Son By David Gilbert Analysis

Happiness is an aspect of life that all people try to achieve. Whether they know it or not, people hold the key to their own happiness. Although external factors usually affect people’s happiness in one way or another, in the end, their true happiness can only be found within themselves. In Son, Andrew Solomon discusses the difficulties and differences parents face when it comes to being able to accept and understand their children in an abnormal situation. Meanwhile, Daniel Gilbert talks about how one cannot be happy because of regrets due to inaction, in his work, Immune to Reality. While happiness does have its roots in support, acceptance, and love of others, it is not completely dependent upon these factors alone; living life without regrets and accepting and embracing oneself also …show more content…
Rejection can have really adverse effects on people, so the psychological immune system kicks in to tune out this negativity because its job is to preserve a positive outlook. In following this process, it can be concluded that a person can be happy because they live without rejection and with acceptance. This only further enforces the point that people’s happiness partially depends on their acceptance from others. It is said that, “Being rejected by a large and diverse group of people is a demoralizing experience because it is so thoroughly unambiguous” (Gilbert 134). This demonstrates that, similar to how Solomon describes wanting to be accepted by others was a priority in achieving happiness, when people are rejected by others, they experience decreased happiness. So, this only further shows how love, support, and acceptance from others only somewhat affect a person’s happiness. There are however, other factors that can be found in Solomon’s and Gilbert’s pieces that impact one’s happiness.
Additionally, one’s happiness can be dependent upon their self-acceptance, acceptance