When Life Asks For Everything Analysis

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Response to “When Life Asks For Everything”

In the feature article “When Life Asks For Everything”, David Brooks explains the four different types of happiness. The four different levels of happiness explain the true delight behind each level. The first level of happiness is considered the lowest level of happiness. This level of happiness is joy that comes from materials. This happiness really does not make ones heart joyful I feel as if it is a cover to real happiness. This material pleasure may seem like bliss at first you feel so very happy with your new materials and want to show them off to the world. After the newness of the materials have worn out so has your happiness. Materials are a way to temporarily fill you full with excitement, but this joy will not last long. This seems to fill a void in your heart for a short period of time. The second level of happiness is achievement. This we all get from acts of recognition and achieving our goals. I believe this kind of happiness is very temporary too. After the recognition has gone away we are left with knowing we have achieved our goals, but many others have forgotten
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Marriage is not completing someone else but is helping them better themselves. It is about helping someone complete there happiness. Marriage combines all four levels of happiness at once. The first level of happiness is by having someone to show off to others, while like materials this person never gets old. The second level of blissfulness is achievement, which is like having a family and having happiness all in one. The third level of joy is giving back. This is seen in giving your emotional support, and the finances to help your family or spouse. The fourth sense of excitement is moral joy, being with the love of your life and your family seems like all the moral joy you could need. Overall marriage and a family is the most joy and happiness you could receive in a life time, as Brooks seems to make

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