Question

You have recently learned about happiness and how it is measured. Take some time to state what affects your happiness in everyday life. Next, try and connect your happiness back to relevant course readings and ways that it might be measured. Lastly, try and predict how your happiness is driven by aspects related to (1) your culture, (2) biology and (3) neurology. Please cover this in two paragraphs and be sure to use at least two APA citations to support your work.

Answer 1

Research shows that just a small portion of happiness (only about 10%) depends on a person's situation.

Why Happiness Matters:

Happiness is more than a good feeling or a yellow smiley face. It's the feeling of truly enjoying your life, and the desire to make the very best of it. Happiness is the "secret sauce" that can help us be and do our best.

Here's what researchers found when they studied happy people:

• Happy people are more successful.
• Happy people are better at reaching goals.
• Happy people are healthier.
• Happy people live longer.
• Happy people have better relationships.
• Happy people learn better.

• Strengths and Interests

  The things we're good at, and like to do, are our strengths. We all have strengths, even if we haven't discovered them yet.

  Strengths include:

• the things we're interested in — for example, music, art, science, building things, cooking, reading
• any skills we have — like painting, playing an instrument, or playing a sport
• our good qualities — such as kindness, humor, or leadership

• Happiness increases when we discover a strength and practice it. The more we practice a strength, the better we get until we really master it.