As I was searching the editorials in the New York Times, I came across one that discusses the simple idea of happiness. The happier someone is the less likely they will be sick or feel bad. Usually when someone is around their fifties they tend to be their unhappiest, probably because of midlife anxiety. Surprisingly, it is found that paraplegics are not unhappier than healthy people and people who live with teenagers are the unhappiest of all of the unhappy people (I WOULDN’T WANT TO BE MY PARENTS)!
A recent study found that Americans were no happier than they were at the end of World War II. Also, life satisfaction in China declined between 1994 and 2007, even though economically they were prospering rapidly. It is true though that the rich are happier, but that is usually just for a short period of time. Those rich happy people find someone even richer to be jealous of and satisfaction soon settles back to its prior level. We always set our expectations higher than where we are settled.
Ways we can increase satisfaction for a long period of time include free time or social interaction. Also, vacations or more time with family and friends are likely to produce more lasting changes in satisfaction.
Our government should spend money to help promote leisurely yet pleasing activities like these, rather than trying to increase the nation’s economic wealth, and everyone will be a lot happier!
2 comments:
"Our government should spend money to help promote leisurely yet pleasing activities like these, rather than trying to increase the nation’s economic wealth, and everyone will be a lot happier!"
I kind of dissagree. I think it's most important that our government spend it's money on necessary things, rather than leisurely activities. I agree that the government should keep everyone happy, but the best way to do that is take care of the needs at the bottom of maslow's hierarchy (flood, shelter).
In a way I do agree but to a certain extent I don't. Yes, we should try to please the people of America, but if we were to succumb to many things that affect happiness we wouldn't be a country run by ethics and morals. All we'll be doing is trying to fix something that is immediate. Happiness honestly isn't everlasting. I do agree with the idea to increase economic wealth though but not in the terms that it will make everyone happier. Not all money should be contributed to it, other domestic issues should come into play.
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