Contentment

In the book This I Believe, a collection of short essays, by Studs Turkel, a variety of people share personal stories on what he/she believe and the experiences that caused him/her to develop those beliefs. There is always the personal question on which is more important, gaining understanding of self or gaining understanding from others. Understanding of self is when an individual chooses to experience life for himself/herself instead of letting the concepts and ideas that the society around…

One of the most renowned philosophers, Jean-Jacques Rousseau once asked, “what is the source of our happiness...?”. He believed that the answer was “the simple feeling of existence… [and] as long as this state lasts we are self-sufficient like God” (Critchley 449). The quest for happiness has been the greatest interest of humans since ancient history. However, what is happiness? “The New English Dictionary… offers the famously unhelpful [definition:] ‘state of pleasurable content of mind, which…

you inner peace. 2. Keep Physically Fit. The key to achieving physical fitness is paying attention to exercises that strengthen your core muscles. Your core muscles are all those varied muscles in your chest, abdomen, upper back, lower back and sides. There are several benefits to be derived from a strong core - a flat stomach, a strong back, good posture, reduced strain on the spine, effective transfer of power to your arms and legs to lift, move or carry stuff around, greater mental…

happiness is only attained by not making it the direct end, Mill approaches this subject by first giving examples of what makes one happy and then continues to tell the reader why the route they are approaching happiness is insufficient to give contentment. His evident purpose is to inform the reader that one cannot pursue happiness through the enjoyments of life because once it is made a…

According to Oxford English Dictionary, Happiness is defined as “The state of pleasurable contentment of mind; deep pleasure in or contentment with one's circumstances.” Happiness can be reached in a multitude of ways, and each person finds happiness in different things. Wealth, love, and success are common examples of what people use to determine happiness. However, these are not always adequate examples. Happiness is not found in material things, but many believe this is all that is needed to…

indicating that “‘those only are happy, who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness’”(McMahon, 11). When one constantly pushes to be happy, it automatically entails that happy is not what they currently are. Satisfaction and contentment with life cannot be obtained if all that one does is harbor greed for something greater. In contrast, being appreciative and observing the world from a greater perspective enables one to feel happy. The movie documentary Happy…

My Life”, and “Man on the Moon.” Pursuit of Happiness comes across as a bright, cheerful song that is about living life in happiness, however the much deeper meaning in the lyrics headlines a man that is in a dark place who struggles to obtain contentment. The man masks the bleak truth with components such as alcohol and drugs, but never comes to realize that they will only cover up unhappiness for a small…

Garcia Marquez in chapter 10, 11 and 12, convey the Buendia family tendency to preferred solitude. All the Buendia family experiences solitude in some point of their life, to some members solitude brought peace and to other member solitude offered contentment. Most of the Buendia family members had been drawn into solitude or preferred to be in solitude, but according to Ursula all the children that were born into the family that were given the first name of Aureliano had the predisposition to…

family is treasured by the main character, Dr. Neville. He does everything to provide for other families since he no longer has one. A family provides for its members, offers protection, and helps form relationships. It provides love, stability, and contentment. To begin with, one idea of the importance of family is the provider of safety and protection. Evidence of this from I Am Legend comes from the scenes where Dr. Neville boards all of his windows and locks all of his doors, then hides…

Mandy Hale once said, “[s]elf-worth is so vital to your happiness”. Often, individuals with low self-esteem can achieve contentment by gaining a sense of self-worth. The main characters, Ethan Hawley, from The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck, and Charles Gaunt, from The Last Crossing by Guy Vanderhaeghe, both attain different levels of contentment during their journey to acquire a positive self-image. The protagonists recognize the causes of their low self-esteem, face obstacles, and…