The Pursuit of Happiness Per Merriam-Webster dictionary, happiness is defined in three ways. Happiness is the state of well-being and contentment, obsolete: good fortune, and a pleasurable or satisfying experience. The word is also correlated with other words such as joy, prosperity, felicity, and aptness. The word “happy” was first recorded in the 15th century. The online etymology dictionary states, from Greek to Irish, a great majority of the European words for “happy” at first meant “lucky.” However, in modern day the word happiness has seemed to equate itself, or go hand-in-hand with money, love, and relationships. Furthermore, people think money, love and relationships can create happiness in their lives. So, what exactly is happiness?
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Berit Brogaard, a Professor at the University of Miami, jokingly says “Unlike marriage, love seems to increase happiness significantly.” When people love, and are loved wholeheartedly back, they have a sense of fulfillment and are happier in life. As stated in her article, “It was also found that romantic love wasn’t the only predictor of happiness. Friendship love, companionate love, parental love and attachment love can get you there as well.” The sentiment expressed in the quotation, embodies the view that, love can be happiness. Rational love leads to happiness. As per Arthur Dobrin, D.S.W., an author and Professor at Hofstra University, “the person who finds happiness through love is the person who can be trusted to bring happiness to others.” Thus, happiness can be equated with love. Is happiness, …show more content…
Ed Diener and Martin Seligman, conducted a study at the University of Illinois stating, “people who have one or more close friendships appear to be happier.” On the other hand, if people are isolated and experience social exclusion, it tends to lead towards depression. Ed Diener and Martin Seligman found characteristics shared by students who were very happy. They realized that "their strong ties to friends and family and commitment to spending time with them,” ("The New Science of Happiness," Claudia Wallis, Time Magazine, Jan. 09, 2005) was the reason to their happiness. Additionally, in that study, “They were found to be happiest with their friends, followed by family members, and least happy if they were alone” (Larson, Mannell, & Zuzanek,
Berit Brogaard, a Professor at the University of Miami, jokingly says “Unlike marriage, love seems to increase happiness significantly.” When people love, and are loved wholeheartedly back, they have a sense of fulfillment and are happier in life. As stated in her article, “It was also found that romantic love wasn’t the only predictor of happiness. Friendship love, companionate love, parental love and attachment love can get you there as well.” The sentiment expressed in the quotation, embodies the view that, love can be happiness. Rational love leads to happiness. As per Arthur Dobrin, D.S.W., an author and Professor at Hofstra University, “the person who finds happiness through love is the person who can be trusted to bring happiness to others.” Thus, happiness can be equated with love. Is happiness, …show more content…
Ed Diener and Martin Seligman, conducted a study at the University of Illinois stating, “people who have one or more close friendships appear to be happier.” On the other hand, if people are isolated and experience social exclusion, it tends to lead towards depression. Ed Diener and Martin Seligman found characteristics shared by students who were very happy. They realized that "their strong ties to friends and family and commitment to spending time with them,” ("The New Science of Happiness," Claudia Wallis, Time Magazine, Jan. 09, 2005) was the reason to their happiness. Additionally, in that study, “They were found to be happiest with their friends, followed by family members, and least happy if they were alone” (Larson, Mannell, & Zuzanek,