, and I can return it back just as strong.
ReplyDeleteI agree that happiness comes from helping other people. I believe that without love, there is no happiness
DeleteI totally agree. Helping others really pays off and makes me happy too. I thought it was interesting when you talked about how your happiness can be dangerous because it is dependent on others. I thought it was an interesting point.
DeleteI was kind of surprised to see such large groups of people living together and sharing responsibilities, and how they felt happy by simply being with other people. It was also very interesting to notice how people living humble lives were happier than some millionaires. Similarly, I am happy when I am spending time with my friends and don't need to worry about academics.
ReplyDeleteI agree! It was kind of surprising at first to see such a large group of people living together, but as their segment in the film went on, I started to see why. As humans, we are naturally social creatures, and by surrounding ourselves with others, especially those that care about us, we are much happier
DeleteHappiness is a very subjective concept. There is no way to describe it for everyone, as everyone feels different about it. That being said, there seems to be a general consensus about how to achieve it, which is ironically very different from the way to achieve financial status. Is that telling us something about our culture?
ReplyDeleteAfter watching this documentary, I wondered if the common standard of success would really lead to happiness. I wonder what we value more: academic/financial success, or happiness. There is definitely a happy medium, but often people encounter situations in which we can only choose one. I truly admire those who live in poor conditions but are happier than those who are thriving in luxury. I believe that happiness comes from loving and being loved. If your life is enriched with withed happiness and love, are you really poor?
ReplyDeleteIt makes me happy when I care about people and they show that they care for me. If I feel loved, it means that that is how much I give love as well. True happiness comes when your true self is shown and not faking yourself to be someone else.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. Receiving support from someone important to you makes one really happy. It is one of the things that can make everyone smile and same with being your true self instead of faking a different personality for attention.
DeleteI thought the story about the people of Okinawa was really interesting. Things that surprised me were the inhabitants' longevity and the level of happiness. The documentary also talked about the reason behind it which was socializing with other people. Throughout the movie, the topic of socializing was illustrated in different parts of the world. I thought it was interesting how socializing directly related to one's happiness.
ReplyDeleteI agree that you mentioned about the relationship between society and happiness
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ReplyDeleteWatching others smile and enjoy life with what they have makes me truly happy. The future and goals that one has gives life purpose. One can be enlightened if they are satisfied with what they have.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that resonated with me the most after watching Happy was importance of society and community. For example, the video showed us the country named Bhutan. It is not advanced country at all, but it is country that has the biggest happiness rate in the world. People in this country realized whenever they started to be advanced country, it made them to go far from happiness. So instead, they started to live for everyone's happiness. I realized that society is significant to be happy too.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes me genuinely happy is doing the things I love with the ones I love. I am happy when I play volleyball and all my friends and family come to watch. I am happy when I dance in front of my peers during homecoming. I am happy when I am with my friends and laughing about everything regardless of whether or not it is actually funny. Happiness is something that is very important but is extremely overlooked. We all take happiness for granted although it is an important part of our life and should be one of the main focuses of our life.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with how you said about how happiness is overlooked. I feel that especially during our age its important to learn the important of leading a life that we actually want to live rather than something someone else wants us to do.
DeleteAfter watching the documentary, the event that most resonated with me was learning about the Japanese working themselves to death. This resonated with me because this is the opposite of what I think happiness is. My biggest goal in life is to work in a job that I enjoy rather than dreading it. Things that make me truly happy is being with my friends and family and joking around and laughing until I can’t breathe. I think the last time I felt the most happy was when I hangout with all of my cousins together and we just talk, laugh, and joke around together. I feel that the common thread that we as humans share with regard to happiness is simply one smile. I have found that even when someone is down a small smile can make their day, so I feel it’s important to give happiness in order to feel content.
ReplyDeleteI personally feel as though happiness is love in disguise. Happiness comes from this inner love & affection for the thing or person that genuinely makes you happy. The reason it sincerely makes you happy is because you love it & you have this undeniable affection for it as it attracts your heart-- you feel this personal connection to it, as you grow to really like it which makes you confidently happy. Love must always be present in order to make you happy. If you didn't like it the littlest bit, the affection wouldn't be there and it wouldn't make you after
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the documentary, the story of happiness that really resonated with me was when the women whose face was deformed from an accident still found a way to enjoy life for what it is. It led her to find another caring husband who didn't judge her for how she looked and accepted her for who she is. What makes me truly happy is to have a loving family and friends around me. I love hanging out with friends and spending quality time with my family because it makes me feel belonged. I love having fun, especially with people I care about around me.
ReplyDeleteI completely feel the same way that spending time with friends and family create happiness. Seeing others smiling is amazing! I was also amazed by how the woman was able to recover and enjoy the aspects of life that she still had. It was so inspiring!
DeleteThe dichotomy of happiness in a single country – Japan – fascinated me. The mainland is plagued by "karoushi" where the Japanese are forced to work themselves to death to sacrifice for their country. However, Okinawa has the highest longevity, and the spiritual feeling associated with the rural lifestyle still exists.
ReplyDeleteOne achieves enlightenment when one removes oneself from accepted norms in society. Siddhartha Gautama escaped his palace lifestyle to sit under the bodhi tree, removing himself from his selfish desires for wealth and a royalty. During the Age of Enlightenment, philosophers created new ideas about government that broke away from the accepted principle of divine right of kings Europe had lived under for centuries.
After watching happy I liked to learn that exercise is good for stimulating happiness. I do lots of sports and always want more people to join the teams im apart of. Knowing that happiness can come from sports will hopefully change some peoples views of sports and have more participation. Sports gives me lots of joy and hopefully will give others joy.
ReplyDeleteIs sports the only thing that makes you happy? Anything can make anyone happy, depending if they like it. Not just in sports, but other activities could also bring joy to others. I agree that people should try new things and have an open mind, and they might find something that makes them happy.
DeleteFor me, what gives life purpose is simply living it. There doesn't have to be an end goal that we work toward, and there is no need to ascribe meaning to our lives. The seemingly insignificant conversations and interactions I have is what makes each day interesting. I am happy when I'm surrounded by people who can make me laugh.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the documentary, I was shocked by Melissa's story after she was run over by the truck. The way she was able to still look at life with a glass half full was miraculous. I don't think I would ever be able to do that,so her story is incredibly inspiring. Something that makes me happy is seeing the ones I care about happy. Whenever my friends and family are smiling and laughing, it fills my heart with joy.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same. I find that happiness is infectious, especially when you are with the people that you love. I definitely find Melissa's story inspiring, despite her multiple other problems such as her relationship with her father and with her ex-husband. The fact that she was able to bounce back from those as well definitely was enlightening.
DeleteI feel happiness when I see the people and animals I love. When I meet some close friends of mine that live far away from here, I feel happier because I get to reconnect with them; I get to catch up on everything they happened in their life and I get to tell them what happened in my life. When I see my dog, an innocent, always-happy creature, I am happy because of how joyful she always is. She holds no grudges and is always excited to see me; this is why she makes me happy. My friends and my dog make me happy. :---)
ReplyDeleteI definitely relate with your insight. Whenever I see an old friend, I'm ecstatic to reconnect and catch up. I also love dogs, and I understand how simply watching or being with a pet can bring you joy.
DeleteAfter seeing the documentary, the story of happiness that resonated with me was when a guy in a city set up a goal to be successful and rich. What makes me happy is the love from my friends and family, the world I'm in, and whatever I accomplish at school or a particular activity also makes me happy. For example, when I earned my first degree black belt in martial arts, I was so proud of myself, for I was glad to achieve that prize. Growing up and seeing the world gives me meaning of how my life gets better and increases my joy. There is one common thread about happiness which is making the world a better place, for the world advances with technology and better social factors.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the documentary was very touching and made me very grateful for the things I have. It fascinated me that there was a specific field of study just for happiness. I have huge respect and admiration for the man who volunteers with the dying. He has found his purpose in life and I hope that I will be able to achieve that satisfaction and happiness one day. My friends, family, and passions bring me happiness. Though I now know that happiness might be part of our genetic makeup, it is relieving to know that as humans we can take our own initiatives to pursue things that we love to do. I do believe that there is such thing as enlightenment. It is a time period of realization when one begins to genuinely understand how they want to invest their time, what activities are worthwhile, and what the true purpose of living is. Living has no real definition, but to me it includes more than just a full bank account.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that really stuck out to me while watching the documentary Happy, was what happened to the lady who got dragged by a car. Even though she went through all that trauma, especially with the multiple surgeries she had to get, she still found a way to be happy. But I think she found something more than happiness she found Joy, unlike happiness I think Joy is permanent. Joy is deep rooted while happiness can come from anything it doesn't last as long as joy.Joy has a little more weight to it, you don't hear a lot of people say you give me joy, you mostly hear people say you make me happy.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes me truly happy is being around friends and family or playing soccer. When I'm with friends or family there is always a feeling of comfort and they always have the ability to make me laugh even at my lowest moments. When I'm playing soccer, I have to focus on what's happening in the moment. For a while, anything negative in my life disappears.
ReplyDeleteAfter viewing this film, I realized that happiness is difficult to quantify. Most studies in the film based happiness on people's own opinions, which can often be biased. However, I also think that the film showed just how skewed our perception of money is. The fact that someone from the slums of India can be just as happy as someone in the US showed that happiness can't be defined by any quantitative measure like money.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you. Although the film says that the happiness difference between someone making $50,000 and $5 million is not drastic, the level of happiness is all relative. If someone rich is living in a neighborhood with all rich people, then it will eventually seem normal to the rich person to have huge houses and nice cars.
DeleteI think that the concept that most resonated with me after the documentary was the debunking of "money does not equal happiness". It was interesting to learn through the data that was collected that happiness does not depend upon income once the basic needs for human survival are met. As cliche as it may sound, I feel happy when others are happy. If I see my brother cheer for his A on a test, it makes me happy. If my father was proud about doing the laundry, it makes me happy. My life is given meaning by my passions, both academic and social. My life is given meaning by my accomplishments as well. These both give me validation that I am living life to the fullest, which in turn makes me happy.
ReplyDeleteThe concept of income not increasing happiness after basic needs are met was something I found really interesting as well. Passion is also something that I believe makes living worth living. If you are like a machine, repetitively doing things just because you are "supposed to" isn't truly living. Things you love to do are what really makes you feel alive.
DeleteThe thing that resonated the most with me is that happiness between someone making $50,000 and $5 million is not drastic. In a society where material goods are emphasized so heavily, it’s kind of surprising to know that the amount of wealth we have doesn’t affect how positively we view life. Although we are now equipped with this knowledge, I think most of us will still be very concerned with materialistic goods, because that’s just the type of mindset that most of us grew up with.
ReplyDeleteYa! I found it really interesting that abundance of money does not necessarily bring happiness. The choices we make in our life affect our happiness. Wealth does not directly do so.
DeleteI found out that happiness can be achieved by anyone. Some people are born to have it easier than others to achieve happiness, but the saying goes, "Anything is possible." Everybody can do it.
ReplyDeleteHappiness is an emotion that everybody can live by. Balancing your life, looking after your mental health, and making an effort to improve all lead to a happy life. Happiness gives purpose in life, because we're all going to pass away, but our journey in life makes the difference of a happy one and a sad one.
I think one thing that was really interesting was Bhutans idea of net gross happiness. The idea of happiness being used as an economic factor has never been done by other nations and I thought that using happiness to make choices is cool. What really makes me happy is doing things that I genuinely like and being accepted by my classmates as well as them respecting those activities. I am part of the Lynbrook marching band and the FRC robotics club and often times especially in lynbrook, activities like these arent viewed in the best light and people tend to make a lot of stereotypes about them, in which none of them are true. As a result, people are much less accepting of me as a person for no reason. What makes me happy is the select few of my friends who don't judge me for the activities that I participate in as well as recognise that marching band and robotics are just as demanding and intense as other sports and activities. In general humans love to be complemented and simple complements can make anyone happy.
ReplyDeleteWhat gives people purpose in life? Well, the answer to that is simple. People give themselves their own purpose in life. Most people are not satisfied with the reality that no one has meaning in life. One day you are born, and another day you die. What the individual does in this time period is entirely up to them, but no matter what, in the end you don't matter. Happiness is based on the perspective of the individual. You could be sleeping on the sidewalk at night without basic necessities, but as long as you think you have it good, you are happy person. The documentary hits on the topic about how most people don't focus on trying to be happy, but to be successful. In my opinion, you can't teach yourself to become happier, but things must happen to you in order for your emotions to respond positively. Something needs to change to change yourself. It could be that being healthy can make you feel happier, but by no means does that make you happy, just happier than before. In the end, it's up to the individual to determine if they want to be happy.
ReplyDeleteThere was a time during my sophomore year where I felt directionless, due to accumulating stress and my negative mindset. I distanced myself from my friends, instead choosing to funnel all my time into extracurriculars in order to succeed. I didn't know at the time that love and support were what I needed most. Locking up my emotions and pursuing happiness selfishly made me feel even more disconnected from my surroundings. I began questioning my approach to happiness, maybe my desperate pursuit of academic success that may not necessarily produce triumphant results isn't the right approach. Maybe happiness derives from human interaction and acts of kindness. In my Buddhism principles class, I learned that giving is an exchange between material wealth with spiritual wealth; after the giver gives, the giver inherently receives gratitude and pleasure. The next day, I sacrificed my prompt class attendance to help a boy with a sock stuck in his bike chain on the road to school. A spark of happiness flashed within me as I received his warm gratitude, and I resolved to do more favors in the future in order to restore the flame. When I began giving in the form of favors more often, I gradually felt happier and rediscovered my purpose. I found that the purpose of life is to be happy, and in order to pursue happiness, we must often give and express gratitude.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! I think it was really cool of you to help that boy. Even the little things, the things you don't think people will notice, like holding the door or even saying hello, can have a big impact on someone's happiness.
DeleteTo me happiness is not something defined by what you have or your accomplishments. As we saw from the movie, there are people that have been in the worst of situations and yet, they are still able to achieve happiness. I think happiness and love are directly related. When one is surrounded by the ones they love, or even doing something that they love, happiness is created. For example, even after Melissa went through that horrible accident she was able to find her happiness again with love. Another example is the family who catches crab and has a feast every weekend. It might not have been a fancy meal at a five star restaurant, but regardless of the location, they would have been happy because of the strong love they had for one another. Not only do I find happiness when surrounded by loved ones, but one thing that I noticed that brings me joy is when I see that I have made someone else happy. A laugh, a hug, even a shy smile is rewarding and helps me find happiness.
ReplyDeleteThis documentary shows happiness in a different way. I like how it shows that happiness is different for everyone and that it is usually not the materialistic things that bring people happiness. My friends and family are a big part of my life and I think that is what truly makes me happy. Getting an A on a test or a dress for my birthday may give me a fleeting moment of happiness, but it's the moments I spend to help my community and the time I spend with my friends that actually make me happy.
ReplyDeleteWhat resonated the most with me during the documentary was the fact that wealth does not guarantee happiness. New clothes that are in fashion become things we discard and replace. They have no deep meaning to us. Those who were poorer but were surrounded by loving family were extremely happy. I know it sounds really cheesy but I am the most happy when my family and friends are happy. Sure, if I succeed I am happy too, but its not the same. When my mom is in a good mood, so am I. It's contagious in a good way. I think what gives my life meaning are the deep and good relationships that I have with my family and friends. A fun moment with them brings me so much more happiness than an award or gift would. I think all humans find happiness from connecting with other people, and that's part of the reason why we seek it out. I think that there is such a thing as enlightenment, which is achieved after a time period of struggle or sadness. You learn a lot about the world through misfortune. I think that those who have had hard lives are much more appreciative of life and happier.
ReplyDeleteHappiness to me comes in many forms. After viewing the documentary I couldn't help but ponder about the things in life that effect my happiness. There are material items that give me happiness as there are other aspects of life that do the same. Either way, the measure of one's happiness is determined through every experience that they go through in life. People don't realize the extent of their happiness when they achieve true happiness. At that point they are more involved in the events giving them happiness rather than thinking about how happy they are. In regards to me, the things in life that give me in particular the greatest amount of happiness are my family, friends, and the extracurriculars I partake in. All three things along with the daily events I encounter increase my happiness in one way or another.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I found the film to be very humbling because a lot of the perspectives were told through people who are less fortunate. Before watching the film, I was already familiar with the idea that the less fortunate tend to be more happier than the more fortunate. Just as the film demonstrated, the reasons why was because they focused more on others than themselves--which ultimately, turns to be quite rewarding. Little things such as community service and or being or giving support to your peers are such influential factors of improving one's happiness. It was very interesting hearing the accounts of such different people but in the end, I do have respect for them and their lives. It really opens up my mind to be more selfless in the world because life is too short to focus on yourself. I think happiness depends on everyone but as long as your bringing joy to yourself and to others, I'm sure you'll be happy.
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