Factors Determining Happiness - Essay Example

People commonly associate happiness with worldly possessions. They think that they would be happy if they can one day purchase the car of a certain brand and model, if they can buy property or house in a certain posh area, or if they get educated in a certain highly reputed and highly ranked college. While these achievements do lend happiness, but that happiness does not last very long in most cases. The individual feels overwhelmed with happiness immediately after achieving such goals, he/she may celebrate the happiness through gathering or partying, but over time, the value of achievement starts to fade in the eyes of the achiever and he/she establishes new goals to progress further in life. While these achievements do lend a sense of pride to the individual, they do not necessarily fill in the emotional voids in the life, personality, and psychology of the individual. In fact, in certain cases, such achievements may have a detrimental effect on the life of an individual. CNN wrote an article discussing what happens when an individual wins a lottery. People usually think that their life is going to take a very positive turn if they win a lottery, but things may change for the worse rather than the better. A person shared what he would do if he wins a lottery; “I would fill a big bathtub with money and get in the tub while smoking a big fat cigar and sipping a glass of champagne…Then I’d have a picture taken and dozens of glossies made. Anyone begging for money or trying to extort me would receive a copy of the picture and nothing else” (Norton).

True happiness comes from devotion to public service and cause. By nature, man is materialistic and selfish and thus does not reach true happiness until, one grows beyond personal gains and causes to fulfill the desires, causes, and needs of others. The kind of happiness one gets by fulfilling a personal need, in no way, compares to the sort of happiness one can derive by helping out someone in need of help. My observations and life experiences have led me to draw the conclusion that happiness is very much related to the vastness of an individual’s vision and the extent of thankfulness he/she displays toward the Creator that has granted him/her all that he/she possesses. When I was a little child, I used to feel upset for all that I did not have. Even though I belong to a financially stable and rich family, I craved for more. Reflecting upon my thoughts led me to the conclusion that there is no limit to which I can crave. There would always be somebody richer than me no matter how far I get in life. This is a race I can never win or is not even worth trying for. My father taught me that when I feel upset, I should look at people who cannot even afford what I have in life. Practicing this lent me a sense of satisfaction and I started appreciating and valuing what I have in life. Such happiness is not euphoric and is accordingly healthy as euphoria has many negative effects (Begley).

Concluding, true happiness is hidden in spiritual enhancement and emotional fulfillment through noble works and social service. Materialism might make an individual more greedy and selfish rather than generous and happy. Happiness is an outcome of one’s vision and outlook on life and the world. To be truly happy, one should thank God for what one has, one should look at people who are not doing as well as one is doing rather than looking up to those who are doing better.