argumentative essay on happiness

What really makes us happy? Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

The nature vs. nurture debate, nurture as a source of happiness, works cited.

There has been an ongoing debate regarding the real forces that determine our happiness. Indeed, psychologists have struggled in an effort to gauge happiness and identify strategies that can be used to increase individual happiness levels. However, these research efforts have not been successful in coming up with a conclusive explanation for the actual determinants of happiness.

The main debate revolves around the classic “nature versus nurture” debate that concerns the relative importance of a person’s inherent traits (nature) against personal experiences (nurture) in determining or causing personal disparities in the levels of happiness.

While some psychologists support nature as the more significant factor that contributes to individual happiness, others insist that nurture is more significant. Behavioral studies show that both nature and nature contribute to our happiness. Studies on this topic are still underway with researchers and theorists from both sides passionately defending their argument as the prevailing one.

To explore the nature vs. nurture debate in relation to individual happiness, we have to define what constitutes happiness. The Open University defines happiness as “a positive feeling covering a range of emotions from joy to contentment” while unhappiness is defined as “a negative feeling associated with a range of feelings from sadness to depression” (The Open University, 5).

Furthermore, whenever we are happy, we want to the feeling to persist but when we are unhappy, we want the feeling to end. Happiness and unhappiness feelings cannot be said to be mutually exclusive since we sometimes have both emotions at the same time.

The quest for happiness is a universal phenomenon. A significant proportion of persons when asked what they wanted most in life, mentioned happiness as one of the things they wanted. While every person would like to have happiness in their lives, researchers are divided on how to achieve this happiness (The Open University, 125).

There are those who say that happiness is caused by life events experiences (nurture) such as happy relationships, social influences, social status, employment (Layard, 3), achievement of goals and so on, however, others assert insist on the genetic makeup of individuals. The latter has been criticized for its heavy dependence on social construct. For instance, it can erroneously lead to the conclusion that a certain genetic makeup is superior to others in determining one’s capacity for happiness.

Contrary to the belief that nature determines a person’s sustainable happiness is a counter-argument that happiness changes throughout a person’s life due to life events and experiences. Therefore, we can conclude that nurture plays a more significant role in determining a person’s happiness.

Life events include happy relationships with spouses, peers, and other persons, the national, geographical, cultural region in which one resides as well as demographic elements, personal history and life status variables such as social influences, social status, employment, and the achievement of goals.

Life events are a great determinant of happiness among children and adults. For instance, a study by the Children’s Society concluded that the most important element in determining young person’s happiness was family, friends, and a feeling of being loved and supported (The Open University, 85).

Several studies have also shown that adults’ relationships with friends, family, income, economic growth and partners greatly affect their happiness. Social psychologists have shown that family relationships are the single most important factor that determines happiness in both children and adults (The Open University, 125).

While proponents of nature (genetics) as a source of happiness assert that life events have only a temporary impact on one’s happiness, occurrences such as widowhood, divorce, and continued unemployment have a long-term effect on one’s happiness. Although the contribution of genetics to happiness cannot be ignored, life experiences play a more significant role in the quest for happiness.

Findings from studies show that identical twins exhibit more similarity in happiness levels than twins who are not identical. Since genes are inherent with a person having no control over the type of genes inherited from parents, perhaps it is the realization that one can take steps in determining their level of happiness and well-being that makes life experiences a more significant contributor to happiness (The Open University, 125).

Despite the widely held belief that happiness is mainly influenced by life events and genetics, social psychologists tend to deviate from this classic definition, instead saying that our happiness is hinged on the way we feel (The Open University, 57). They point out to reports that found out that optimists were more healthier, were less worried about illnesses, made better progress from health complications and lived longer than pessimists.

The studies suggest that life events only serve to teach us to expect a lot or less in life. A bitter experience can make us to be routine pessimist thinkers and this habit can block memories of good things that have happened to us before and even lead us to make the worst of future opportunities for happiness. In general, we can have happiness in life by focusing on positive aspects of our own lives, having optimistic realistic expectations, and believing that that our happiness lies on our hands.

Happiness is a very important aspect of our day-to-day lives, however, determining the source of happiness. In this paper, I conducted a literature review on the various determinants of happiness from research paper and opinions from experts. While there is no single factor that causes happiness or unhappiness in our lives, life events and experiences are seen to play a more significant role as compared to genetics. However, we must stay positive in our thinking and learn how to enhance our happiness from the experiences.

Layard, Richard. ‘Towards a happier society’, London School of Economics lecture, adapted from New Statesman article, 20303, pp. 3–4, Web. (Text 8)

The Open University. Y163: Starting with psychology , 2007, p. 125 (Text 7)

The Open University. Y163: Starting with psychology , 2007, pp. 53–7 (Text 4)

The Open University. Y163: Starting with psychology , 2007, pp. 5–6 (Text 2)

The Open University. Y163: Starting with psychology , 2007, pp. 83–5 (Text 5)

• The Effect of Group Minds on Behaviours
• How the Media Influence Society’s View on Mental Illness
• Nature vs. Nurture: Two Approaches to Intelligence
• The Difficult Issue of Nature vs. Nurture
• Nature vs. Nurture Factors of Human Development
• Ways in Which a Society’s Expectations Affects Self and Society’s Perceivedness of a Person
• Desirability for Control in the Workplace
• Forgiveness & Reconciliation: The Differing Perspectives of Psychologists and Christian Theologians
• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
• Human Interaction With the Surrounding Environment
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2019, March 24). What really makes us happy? https://ivypanda.com/essays/what-really-makes-us-happy/

"What really makes us happy?" IvyPanda , 24 Mar. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/what-really-makes-us-happy/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'What really makes us happy'. 24 March.

IvyPanda . 2019. "What really makes us happy?" March 24, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/what-really-makes-us-happy/.

1. IvyPanda . "What really makes us happy?" March 24, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/what-really-makes-us-happy/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "What really makes us happy?" March 24, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/what-really-makes-us-happy/.

• Essay Guides
• Other Essays
• Happiness Essay: Definition, Outline & Examples
• Speech Topics
• Basics of Essay Writing
• Essay Topics
• Main Academic Essays
• Research Paper Topics
• Basics of Research Paper Writing
• Miscellaneous
• Chicago/ Turabian
• Data & Statistics
• Methodology
• Admission Writing Tips
• Admission Advice
• Other Guides
• Student Life
• Studying Tips
• Understanding Plagiarism
• Academic Writing Tips
• Basics of Dissertation & Thesis Writing

• Research Paper Guides
• Formatting Guides
• Basics of Research Process
• Admission Guides
• Dissertation & Thesis Guides

Happiness Essay: Definition, Outline & Examples

Table of contents

Use our free Readability checker

A happiness essay is an academic paper that explores the concept of happiness, and how it can be achieved and maintained in our lives. The purpose of a happiness essay is to explore the psychological, social, and cultural factors that contribute to happiness. On this type of essay, students should provide insights into how individuals can cultivate a happy and fulfilling life.

In this article, we will explore the definition of happiness and its various components and outline the key elements of happiness essay structure. Whether you are seeking how to write a happiness essay or want to know more about this feeling, this is the right article. You will also find en example for your inspiration. Struggling with your writing? Say goodbye to stress and let our experts handle your ' write my essay for me ' challenge. Our team of skilled writers is ready to tackle any topic and deliver top-notch papers tailored to your instructions.

What Is a Happiness Essay?

The definition of a happiness essay can differ, but in general, a happiness essay is a paper that examines emotions, experiences, and perspectives related to the pursuit of contentment. Likewise, it may explore the philosophical and psychological aspects of delight and how it is affected by factors like wealth, relationships, and personal circumstances. A happiness essay provides a deeper understanding of enjoyment, how it can be achieved, and its influence on society. It is an opportunity to take readers on a reflective and stimulating journey, exploring the essence of joy. Writing a thematic essay on happiness is also a chance for writers to share their thoughts and observations with other people. Let's dive in and explore what delight really means to you!

Purpose of an Essay on Happiness

The reason for writing an essay about happiness is to explore the concept of delight to understand what it means to different people. For example, many believe it primarily depends on external factors such as wealth, success, or material possessions. However, it can be illustrated that true joy largely comes from internal factors, like one's outlook, personal growth, and relationships, especially with family and friends. A happiness essay helps to dispel common misconceptions about what satisfaction truly is. Writing a paper on this subject can describe a deeper, healthy understanding of this universal pursuit.

Ideas to Write a Happiness Essay on

When you want to write a happiness essay , first, it is important to ask: What is happiness to you? How can it be understood? One approach is to define happiness and examine its various dimensions, such as psychological, emotional, and physiological.  For example, career satisfaction is a crucial factor in achieving contentment. When people enjoy their jobs and feel fulfilled, they tend to report higher levels of delight. It's worth exploring the link between happiness and career satisfaction and how people can find meaning in their work.  Another idea of how to be happy would look at factors like relationships, personal growth, and achievement. Besides, the connection between money and happiness can also be a significant factor in the quality of life. Can you buy satisfaction?  The pursuit of happiness is a fundamental aspect of life, and analyzing its various dimensions can help us gain valuable insights into what leads to a happy life.

Happiness Essay Outline

An outline for a happiness essay serves as a roadmap for writers to keep their paper organized. It helps to break down researched content into manageable sections while ensuring that all necessary information is included.  The essay outline on happiness example might look something like this:

• Topic definition
• Topic importance
• Thesis statement
• Topic sentence
• Supporting evidence
• Concluding sentence, connected to your thesis
• Summarizing main points
• Final thoughts and future recommendations
• Encouraging readers to reflect on their delight

This outline provides a comprehensive format for an essay about happiness, ensuring that articles are well-structured, easy to understand, and cover all the necessary information.

Structure of a Happiness Essay

Happiness essay structure is critical to a successful article because it helps to organize the ideas clearly and coherently. It is easier for readers to follow and understand writers' perspectives on this complex and multifaceted topic if the essay has the following sections: Introduction:  provides context for the topic with a clear thesis statement. Body:  delves into the details while providing evidence to support the thesis. Conclusion:  summarizes the main points while restating the thesis statement in a new way. By following this structure, writers can produce compelling essays on happiness in life that engage and inform readers.

Happiness Essay Introduction

The introduction of a happiness essay is critical to setting the stage for the article’s body. Good introductions should have three key elements: a hook, background information, and a thesis statement.  The hook draws readers in and keeps them engaged, but a boring or generic one may make them lose interest. The background information provides context for the topic and gives the audience a better understanding of why the essay is being written. Lastly, the thesis statement states the writer's stance on contentment, providing a roadmap for the rest of the essay.  An essay about happiness introduction is an important part that sets the tone and lays the foundation for the paper. By following this structure, authors can ensure that the introduction of their paper is well-organized, concise, and effective in drawing the readers into their piece.

Happiness Essay Introduction Example

An introduction to your paper should be engaging, interesting, brief, and to the point. It clearly states the objectives of the research and introduces readers to the key arguments that will be discussed. Here is an example of a happiness essay introduction:

Satisfaction is never a straightforward and easily attainable idea. It has intrigued philosophers, religious figures, and people alike for centuries. Some say contentment is found inside a material wealth lifestyle, and others believe it is a state of mind or a result of spiritual fulfillment. But what is happiness, really? And how can we cultivate it in our own lives?

Happiness Essay Thesis Statement

A happiness essay thesis statement is the backbone of an article and a crucial element in your paper. A good thesis statement about happiness should be arguable, specific, and relevant to the topic. It is important for defining the scope of an article and highlighting its focus while also identifying what it will not cover.  Finally, the thesis statement tells readers the writer's point of view and sets a standard for judging whether the essay achieves its goal. By creating an effective statement, writers can significantly impact their paper's quality by providing direction and focus to the author’s argument.

Happiness Thesis Statement Example

This thesis statement defines the pursuit of delight and outlines its contributing factors. Here is an example of a happiness essay thesis statement sample:

True happiness comes from family, friends, and learning to be content in life, while money can only purchase momentary happiness.

Happiness Essay Body

A happiness body paragraph is a component of the body section of an article that provides evidence, examples, and supporting arguments to develop an essay's central idea. Good paragraphs cover a topic in-depth and engage readers, prompting them to reflect on what brings joy and how to pursue it. A paragraph about happiness should be well-structured and focused, analyzing factors contributing to contentment in a logical and coherent manner. A well-crafted essay body on happiness includes several paragraphs, each focused on specific aspects of enjoyment while supporting an article's overall argument. Following these guidelines, writers can create persuasive essay paragraphs.

Happiness Body Paragraph Example

Body paragraphs should provide a deeper understanding of the topic while engaging readers with relevant, thought-provoking information. Happiness body paragraph example:

Contentment brings a smile to our faces, peace to our hearts, and a skip in our steps. It's what many of us strive for every day, and it turns out it's not just good for our spirits but our health too! Studies have linked contentment to lower stress, reduced risk of heart disease, and elevated life satisfaction. Delight can come from doing what you love, being with loved ones, or having a sense of purpose. Or, it may simply be found in everyday moments like a sunny day, a good meal, or a breathtaking sunset. Although joy can be fleeting and affected by life events, we can still work to cultivate it in our lives.

Happiness Essay Conclusion

A conclusion is the last section of an essay that summarizes the main points while offering a final perspective on the topic. To write a strong conclusion on a happiness essay, consider these key elements: 

• summarize the main arguments
• provide closure
• include a final thought or reflection
• leave a lasting impression
• avoid introducing new information.

A good conclusion can make the difference between a forgettable essay and one that stays with the reader long after they've finished. Following these guidelines ensures that your essay conclusion about happiness effectively wraps up the argument and provides readers with memorable final impressions.

Happiness Essay Conclusion Sample

Conclusion helps readers better understand the topic by providing a sense of resolution or insight. Here is an example of a happiness essay conclusion:

In conclusion, delight is a difficult and multi-faceted concept that can influence various factors, including personal relationships, life events, and individual perspectives. The pursuit of contentment is a common initiative for all humans, and it is evident that becoming content requires a perfect balance and order of internal and external factors. This article presents evidence that helps you see clearly that contentment is not a fixed state. It is a journey that needs effort, reflection, and self-awareness to enjoy. I hope this paper has helped you realize a deeper understanding of this topic and become better equipped to embark on your pursuit of joy. 

How to Write an Essay on Happiness?

If you want to write an essay on happiness, remember that it can be a hard yet rewarding experience. Whether you are doing it for a class assignment, a job, a scholarship application, or personal growth, exploring what contentment means to you can be the journey of self-discovery.  You should clearly understand the topic and have a well-structured plan. The steps to effective happiness essay writing include defining satisfaction, conducting research, and organizing thoughts. When writing, it's crucial to consider factors that contribute to delight and obstacles that can hinder the process. Following the steps below, you can craft an article that effectively communicates your perspective on this topic.

1.  Pick a Topic About Happiness

Choosing a topic about happiness essay can be daunting, but with some guidance and creativity, you may find a subject that is both interesting and relevant. When brainstorming for happiness essay topics, follow these steps:

• Start with a broad idea related to your issue. Narrow the focus to a specific aspect, gather information, list potential cases, evaluate options, refine the matter, and check for relevance to your audience.
• Gather information, consider the different perspectives, and take note of the arguments you come across.
• Come up with five to ten potential concerns and evaluate each, asking questions such as if it is interesting, has enough information available, and if you can find a unique approach.
• Refine your chosen discussion to make it specific, focused, relevant, and interesting to your audience.

2. Do In-Depth Research

Gathering information from credible sources is crucial when writing an essay about happiness. Here are some tips to ensure that you collect accurate and relevant facts:

• Research from trustworthy sources like academic journals, books by experts, and government websites.
• Evaluate information's credibility and reliability. When you are reading, take notes on the information that you find. Write down the author, title, and publication date of each source to keep track of your research.
• Use multiple sources to broaden your understanding of your topic.
• Organize your research with a citation manager or bibliography.

Following these tips, you can delve into a wealth of credible sources for your happiness essays to elevate your article to new heights of insight.

3. Create an Outline for a Happiness Essay

Crafting an outline is essential in writing an essay on happiness and can give your work the structure and direction it needs to succeed. Here's how to create an effective happiness essay outline:

• Framework Start by outlining the main sections of your essay - introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Pinpoint your ideas Determine the key points you want to convey in each section.
• Supplement with specifics Add details that reinforce and support your ideas under each main point.
• Follow the guide Use the happiness essay outline example above as a starting point, but feel free to customize depending on the situation.

By following these steps and utilizing an essay outline , you'll have a clear map to guide you as you craft your paper, ensuring that your ideas are coherently organized, and your writing flows effortlessly.

4. Write an Essay About Happiness

In this essay about happiness, we will delve into the elusive and complex nature of this emotion. Here is an example to follow when you write your happiness essay.

Contentment is a subjective experience that varies significantly from person to person. It is often considered the ultimate goal of human life, and many people spend their entire lives searching for it. Despite its elusive nature, it is a crucial component of well-being and has been linked to numerous benefits for physical, mental, and emotional health. The reasons to smile or experience joy are varied and can be both internal and external. Some individuals find joy in the simple things in life, like being with family, pursuing their passions, or exploring new experiences. On the other hand, others may find it through accomplishing personal goals, acquiring material goods, or attaining financial security. Nonetheless, it's crucial to keep in mind that these external sources of happiness may not always be possible and may not alleviate suffering. Conversely, true joy comes from within and is characterized by a sense of being content, satisfied, and with purpose. It can be cultivated through mindfulness, gratitude, and self-reflection. By focusing on personal growth, forming meaningful relationships, and finding meaning and purpose in life, individuals, including children, can develop a deep sense of satisfaction that is not dependent on external circumstances and is not easily disturbed by life's problems. In conclusion, delight is a complex and multifaceted experience that both internal and external factors can influence. While external sources can bring temporary joy, true and lasting contentment can only be found within. Individuals can create a foundation for joy that will endure throughout their lives by focusing on personal growth and cultivating a positive mindset.

5. Proofread Your Happiness Essay

When proofreading your happiness essay, make sure to take your time and approach it methodically. Follow these steps:

• Read through the entire essay to get a sense of its overall structure and flow.
• Pay close attention to the introduction, as this sets the tone for the entire piece.
• Look for typos, grammatical errors, and awkward phrasing .
• Ensure your paragraphs are well-organized, with clear transitions between ideas. Check that your happy essay accurately reflects your thoughts and clearly conveys the message you want.
• Finally, read the paper out loud to yourself, or have someone else read it to you.

This can help you pick up on any errors that you might have missed during your initial proofreading. Finally, the article will leave a lasting impression on your reader and enhance your credibility as a writer.

Happiness Essay Examples

If you're looking to write truly captivating happiness essays, it's always helpful to seek inspiration from various sources. Consider checking out these excellent essay examples about happiness:  Happiness essay example 1

Essay example about happiness 2

Happiness essay sample 3

Essay on happiness example 4

Example of a happiness essay 5

They offer a rich tapestry of perspectives on what enjoyment truly means. Whether you draw on your own experiences or delve into the experiences of others, a happiness essay example will serve as a valuable resource as you strive to make your mark on this timeless topic.

Happiness Essay Writing Tips

When writing a happiness essay, there are key tips to keep in mind to help you create a compelling piece of work. Here are a few suggestions to get you started in happiness essays writing:

• Explore the concept from a cultural or historical perspective, looking at how attitudes towards your topic have changed over time across different societies.
• Consider how relationships, community, and social connections shape our enjoyment. How can these factors interact?
• Weigh the benefits and drawbacks of different approaches, such as positive or negative thinking, mindfulness, and self-care, offering a well-rounded perspective on the topic.
• Reflect on the connection between happiness and success, considering whether one necessarily leads to the other or can be pursued independently of success.
• Incorporate humor and lightheartedness into your writing, making your essay entertaining.

By going about integrating these unique tips into your writing day by day, you'll be able to craft essays on happiness that are both original and memorable, capturing the reader's imagination from start to finish. Students can explore a vast range of topics through our platform, from an essay about true friendship  and a  family essay to an illustration essay that will show how to convey complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.

Bottom Line on Happiness Essay Writing

To write a happiness essay, you should consider providing long and in-depth ways to explore what truly brings us joy. Instead of repeating common knowledge, take a personal approach and reflect on the things that delight you. Consider the fact that relationships, gratitude, mindfulness, and activities all contribute to shaping our joy. Your happiness essays should also showcase your introspective side. Examine any challenges or obstacles you have faced in your journey toward contentment. This will make your paper not only unique but also relatable and insightful. The goal is to create a piece that offers a fresh perspective on the concept of happiness and a true reflection of your experiences.

Buy custom essay online from StudyCrumb and get a happiness paper delivered on time. Top-notch quality is guaranteed!

Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

You may also like

309 Happiness Essay Topics & Research Questions

What is happiness? This is one of the fundamental questions discussed in philosophy, psychology, religion, sociology, and other sciences. Many research papers and essays explore this phenomenon, and the topic of happiness is an infinite source of inspiration.

If you decide to write a paper on happiness, this is a great chance to learn what happiness is for you. To help you create outstanding writing, our expert team has collected the best happiness essay topics.

🔝 Top 10 Happiness Essay Topics

✍️ happiness essay prompts, ❓ happiness research questions.

• ⚖️ Happiness Argumentative Essay
• ➡️ Essay about Cause and Effect of Happiness

🤩 More Happiness Essay Titles

✏️ writing about happiness: step by step, 🔗 references.

• How to find happiness?
• What are the signs of a happy person?
• The most common myths around happiness.
• The effects of positive psychology on happiness.
• How does happiness change over the lifespan?
• The effects of happiness on physical well-being.
• The most popular theories of happiness.
• The world’s happiest countries.
• The definition of family happiness.
• Can money buy happiness?

Writing an essay on happiness can be tricky since this is a very complex phenomenon. However, if you focus on its specific aspect, you can easily do research and write a well-crafted paper. Consider our ideas on how you can narrow the topic of happiness.

Can Money Buy Happiness: Argumentative Essay Prompt

There’s an ongoing debate about the connections between happiness and money. If you want to investigate this controversial topic in your essay, it’s essential to consider both sides before jumping to conclusions.

Recent research by Kahneman, Killingsworth, and Mellers suggests that people are generally happier as they earn more. More than 30,000 adults aged between 18 and 65 living in the US with different incomes participated in a survey. Researchers measured their happiness at random intervals in the day via an app called Track Your Happiness.

The results revealed that happiness rises with income, even in the high salary range. However, there was a so-called “unhappy minority” — about 20 percent of participants, whose happiness didn’t progress after the person reached a certain income level. You might want to mention this research as an argument in your essay.

What Does Happiness Mean to You: Essay Prompt

There’s no one universal definition of happiness. It differs from person to person. If you’re writing a narrative essay , you can describe what happiness is for you. For more formal assignments, you might want to define happiness from a psychological, philosophical, or religious perspective.

Neuroscientists have demonstrated a great interest over the past years in what happens in our brains when we’re happy. According to neuroscience , happiness is the release of dopamine and serotonin (two types of neurotransmitters) in response to external factors.

While medical studies see happiness as a physiological process, in religion, happiness is sacral. To be precise, biblical scholar Jonathan Pennington defines happiness as something that cannot be found outside since this is a feeling of complete alignment with God and his coming kingdom.

Aristotle Happiness: Essay Prompt

When writing a happiness essay, it’s almost impossible not to mention the Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. In one of his works, The Nicomachean Ethics , he presented one of the first happiness theories, which is still relevant today.

According to Aristotle, happiness lies in achieving all the good, such as health, knowledge, wealth, and friends , which leads to the perfection of human nature. Often, happiness requires us to make choices, some of which may be very challenging. For example, the lesser good sometimes promises immediate pleasure, while the greater good requires sacrifice. Aristotle’s theory of happiness remains one of the most influential frameworks and is worth mentioning in your writing.

Prompt for Happiness Is a Choice Essay

Is happiness a choice? This is another complex question you can build your essay around.

To give you some food for thought, psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky believes that roughly 50 percent of people’s natural happiness level is genetically determined . However, if we work on our happiness consistently, with effort and dedication, we can boost it.

It sounds shocking, but we make around 35,000 conscious decisions daily, each contributing to our happiness. As mentioned earlier, genetics make up roughly half of the happiness levels. The rest depends on our choices, and only 10% of happiness depends on circumstances.

• How do sociological perspectives shed light on factors contributing to happiness?
• How does a cross-disciplinary approach enrich our understanding of happiness?
• What is the impact of relationships on well-being?
• How can happiness be measured subjectively and objectively?
• What does the economics of happiness say about human well-being?
• How does health contribute to human happiness?
• Does income directly relate to happiness?
• What are the socio-economic and sociodemographic characteristics of happiness?
• How do classical and neo-classical economic theories conceptualize happiness?
• How do social security and welfare contribute to happiness?
• Can employment affect happiness?
• Who is happier: self-employed or those working for hire?
• What is the impact of retirement on happiness?
• What is the link between female happiness and marital status?
• Should sacrifices be made for the sake of children’s well-being?
• How do meaningful personal relationships contribute to happiness?
• How does feeling in control of one’s life affect happiness?
• What is the relationship between freedom and happiness ?
• What is the connection between a community’s religious diversity and happiness?
• What is the link between the amount of leisure time and happiness?
• How do outdoor activities affect happiness?
• How does culture affect the way people evaluate happiness?
• How do social networks influence a person’s happiness?
• What is the difference between top-down and bottom-up theories of life satisfaction ?
• What is the impact of regular involvement in sports on happiness?
• How often should one meet with friends to feel happy?
• Is loneliness inversely related to happiness?
• What is the impact of political stability on happiness?
• Is living in a democratic state a determinant of happiness?
• Can economic freedom contribute to one’s happiness levels?
• What are the economic consequences of social happiness?
• Is happiness a fundamental goal of a democratic society ?
• Can happiness be attained by well-organized governmental efforts?
• Happiness versus well-being: are these concepts the same?
• What is the math behind the Gross National Happiness (GNH) index?

Questions about Happiness: Psychology

• What is the impact of family bonds on subjective well-being?
• Psychology Answers Whether Money Buys Happiness.
• Can physical health be a reflection of internal happiness?
• Are life challenges a stimulant of happiness?
• How to Increase Happiness Across All Three Types of Subjective Well-Being.
• Are psychometric scales valid and reliable for measuring happiness?
• What is the role of gratitude in positive psychology?
• Does Your Personality Predict Your Happiness?
• What is the link between gratitude and happiness?
• Is gratitude an alternative to materialism and a tool for attaining happiness?
• Happiness and Academic Success Relationship .
• What is the concept of “good human life” in psychology?
• How does evolutionary psychology explain the origins of happiness?
• How has the concept of happiness evolved across different psychological theories?
• Self-Esteem and Happiness Analysis .
• How does subjective well-being vary across different age groups?
• What is the role of social support in happiness?
• To what extent does genetics determine the baseline happiness level?
• The Happiness Tips and Examples from Real Life.
• How do cultural norms influence the understanding of happiness?
• How does the experience of flow states contribute to happiness?
• How can mindfulness meditations increase happiness?
• Do Stay-at-Home Mothers Exhibit More Indicators of Happiness Than Full-Time Working Mothers ?
• Is there a genuine science of happiness?
• Positive psychology: a new science of happiness or old data in a new package?
• How does the quality of interpersonal relationships affect happiness?
• What cognitive and emotional processes are involved in positive self-appraisal?
• Generosity Motivating Factors and Wellbeing.
• What are the dimensions of psychological well-being?
• How does the engagement in prosocial behaviors contribute to happiness?
• What is the impact of pursuing extrinsic and intrinsic goals on happiness?
• How does having a life purpose contribute to happiness?
• Spiritual Satisfaction of Basic Psychological Needs.
• Positive psychology coaching: how to learn to help others attain happiness?
• What are the neurobiological correlates of happiness?
• Relationship of Proactive Personality, Financial Planning Behavior, and Life Satisfaction.
• What is the impact of spiritual well-being on happiness?
• Happiness on prescription: do anti-depressants contribute to well-being?
• What personality traits are associated with sustained happiness levels?
• How Does Regular Alcohol Consumption Affect Happiness?
• How do positive psychology interventions at school affect young adults’ happiness?
• What is the link between physical attractiveness and subjective happiness?
• What is the connection between happiness and neuroticism?
• What are the positive psychology teachings of Buddhism ?
• Is yoga a path to mature happiness?
• What is the impact of social comparison on happiness?

Philosophical Questions about Happiness

• How to achieve ultimate happiness?
• The dark side of happiness: what are the wrong ways of pursuing happiness?
• Can there be wrong types of happiness?
• Bhutanese Views on Happiness and Subjective Wellbeing.
• Is happiness egoistic self-indulgence?
• What are the philosophical problems in the study of happiness?
• Is there a link between happiness and compassion?
• Philosophy on Knowledge, Reality, and Good Life.
• Can happiness be universally possible?
• What are the conditions and causes of happiness?
• Relativity of happiness: are lottery winners happier than accident survivors?
• People and the Meaning of Life.
• How do emotional styles contribute to happiness?
• What are the personality traits of a happy person?
• What is Carson’s approach to happiness and satisfaction?
• Philosophical Views and Cultural Influences.
• What is the philosophical stance on happiness and pleasure?
• Can happiness be equated to hedonism?
• How can the pursuit of happiness be analyzed from a utilitarian perspective?
• What is Benditt’s view of happiness and contentment?
• What were Aristotle’s ideas on the human good?
• What is the difference between classical and contemporary philosophy readings on happiness?
• What is the link between happiness and the meaning of life?
• What is eudaimonic well-being ?
• What are the features of Diener’s happiness philosophy?
• What is the happiness philosophy of Plato?
• How has happiness research in philosophy progressed over time?
• Money Cannot Bring True Happiness.
• What is the concept of happiness in English sayings?
• Is ancient happiness wisdom applicable to modern times?
• What are the contributions of the world’s famous happiness philosophers?
• What does Islam say about happiness?
• What were John Stuart Mill’s views on the moral and political philosophy of happiness?
• Personal happiness or societal well-being: what should be prioritized?
• How do Foucault’s teachings describe children’s happiness?
• What were Ibn Rushd’s ideas on happiness?
• How have ancient philosophers influenced contemporary debates on the nature of happiness?
• Human Development and Wellbeing.
• How do Eastern and Western approaches to happiness differ?
• How did stoics achieve happiness?
• Is greater happiness for a greater number of people desirable?

⚖️ Happiness Argumentative Essay: Topic Ideas

• Nature vs. nurture : the role of personal choices in achieving happiness.
• Can happiness be increased by technological advancements?
• The Relationship between Money and Happiness .
• Happiness can’t be achieved with anti-depressants.
• Cultivating positive brains is vital for happiness.
• Happiness levels in rich and poor nations .
• Is unhappiness more important in moral terms than happiness?
• Gay Marriages: Isn’t It Time to Allow Them Feel Happy?
• Emotional control plays a vital role in a person’s ability to be happy.
• Happiness is inseparable from pleasure.
• Happiness inevitably leads to human flourishing.
• Are there moral limits to satisfaction?
• Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness.
• There should always be a place for virtue in happiness.
• Happiness is a stochastic phenomenon: examining Lykken and Tellegen’s views.
• Suffering is not mutually exclusive with happiness.
• Technological progress distances people from simple happiness.
• Goodness means different things to people.
• Health, Wealth, and Happiness: Government’s Responsibility.
• Happiness and meaning are two main aspects of a virtuous life.
• Is happiness research relevant for economists?
• Happiness research can offer implications for public policy .
• Happiness: a contribution to an economic revolution.
• How To Achieve Well-being and Enjoyment in Life?
• The paradox of choice: does an abundance of options lead to greater happiness?
• Implications of happiness research for environmental economics.
• Diversity is a vital determinant in modern happiness research.
• Happiness research should be country-specific.
• National Well-Being Before and During the Pandemic.
• A need for more programs for increasing personal happiness.
• Happiness is a relative concept.
• Happiness can prosper only in democracies.
• Collective and individual happiness are interrelated.
• Psychological Well-Being, Self-Efficacy, and Personal Growth .
• Happiness affects mental and physical health in many ways.
• The impact of happiness on achievement.
• Do acts of kindness increase happiness levels?
• The impact of relationships on individual happiness: quantity vs. quality.
• Hedonism vs. eudaimonism: which leads to a more fulfilling life?
• Happiness depends on income, but not exclusively.
• Should maximizing happiness be the government’s social policy?
• Insights of happiness research for public policy and administration.
• Democracy: Equality of Income and Egalitarianism.
• Human happiness is impossible without favorable social conditions.
• Happiness scales don’t work.
• There’s a tangible degree of utility for human happiness.
• Instagram Use and Psychological Well-Being in Women.
• The significance of adaptation and change in sustaining lasting happiness.
• Happiness is culturally constructed.
• Happiness is not equal to well-being.
• Personal happiness is a principal element of productivity.
• Preventive healthcare can boost people’s well-being and happiness.
• Happiness at work determines general happiness to a large degree.
• Morality plays a huge role in the folk conceptions of happiness.

➡️ Essay about Cause and Effect of Happiness: Topics

• Causes of happiness and unhappiness.
• Culturally specific causes of happiness.
• Physical appearance peculiarities and happiness.
• Individual traits’ impact on perceived happiness.
• Chinese Population: Future Growth and Wellbeing.
• Effect of overestimating and underestimating the importance of happiness on well-being.
• Influence of happiness on one’s body and mind.
• Absence of happiness as a probable cause of mental health disorders .
• Can unhappiness cause cancer?
• The Citizen Science: Impact on Personal Wellbeing.
• Causes of marital unhappiness.
• Effects of chronic stress and unhappiness at work.
• Unhappiness as a cause or effect of loneliness.
• Happiness and success – what’s the cause in this relationship?
• Effect of wealth on happiness.
• Social Justice, Feminism and Well-Being.
• The impact of living in a democracy versus autocracy on people’s perceived happiness.
• Causes of male happiness.
• The influence of consumerism culture on happiness.
• Differences between the causes of male and female happiness.
• Instagram Use and Psychological Well-Being .
• How do the causes and effects of happiness change with age?
• Effects of happiness on the elderly.
• The impact of education level on happiness.
• Causes of happiness in Eastern and Western cultures.
• Can a cause of happiness in one culture be a cause of unhappiness in another one?
• Divorce of Parents and Impact on Child’s Well-Being.
• The influence of the number of children one has on the perceived happiness level.
• Can the pursuit of one’s dream be a cause of happiness?
• Freedom as a cause of happiness.
• The causes of material versus spiritual happiness.
• Video Gaming and Children’s Psychosocial Well-Being.
• Causes of happiness in the workplace.
• Effects of being happy and emotionally stable on academic performance.
• The impact of happiness on the quality of social relationships.
• Can happiness be a source of productivity?
• The Impact of Self-Care on Well-Being among Practicing Psychologists.
• Individually determined causes of happiness and misery.
• Environmental causes of human happiness.
• How do causes of happiness change over time?
• The COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Social Well-Being.
• Can happiness cause health improvements?
• Moral causes of happiness.
• The effect of positive body image on a person’s happiness.
• How does high self-esteem affect one’s happiness?
• People’s recipes for long-term happiness across cultures.
• Polling Exercise: Self-Fulfillment Over Self-Indulgence.
• Effects of happiness on sociability.
• Happiness causes in single-parent families and double-parent families.
• Causes of happiness among very wealthy people.
• Positive Impact of the Environment on Families .
• Is happiness a stable concept? What causes happiness to change?
• Causes of happiness as seen by feminists.
• Strong friendship bonds as a cause of happiness.
• Psychological wealth as a precondition of happiness.

Pursuit of Happiness Essay Topics

• The unending pursuit of happiness is too commercialized.
• Pursuit of happiness in the movies.
• History: In Search of the American Dream.
• The scientific pursuit of happiness: approaches from different sciences’ perspectives.
• People often get lonely in the pursuit of happiness.
• Self-defeating pursuit of happiness.
• Historical cases of happiness pursuits.
• Materialism and pursuit of happiness.
• Positive Psychology to Lead a Normal Life.
• Experientialism and happiness.
• Time, money, and social connections in the happiness equation.
• Therapy vs. medications in the pursuit of happiness.
• What should a person know to pursue happiness successfully?
• Pursuit of happiness: rural vs. urban perspectives.
• Pursuit of happiness in the Age of Enlightenment .
• How do advances in biotechnology serve the pursuit of happiness?
• Psychobiotics and gut-brain relationships: happiness via nutrition.
• Downshifting for the sake of happiness.
• The impact of race on the choice of happiness pursuit methods.
• Perceived security and pursuit of happiness.
• Experiential consumption in the pursuit of happiness.
• The origins of the hunt for happiness.

Happiness at Work: Topic Ideas

• The benefits of happy employees for the organization.
• The reciprocal relationship between happiness and success.
• Job Satisfaction and Ethical Behavior in Prisons.
• Impact of happiness and optimism on performance.
• Waiting to become happy as the greatest success limitation.
• Police: Issue of Job Satisfaction, Hazards and Risks.
• Cultivation of positive brains for motivation, workplace creativity, and resilience.
• Escaping the cult of the average for the sake of happiness.
• Psychological flexibility is the key to workplace success.
• Human Resource Regulations: Working Hours and Minimum Salary .
• Independence as a cause of happiness at work.
• Work-life balance and happiness.
• Attaining happiness in the knowledge-intensive workplace.
• Approaches to measuring happiness at work.
• Diversity at the Workplace: Problem and Importance.
• Happiness at work: small firms, SMBs, and corporations.
• Cross-cultural correlates of happiness at work.
• The art of staying happy in the workplace.
• Work-Life Balance in the Last Decade .
• The quality of relationships with colleagues as a determinant of happiness.
• Workplace conflict and happiness.
• Happiness and financial/non-financial rewards.
• Positive psychology coaching for staff.
• Impacts of Parenting on Work, Life, and Family.
• Can a person working nine-to-five be really happy?
• Happiness and overtime work.
• Happiness in the educational workplace.
• Steps to Reduce Stress at Work.
• Happy doctors and nurses: can seeing suffering every day align with happiness?
• Anger control and happiness at work.
• Culture of respect and workplace happiness.
• Exploring the Concepts of Productivity and Stress Levels in the Workplace.
• Happiness at work and broader life satisfaction.
• Happiness among emergency workers.
• Happiness and workplace burnout.
• Work Efficiency Impact Factors.
• Can real happiness be attained through work?
• Organizational learning measures for supporting staff happiness.
• Happiness at work and organizational effectiveness.
• Human Factors: Workload and Stress Relationship.
• Are happy employees more committed to their employer?
• Happiness at work and motivation.
• Happy staff and growth mindsets.
• Work-Related Stress and Meditation & Mindfulness.
• How do workers of different ages conceptualize happiness at work?
• Self- and peer-related orientations and happiness at work.

We’ve prepared a small writing guide to help you make a well-structured and captivating happiness essay. Consider the best tips for the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion .

Happiness Essay Introduction

The introduction is an essential part of an academic essay that presents the topic, provides background information, and catches readers’ attention. Here are the three main elements to include in your introduction.

Body Paragraphs about Happiness

The body is the longest essay part, leading readers through your ideas, arguments, and evidence for your thesis . It’s always divided into two or more paragraphs, each centering around a topic sentence.

A topic sentence describes the paragraph’s central idea and should be expanded with evidence and examples. It also helps to transition smoothly from one section to another.

Remember, we’ve already developed a thesis statement about the connection between happiness and productivity. An example of a happiness topic sentence for this essay is shown below.

To find supporting evidence for your thesis, you can check out major theories, previously done research, statistics , case studies, and articles on the topic.

Happiness Essay Conclusion

The conclusion is a vital part of an essay that reminds readers of your thesis statement and summarizes the main points. Nothing new is presented in this section, but you might want to encourage readers to think deeper about the topic.

The critical requirement for the conclusion is paraphrasing your thesis statement from the introduction. You can keep the keywords but change the rest.

Happiness is a complex phenomenon many writers, poets, and scientists try to explore. If you also want to contribute to happiness discussion and share your ideas, writing an essay is a great opportunity. Consider our top happiness essay topics and writing tips to write a memorable paper.

• Happiness | Harvard Business School
• Happiness | TED
• Research Topic: Happiness | Association for Psychological Science
• Three New Ideas About Happiness and Well-Being | Greater Good Magazine
• Happiness Articles & More | Greater Good Magazine
• Happiness in Psychology and Philosophy | Cogut Institute for the Humanities
• Happiness | UCLA Anderson Review
• The Five Big Questions of Happiness Research | Longevity
• 10 Questions: How Can We Be Happy? | CBS News
• Can Money Buy Happiness? Scientists Say It Can. | The Washington Post

301 Abortion Essay Topics & Research Questions on Laws, Ethical Issues & More

333 football research topics & essay titles.

Presentations made painless

• Get Premium

121 Happiness Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Happiness is a universal goal that we all strive to achieve in our lives. Whether it's through relationships, career success, or personal fulfillment, finding happiness is something that we all desire. If you're looking for inspiration for an essay on happiness, we've compiled a list of 121 topic ideas and examples to help get you started.

• The Importance of Gratitude in Achieving Happiness
• How Social Connections Impact Happiness
• Finding Happiness Through Mindfulness and Meditation
• The Role of Physical Health in Happiness
• Pursuing Passion and Purpose for a Fulfilling Life
• Overcoming Adversity and Finding Happiness
• The Connection Between Money and Happiness
• The Impact of Social Media on Happiness
• Cultivating Positive Relationships for a Happy Life
• The Benefits of Volunteering for Personal Happiness
• Finding Joy in the Little Things
• The Power of Positive Thinking in Achieving Happiness
• The Role of Self-care in Maintaining Happiness
• How Nature and the Outdoors Can Boost Happiness
• The Connection Between Creativity and Happiness
• The Importance of Setting and Achieving Goals for Happiness
• Overcoming Fear and Anxiety to Find Happiness
• The Link Between Health and Happiness
• The Impact of Gratitude Journals on Happiness
• Finding Happiness Through Self-acceptance and Self-love
• The Benefits of Laughter for Mental Health and Happiness
• The Impact of Music on Mood and Happiness
• The Connection Between Exercise and Happiness
• Cultivating a Positive Mindset for a Happy Life
• The Role of Education in Achieving Happiness
• The Importance of Work-life Balance for Happiness
• Finding Happiness Through Travel and Exploration
• The Benefits of Mindful Eating for Happiness
• The Connection Between Sleep and Happiness
• Overcoming Perfectionism to Find Happiness
• The Impact of Kindness and Compassion on Happiness
• Finding Happiness Through Simplifying and Decluttering
• The Role of Resilience in Achieving Happiness
• The Benefits of Pets for Mental Health and Happiness
• The Connection Between Forgiveness and Happiness
• Cultivating a Gratitude Practice for a Happy Life
• The Impact of Social Support on Happiness
• Finding Happiness Through Learning and Personal Growth
• The Importance of Setting Boundaries for Happiness
• The Role of Hobbies and Leisure Activities in Achieving Happiness
• The Benefits of Positive Affirmations for Mental Health and Happiness
• The Connection Between Spirituality and Happiness
• Finding Happiness Through Acts of Kindness and Service
• The Impact of Positive Relationships on Happiness
• Cultivating a Growth Mindset for a Happy Life
• The Role of Mind-body Practices in Achieving Happiness
• The Benefits of Spending Time in Nature for Mental Health and Happiness
• The Connection Between Gratitude and Happiness
• Finding Happiness Through Acceptance and Letting Go
• The Importance of Social Connection for Happiness
• The Role of Self-compassion in Achieving Happiness
• The Benefits of Positive Self-talk for Mental Health and Happiness
• Cultivating a Healthy Lifestyle for a Happy Life
• The Impact of Journaling on Mental Health and Happiness
• The Role of Physical Health in Achieving Happiness
• The Benefits of Gratitude Journals for Mental Health and Happiness
• The Benefits of Mindful Eating for Mental Health and Happiness
• The Role of H

Want to research companies faster?

Instantly access industry insights

Let PitchGrade do this for me

Leverage powerful AI research capabilities

We will create your text and designs for you. Sit back and relax while we do the work.

Explore More Content

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service

© 2024 Pitchgrade

We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it.

• Essay Database >
• Essay Examples >
• Essays Topics >
• Essay on Happiness

Example Of Argumentative Essay On What Is Happiness Exactly?

Type of paper: Argumentative Essay

Topic: Happiness , Life , Satisfaction , Experiences , Individual , Believe , Job , Literature

Published: 03/08/2023

ORDER PAPER LIKE THIS

Is Happiness Really Happiness?

In his article, Life Satisfaction, Ethical Reflection, and The Science of Happiness, author Dan Haybron argues that being satisfied with one's life is necessary or rather important, but that it does not matter as much as one might think. Specifically, the argument is centered on the idea that happiness and its definition is varied depending on the individual. Moreover, another argument made is that what humans consider as happiness is in fact, satisfaction with life. This paper discusses Haybron's claims and whether there is merit in his argument.

Haybron continues by stating that most philosophical research and arguments have put forth that happiness relies significantly on a series of satisfactory occurrences (103). Yet, there is substantial reason to believe that one can be happy in their welfare (feeling) state regardless of satisfactory experiences. Happiness is essentially a totality view or rather a byproduct of a series of experiences that one has gone through. The writer agrees with Haybron’s view that happiness is inclusive of both pleasure and pain, and not solely satisfactory experiences. This would suggest that painful or excruciating experiences do often lead to positive outcomes. Haybron’s rationale is that there is a blessing in the chaos. Essentially, that one cannot be happy without a combination of the bitter with the sweet. To this end, “it is not just having a plurality of good moments, but having a good life. We [need] to see our lives as more than just the sum of their parts. The pains suffered in boot camp, or in pursuit of some other achievement might be seen as a good thing in the context of one's life as a whole" (105). So why then has the term satisfaction been so closely linked as meaning someone is indeed happy? The explanations for this are numerous. The common thought according to Haybron is that because one is satisfied with a particular experience or feeling, this is a contention that they are happy. This, from the perspective of the writer couldn't be further from the truth. One can be satisfied with an experience and still be unhappy. For example, an individual may believe that by obtaining a job making six figures will provide and offer them happiness. The individual may end up obtaining said job and then come to realize that while they were initially satisfied with the job, it has not made them happy. Conversely, they come to discover that the journey to obtaining the job was much more satisfactory than actually being offered the position. This is why it has often been said that the journey offers more contentment than the destination. Haybron reasons that individuals give attention to experiences that do not necessarily suggest happiness, but rather satisfaction – and this is where much of the problem rests upon in terms of where the intertwinement and interchangeability comes from (105). It seems that society has provided a kind of norm or rule discourse that most have followed. This is why most philosophical arguments related to happiness tend to weave the concept of satisfaction and align them together. Another argument that Haybron makes in the article is that happiness is believed to be something different to each individual. This in itself has also caused the problem with the two terms because one individual may consider themselves to be happy if they experience both positive and negative occurrences, while another may believe that they can only be happy if they indeed have positive or pristine happenings in their lives. These individuals reject the idea that pain produces happiness as well. Of course, there is validity in both arguments. The former is what Haybron contends, while the latter is what most philosophers offer as the true essence of happiness. The writer, however, questions the rationale behind only accepting the positive and subsequently, rejecting the negative because what is life without the ups and downs, valleys and mountaintops, etc.? In other words, how can one come to know what happiness is without enduring harsh and hard times? Haybron writes that happiness is essentially subjective rather than objective (105). This is why there are so many varying perspectives on both the term, happiness, and satisfaction. So in effect, while Haybron makes two claims in the article, they in fact stem from the same argument – that satisfaction and happiness are two different concepts even though they have been proverbially rolled into one and have come to be accepted as the same. The argument that most philosophers have made regarding happiness only consisting of satisfactory experiences is a plausible one because individuals have not only come to believe that life should only include pleasure, but also because how can one be satisfied with painful experiences? What rationale or reasoning could ever suggest that pain is fruitful and satisfactory? As noted earlier, and by Haybron, happiness is the sum of an individual’s life experiences, not only solitary or series of experiences as most contexts suggest.

In order for those that believe satisfaction and happiness are the same to even consider Haybron’s argument, they must come to understand the purpose behind pain, which is an entirely separate argument in itself. Yet, there is merit in both Haybron’s view and the majority outlook on happiness. The writer believes that it is easier for most to reject the Haybron perspective as opposed to accepting it because then that would mean that a significant shift in their beliefs would need to take place, and change is difficult for most people.

Works Cited

Haybron, Dan. "LIFE SATISFACTION, ETHICAL REFLECTION, AND THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS." Journal of Happiness Studies 8 (2007): 99-138. Web. 1 May 2016. <doi: 10.1007/s10902-006-9006-5>.

Cite this page

Share with friends using:

Removal Request

Finished papers: 2838

This paper is created by writer with

ID 271434991

If you want your paper to be:

Well-researched, fact-checked, and accurate

Original, fresh, based on current data

Eloquently written and immaculately formatted

275 words = 1 page double-spaced

Get your papers done by pros!

Other Pages

Enemy essays, frei essays, stahl essays, tokugawa essays, kilmer essays, horwitz essays, snelling essays, drifter essays, palestinian territories essays, behavior patterns essays, jared diamond essays, heloise essays, essay on moral reasoning and the global challenge, free essay on human resource management, the hagia sophia research proposal sample, structuration theory critical theory ict4d research paper sample, global warming essay sample 2, free critical thinking on the cask of amontillado an expedition to the human psyche, thesis on the personal values and virtues of being hardworking, positive influence of media on family relationships essay example, global financial crisis essay, pipelines environmental issues research paper example, example of research paper on christianity and islam mankind and apotheosis, example of essay on the individual and the state, critical thinking on a series of teaching and learning activities for science and technology, example of role of independent director thesis proposal, cigarette smoking essay examples 2, movie review on transforming energy, ulysses essay example, example of imperfect competition in labor market research paper, example of research paper on goal setting theory modification, cortical regions and their role in our vision course work examples, free essay on stress as a college student, good example of essay on understanding the plight of palestinian refugees, good case study on what are the primary issues in this case, book review on critical book review children of paradise by laura secor, good example of essay on demand, perfect model essay on aggression, french and raven bases of power essay sample, good example of corporate social responsibility report, good general motors capstone project example, the art of stefan sagmeister type to use as a writing model, free how red color enriches our understanding of chinese society and history essay example.

Password recovery email has been sent to [email protected]

Use your new password to log in

You are not register!

By clicking Register, you agree to our Terms of Service and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Now you can download documents directly to your device!

Check your email! An email with your password has already been sent to you! Now you can download documents directly to your device.

or Use the QR code to Save this Paper to Your Phone

The sample is NOT original!

Short on a deadline?

Don't waste time. Get help with 11% off using code - GETWOWED

No, thanks! I'm fine with missing my deadline

Happiness Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on happiness.

Happiness is something which we can’t describe in words it can only be felt from someone’s expression of a smile. Likewise, happiness is a signal or identification of good and prosperous life. Happiness is very simple to feel and difficult to describe. Moreover, happiness comes from within and no one can steal your happiness.

Can Money Buy You Happiness?

Every day we see and meet people who look happy from the outside but deep down they are broken and are sad from the inside. For many people, money is the main cause of happiness or grief. But this is not right. Money can buy you food, luxurious house, healthy lifestyle servants, and many more facilities but money can’t buy you happiness.

And if money can buy happiness then the rich would be the happiest person on the earth. But, we see a contrary image of the rich as they are sad, fearful, anxious, stressed, and suffering from various problems.

In addition, they have money still they lack in social life with their family especially their wives and this is the main cause of divorce among them.

Also, due to money, they feel insecurity that everyone is after their money so to safeguard their money and them they hire security. While the condition of the poor is just the opposite. They do not have money but they are happy with and stress-free from these problems.

In addition, they take care of their wife and children and their divorce rate is also very low.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Happiness Comes from Within

As we now know that we can’t buy happiness with money and there is no other shortcut to happiness. It is something that you feel from within.

In addition, true happiness comes from within yourself. Happiness is basically a state of mind.

Moreover, it can only be achieved by being positive and avoiding any negative thought in mind. And if we look at the bright side of ourselves only then we can be happy.

Happiness in a Relationship

People nowadays are not satisfied with their relationship because of their differences and much other reason. But for being happy in a relationship we have to understand that there are some rules or mutual understanding that keeps a relationship healthy and happy.

Firstly, take care of yourself then your partner because if you yourself are not happy then how can you make your partner happy.

Secondly, for a happy and healthy relationship give you partner some time and space. In addition, try to understand their feeling and comfort level because if you don’t understand these things then you won’t be able to properly understand your partner.

Most importantly, take initiative and plan to go out with your partner and family. Besides, if they have plans then go with them.

To conclude, we can say that happiness can only be achieved by having positive thinking and enjoying life. Also, for being happy and keeping the people around us happy we have to develop a healthy relationship with them. Additionally, we also have to give them the proper time.

FAQs about Happiness

Q.1 What is True Happiness? A.1 True happiness means the satisfaction that you find worthy. The long-lasting true happiness comes from life experience, a feeling of purpose, and a positive relationship.

Q.2 Who is happier the rich or the poor and who is more wealthy rich or poor? A.2 The poor are happier then the rich but if we talk about wealth the rich are more wealthy then the poor. Besides, wealth brings insecurity, anxiety and many other problems.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• How to write an argumentative essay | Examples & tips

How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An argumentative essay expresses an extended argument for a particular thesis statement . The author takes a clearly defined stance on their subject and builds up an evidence-based case for it.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

When do you write an argumentative essay, approaches to argumentative essays, introducing your argument, the body: developing your argument, concluding your argument, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about argumentative essays.

You might be assigned an argumentative essay as a writing exercise in high school or in a composition class. The prompt will often ask you to argue for one of two positions, and may include terms like “argue” or “argument.” It will frequently take the form of a question.

The prompt may also be more open-ended in terms of the possible arguments you could make.

Argumentative writing at college level

At university, the vast majority of essays or papers you write will involve some form of argumentation. For example, both rhetorical analysis and literary analysis essays involve making arguments about texts.

In this context, you won’t necessarily be told to write an argumentative essay—but making an evidence-based argument is an essential goal of most academic writing, and this should be your default approach unless you’re told otherwise.

Examples of argumentative essay prompts

At a university level, all the prompts below imply an argumentative essay as the appropriate response.

Your research should lead you to develop a specific position on the topic. The essay then argues for that position and aims to convince the reader by presenting your evidence, evaluation and analysis.

• Don’t just list all the effects you can think of.
• Do develop a focused argument about the overall effect and why it matters, backed up by evidence from sources.
• Don’t just provide a selection of data on the measures’ effectiveness.
• Do build up your own argument about which kinds of measures have been most or least effective, and why.
• Don’t just analyze a random selection of doppelgänger characters.
• Do form an argument about specific texts, comparing and contrasting how they express their thematic concerns through doppelgänger characters.

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

An argumentative essay should be objective in its approach; your arguments should rely on logic and evidence, not on exaggeration or appeals to emotion.

There are many possible approaches to argumentative essays, but there are two common models that can help you start outlining your arguments: The Toulmin model and the Rogerian model.

Toulmin arguments

The Toulmin model consists of four steps, which may be repeated as many times as necessary for the argument:

• Make a claim
• Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim
• Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim)
• Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives

The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays. You don’t have to use these specific terms (grounds, warrants, rebuttals), but establishing a clear connection between your claims and the evidence supporting them is crucial in an argumentative essay.

Say you’re making an argument about the effectiveness of workplace anti-discrimination measures. You might:

• Claim that unconscious bias training does not have the desired results, and resources would be better spent on other approaches
• Cite data to support your claim
• Explain how the data indicates that the method is ineffective
• Anticipate objections to your claim based on other data, indicating whether these objections are valid, and if not, why not.

Rogerian arguments

The Rogerian model also consists of four steps you might repeat throughout your essay:

• Discuss what the opposing position gets right and why people might hold this position
• Highlight the problems with this position
• Present your own position , showing how it addresses these problems
• Suggest a possible compromise —what elements of your position would proponents of the opposing position benefit from adopting?

This model builds up a clear picture of both sides of an argument and seeks a compromise. It is particularly useful when people tend to disagree strongly on the issue discussed, allowing you to approach opposing arguments in good faith.

Say you want to argue that the internet has had a positive impact on education. You might:

• Acknowledge that students rely too much on websites like Wikipedia
• Argue that teachers view Wikipedia as more unreliable than it really is
• Suggest that Wikipedia’s system of citations can actually teach students about referencing
• Suggest critical engagement with Wikipedia as a possible assignment for teachers who are skeptical of its usefulness.

You don’t necessarily have to pick one of these models—you may even use elements of both in different parts of your essay—but it’s worth considering them if you struggle to structure your arguments.

Regardless of which approach you take, your essay should always be structured using an introduction , a body , and a conclusion .

Like other academic essays, an argumentative essay begins with an introduction . The introduction serves to capture the reader’s interest, provide background information, present your thesis statement , and (in longer essays) to summarize the structure of the body.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

The body of an argumentative essay is where you develop your arguments in detail. Here you’ll present evidence, analysis, and reasoning to convince the reader that your thesis statement is true.

In the standard five-paragraph format for short essays, the body takes up three of your five paragraphs. In longer essays, it will be more paragraphs, and might be divided into sections with headings.

Each paragraph covers its own topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Each of these topics must contribute to your overall argument; don’t include irrelevant information.

This example paragraph takes a Rogerian approach: It first acknowledges the merits of the opposing position and then highlights problems with that position.

Hover over different parts of the example to see how a body paragraph is constructed.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services

Discover proofreading & editing

An argumentative essay ends with a conclusion that summarizes and reflects on the arguments made in the body.

No new arguments or evidence appear here, but in longer essays you may discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your argument and suggest topics for future research. In all conclusions, you should stress the relevance and importance of your argument.

Hover over the following example to see the typical elements of a conclusion.

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

• Choosing Essay Topic
• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips. Scribbr. Retrieved September 9, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/argumentative-essay/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, how to write a thesis statement | 4 steps & examples, how to write topic sentences | 4 steps, examples & purpose, how to write an expository essay, "i thought ai proofreading was useless but..".

I've been using Scribbr for years now and I know it's a service that won't disappoint. It does a good job spotting mistakes”

Success Versus Happiness: What Is More Important?

According to psychologist Daniel Gilbert, who is a psychology professor at Harvard, happiness is the ultimate goal of virtually all the decisions we make in life (Gilbert, 2010).

Gilbert suggests that the measure of a good decision depends on whether that decision brings us pleasure, a sense of wellbeing, happiness or contentment.

Researchers have focused a lot more on happiness in the past few years and science has finally started to pay attention to what it really means to be happy.

According to research done by Sonja Lyubomirsky (2008) in the book The Happiness Diet , some portion of our happiness may actually be within our power to control.

Lyubomirsky has been studying happiness for nearly two decades, and her research is leading the way in scientific study for interventions that can help increase human happiness.

[Reviewer’s update:

Since this post was originally published, there have been several critiques of Lyubomirsky’s (2008) pie chart breakdown of the source and set points of our happiness. While Sheldon and Lyubomirsky (2021) have acknowledged that the original breakdown estimates were off, the core idea remains true: We can affect our own happiness, to some degree.]

But which comes first: Happiness or success?

The real truth is that happiness is often subjective and difficult to measure. Success is often judged externally or by comparison to other people.

Happiness is usually an attribute of an individual whereas success can be attributed to an individual or to a group.

Happiness is a goal that many people aspire to. Most people also have a strong desire to be successful in life and they tend to believe that through this success they will automatically become happier.

While we may never know with 100% certainty which one is more important, we do know that success and happiness are inextricably linked.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Happiness & Subjective Wellbeing Exercises for free . These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients identify sources of authentic happiness and strategies to boost wellbeing.

This Article Contains:

The relationship between happiness and success, the difference between the two, which one is more important, does success bring happiness and fulfillment, 9 science-backed ways to become happier, building happiness worksheet, 4 simple activities that can promote happiness at work, recommended books, 10 quotes on happiness and success, a take-home message.

According to Lyubomirsky, King, and Diener (2005) numerous studies have shown that happy people tend to be successful across multiple domains in life, including work performance, health, income, friendship, and even marriage.

The authors have devised a conceptual model that accounts for these findings. They argue that the happiness-success link exists not only because success makes people happy, but also from the positive affect engendering success.

The study examined three classes of evidence, including:

• Cross-sectional
• Longitudinal
• Experimental

The results of the findings revealed that happiness is associated with and precedes numerous successful outcomes. Moreover, it was also discovered that certain behaviors tended to parallel that success.

The evidence suggests that the idea of positive affect , the hallmark of wellbeing, may actually be the cause of many of the desirable characteristics, resources, and successes correlated with such happiness.

The real question then becomes, what comes first, happiness or success? This is akin to the chicken and egg scenario as well.

If happiness comes first, then you must surmise that you have to figure out how to be happy before your success will come rolling in.

On the other side of the coin is the idea of success coming first, before happiness.

What does it take to really be happy? Do you have to be successful in order to be happy? There are most likely millions of people in the world who would disagree with you on that point because success does not guarantee happiness.

There are just as many people out there who deem themselves happy, while not necessarily successful, as there are successful people still trying to figure out how to be happy.

How do these two constructs tie together? That is the issue we will discuss.

According to the fight or flight theory, humans were not wired for happiness, they were wired for survival.

Many of us find ourselves rushing through life, chasing happiness. The problem is that we never quite get there.

For many of us, happiness is something we aspire to. Happiness is somewhere we get to someday. What we fail to recognize is that happiness is a state of mind, not a destination.

We know happiness is not a static state, because even the happiest people feel blue sometimes.

Norrish and Vella-Brodrick (2008) studied whether happiness is even a worthwhile pursuit. Happiness, the pursuit of it, and what it means to live a good life has been long debated.

People are increasingly looking for new ways to become happier.

This is indicated by the growing demand for self-help books and literature.

Only recently have social scientists begun to really study happiness. According to Norrish and Vella-Brodrick (2008), psychology has traditionally been a healing profession that has been mainly focused on pathology, dysfunction and mental illness.

Some social scientists have even gone as far as suggesting that investigating human emotions is a luxurious or even indulgent goal in comparison to the importance and the need to understand human suffering.

Some scholars in the field go as far as saying that psychology’s more traditional negative perspective ignores the more positive aspects of human functioning.

Thankfully this is rapidly changing with the advent of the positive psychology movement.

Everyone defines it differently. Some people may find happiness in simple small things like a day in the park or a happy moment. Other people may find happiness more of an elusive quality.

Research in positive psychology defines a happy person as someone who experiences frequent positive emotions , such as interest, joy and pride, and infrequent negative emotions such as sadness or anxiety (Lyubomirsky et al., 2005).

Happiness is also related to life satisfaction, appreciation of life and moments of pleasure.

Overall, happiness has to do with the positive experience of emotions.

According to Norby (2013), positive psychology helps provide methods that help us rethink the way we work. Not only does it provide us with tools that help inoculate us against stress , but it also shows us how we can achieve a state of happiness that is a more effective way to work or accomplish a task.

Norby compares our mind and brain to actors on a stage. The actors on the stage in your brain affect what you are thinking about and how to get to a possibility.

Shawn Achor , the author of “ Happiness Advantage ” undertook an experiment where he delivered three hours of positive psychology training to a group of people.

After the experiment, Achor returned to gauge the success of the training. The testing showed that in a very short period of time, the group measured significantly higher life satisfaction scores and lower stress scores than those who did not receive the training.

Achor’s (2016) seven principles of happiness – each introduced as a chapter in his book – include the following.

Seven principles of happiness

• The happiness advantage: How happiness gives your brain and organization the competitive edge
• The fulcrum and the lever: Changing your performance by changing your mindset
• The Tetris effect: Training your brain to capitalize on possibility
• Falling up: Capitalizing on the downs to build upward momentum
• The “Zorro” circle: How limiting your focus to small, manageable goals can expand your sphere of power
• The 20-second rule: How to turn bad habits into good ones by minimizing barriers to change
• Social investment: Why social support is your single greatest asset, or not to retreat into yourself

For additional information about what constitutes “happiness,” I would recommend Corey Keyes and Martin Seligman’s work on flourishing and the PERMA model (e.g., Keyes, 2002; Keyes & Haidt, 2003; Seligman, 2011; Seligman, 2018). For a nice summary, check out our article on Seligman’s PERMA+ model explained .]

What is success?

Defining success can also be challenging. The dictionary defines success as:

“The fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame.”

However, this definition falls short in many ways. Success is much more than mere financial success because you must also feel successful in other areas of life such as love and relationships, health, and more.

In the end, success is much more than just wealth and power.

• Barbara Bush defined success as how you treat others, from family to strangers.
• Albert Schweitzer defined success as loving what you do.
• Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh says success is all about living in accordance with your values.
• Author Maya Angelou believed success is about enjoying your work.
• Billionaire Richard Branson believes success is about engagement.

Thomas Edison recognized that success is a grind in his quote:

“Success is 1% Inspiration and 99% Perspiration.”

The best definition of success may just be author Stephen Covey’s definition when he stated that success is deeply individual.

“If you carefully consider what you want to be said of you in the funeral experience, you will find your definition of success.”

Download 3 Free Happiness Exercises (PDF)

These detailed, science-based exercises will equip you or your clients with tools to discover authentic happiness and cultivate subjective well-being.

Download 3 Free Happiness Tools Pack (PDF)

By filling out your name and email address below.

• Email Address *
• Your Expertise * Your expertise Therapy Coaching Education Counseling Business Healthcare Other
• Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

When it comes right down to it, success and monetary wealth don’t necessarily equate to happiness and security.

It doesn’t do you much good in terms of your level of happiness if you are successful monetarily, but miserable in your personal life.

On the other hand, you may be incredibly happy with your personal life or other relationships, but still struggling with success or struggling financially.

Both of these indicators are interconnected in a sense. Happiness affects your level of success and your level of success affects your happiness.

The happiness set point

Norrish and Vella-Brodrick (2008) talk about the happiness set point, also called the dynamic equilibrium theory.

This idea surmises that despite changes in your individual circumstances, your level of happiness remains remarkably constant over time.

This happiness set point is believed to be caused by our tendency as humans to rapidly adapt to changes in our environment.

This process of constant adaptation is commonly referred to as the hedonic treadmill or homeostatic control.

In support of this theory, researchers found that happiness levels of lottery winners, although initially high, soon returned to their normal range of happiness.

The same thing was found with paralysis victims, who were initially high on negative affect.

If each of us has a happiness set point that concept challenges the viability of undertaking research or doing interventions designed to increase individual happiness.

Despite the assertion that attempting to increase happiness is challenging, recent research has resulted in some important new developments regarding the happiness set point.

Diener (2006) provided a revision of the original hedonic treadmill theory. This information was based on an evaluation of data from the Victoria Quality of Life Panel Study and the 1990 World Value Survey.

Diener’s 5 revisions to the original hedonic treadmill theory:

• Happiness set points are thought to be above neutral, with most people being relatively happy a significant portion of the time.
• Happiness set points may differ from individual to individual.
• Life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect may each have their own unique set points. Each of these may also exhibit different rates of hedonic adaptation.
• Certain life events such as the death of a spouse or the onset of a disability can result in significant changes to one’s happiness levels.
• The rates to which someone adapts to changes in circumstances may differ from individual to individual. (Those with positive coping strategies may return to baseline levels of happiness more rapidly than those who do not.)

Looking at these revisions we can surmise that happiness may actually be quite amenable to intervention.

Richard St. John, a marketer and success analyst talks about the idea that success is not a one-way street but a constant journey.

In his TED Talk , St. John talks about his personal journey of success.

St. John talks about the concept of reaching success and the fact that the work does not stop once you reach this point.

In order to continue being successful, you have to constantly create new ideas and new passions. You have to remember why you started doing what you are doing in the first place.

If you reach the pinnacle of your success and stop – you will not be able to keep the success going.

Each of us is taught at a young age that achieving certain milestones of success in life is important.

We work to do well in school, work to get into college, work to have a prestigious career, and then work on living in the right house or marrying the right person.

This happiness and success quest continues throughout our lives.

There is a misconception that each of these things will make us happy. The truth may very well be that none of these things really have anything to do with our level of happiness.

What really happens is we reach our individual goals and feel happy for a while. Eventually, we discover we need to set new goals to achieve an even higher level of success to get the same buzz.

All of this begs the question: Does success bring happiness and fulfillment?

Our happiness may have its own set point. When we achieve success, we feel happy, but this happiness doesn’t often last. Once the condition is met, we start looking for that next goal to pursue.

What we might eventually discover is the idea that happiness is not only about setting goals and achieving them, but in finding that sense of happiness and joy within ourselves and in our daily life.

Knowing this, it’s also important to examine some things you can do to feel happy at the moment.

It’s important to note that while accomplishment is indeed a necessary component of happiness, it’s just one piece of the puzzle, along with positive emotions, engagement, positive relationships, and meaning (Seligman, 2011).]

• Express gratitude.
• Practice something challenging.
• Connect with someone.
• Stop procrastinating.
• Be intellectually curious.
• Be open to new experiences.
• Express physical affection.
• Have compassion.
• Strengthen your relationships.

Expressing gratitude and feeling grateful can go a long way to happiness and joy. You can be thankfu l for many things such as your health, your children, your home, or even the fact that you have food to eat.

Thinking about the good things in life and stopping to smell the roses along the way can help you feel happier in the moment.

Keeping your brain active by practicing something challenging is another good tip.

Learning a new language, or playing an instrument or even learning yoga , can help you activate your natural endorphins or feel-good chemicals in the brain. Try doing something you can improve upon to challenge yourself.

Making powerful connections and connecting with other people is integral to your level of happiness and fulfillment in life.

It doesn’t matter if you connect over the phone, or in person, just the act of connecting can help you feel better.

Those who don’t continually put things off until tomorrow may also be happier. Getting things done helps you feel proactive and prideful. When you get things done, you feel a sense of accomplishment, which can help you feel happier.

Never stop learning or being curious! Reading a new book , watching a documentary or having meaningful conversations can help you feel better too.

Being open to new experiences can also help you boost your level of happiness. It doesn’t matter if you are trying a new food or trying out something like scuba diving. Trying new things can be fun and encouraging.

Expressing physical affection is also important. According to Virginia Satir, a respected American therapist, each of us needs four hugs a day just for survival! Eight hugs a day are suggested for maintenance and twelve hugs a day are suggested for growth.

Hugs create a sort of trickle-down effect and release of oxytocin, which can reduce stress and elevate your mood.

Developing compassion is also important. Those who are interested in other’s lives and other’s stories are usually happier than those solely concerned with themselves. Try doing little random acts of kindness for strangers or those you love, and notice how that makes you feel.

Strengthening your relationships is also important for your happiness. In one 80-year long study of 268 Harvard undergraduate males, researchers looked at every aspect of life from lifestyle to political views.

Scientists began tracking Harvard sophomores in 1938 during the great depression. They hoped that the longitudinal study would reveal clues to leading a happy and healthy life.

What they discovered was that relationships and how happy we are in these relationships have a very powerful influence on our health.

Close relationships mean even more than money or fame, and relationships are what keep people happy throughout their lives.

These important ties to other people help protect us from life’s discontent. They also protect us from mental and physical decline.

What this tells us is that relationships are integrally important for both our happiness and wellbeing.

Making it a habit to nurture your closest relationships and letting go of those that cause you pain or those that feel toxic can go a long way to helping you live a better life (Cherian, 2018).

Success and happiness | Motivated – The Official Steve Harvey

There are many ways to build happiness. The Building Happiness Worksheet includes a list of activities that have been found to help build a sustained level of happiness when practiced on a regular basis (Therapist Aid, 2012).

These may seem like simple things, but they can make a big difference when it comes to your level of happiness.

Getting a promotion, a new relationship or winning the lottery will only provide a temporary boost when it comes to happiness. Each of has a baseline or a set point we continually return to when it comes to happiness.

Maintaining a sustained level of happiness takes a little effort. Trying these exercises on a regular basis is a wonderful way to build lasting happiness and joy.

• Acts of Kindness
• Positive journaling
• Fostering relationships

Gratitude is a wonderful practice to engage in. Try writing down three things for which you are grateful for every day. These can be simple mundane things or big things.

The point is to get something down on paper, every day. Writing down statements of gratitude, even on your worst days, can help you focus on the positive aspects of your life.

Acts of Kindness are another thing you can do. Making a conscious effort to do something nice for someone for no reason at all can help you feel good. You might be shocked at how a simple act of kindness can turn your whole day around.

Exercise has many positive effects as well. Being physically active can help you increase your energy, boost your immune system, and give you a sense of accomplishment. Exercise can also reduce insomnia, stimulate brain growth, and act as an anti-depressant. Try taking a walk or a bike ride the next time you feel you need a boost.

Meditation has been linked with reduced anxiety and more positive emotions. Those who meditate on a regular basis may even permanently restructure their brain to create a sustained level of happiness.

Taking the time to engage in positive journaling is another happiness booster. Writing about the happy events in your life, or writing about a good day with friends can help you get into the habit of focusing on the positive.

Strong social connections and fostering relationships can also help you feel happier. It turns out that strong social connections are thought to be a powerful influence on our mood.

Those who dedicate time to spend with family or friends tend to show the highest levels of happiness. If you can’t spend time with someone in person, pick up the phone or send an email. Nothing is more powerful than spending time with those you care about.

World’s Largest Positive Psychology Resource

The Positive Psychology Toolkit© is a groundbreaking practitioner resource containing over 500 science-based exercises , activities, interventions, questionnaires, and assessments created by experts using the latest positive psychology research.

Updated monthly. 100% Science-based.

“The best positive psychology resource out there!” — Emiliya Zhivotovskaya , Flourishing Center CEO

• Connect with your peers.
• Get into the habit of thanking people.
• Walking meetings.
• Get into the habit of putting yourself first.

Connecting with your peers and taking steps to get to know them better can go a long way toward building happiness.

Moss suggests using your coffee break time to socialize at least once a week. She also suggests finding opportunities to drop by someone’s desk you are not familiar with to say hello.

A quick connection might also lead to more opportunities for collaboration.

It’s also important to get into the habit of saying thanks. You can do this by sending out a quick email of thanks before you leave for the day or texting someone about a job well done. A little praise goes a long way.

Taking a walking meeting is also a great option. We often feel tied to our desks, so walking and talking is a great option to get the juices flowing.

The more we get up from our desk and stretch and move, the more productive we are.

Finally, Moss suggests getting into the habit of you. What this really means is learning to put yourself first. Taking 20 minutes to read something that provides nothing but joy, taking 5 additional minutes to have a cup of coffee or enjoying a 15-minute nap can help you feel better.

Starting with small bits of time can give your brain the rest it needs to be more productive for the rest of the day.

Emotional control and good leadership, according to Moss, comes with a well-rested and productive brain. Moss (2016).

Happiness can even help us navigate change more effectively, according to Moss.

Emma Seppala, Science Director of Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education and author of the book “ The Happiness Track ” describes change like this:

“We can’t control our external circumstances, and things change constantly whether at work or in our personal lives. The only thing we can have a say over is our state of mind.”

Seppala also talks about the importance of building resilience and the ability to generate more inner peace, to stay calm in the face of chaos and to remain emotionally intelligent as we communicate with others.

We must cultivate this even in the midst of conflict or hurt feelings. All of this helps us make good decisions even when we’re feeling upset.

Seppala suggests building internal resilience by:

• Meditating.
• Doing breathing exercises.
• Engaging in an activity that helps train the nervous system to be calmer.

Doing so helps us calm that overwhelming feeling and navigate the ebbs and flows of life.

From a great selection of books on happiness and success, the following are highly recommended:

Unlocking Happiness at Work – Jennifer Moss and Shawn Achor

The book demonstrates how happiness can have a real impact on the bottom line. Unlocking happiness at work can:

• Fuel higher performance.
• Provide a greater sense of purpose.
• Spread passion throughout organizations.

Moss talks about how to be happier and make others happier through the power of habits, emotional intelligence and an innovative approach to work/life flow.

The book contains valuable case studies from companies like The Body Shop, Misfit Inc., Zappos, and Lululemon.

According to Moss, we are looking at happiness all wrong. In Moss’s opinion, happiness is a choice we must consciously make every day. Moss infers that society has fallen victim to false branding when it comes to happiness.

Moss suggests that happiness:

• Is intangible.
• Cannot be attained or achieved.
• Not something you chase.
• Happiness is sequential.

The more we pursue happiness, the harder it is to obtain. Happiness, in Moss’s opinion, comes after you work on building up traits like resilience , efficacy , optimism , hope , gratitude, and empathy .

So much of our time is consumed with work, that it behooves us to look at ways we can pursue happiness where we spend the bulk of our time.

Find the book on Amazon .

• The Power of Habit – Charles Duhigg

By building positive habits we can turn the emotional state and bundle the fast-firing neurons in our brain to make happiness a permanent trait.

Drawing from the science of neuroplasticity, habits are built by modifying and repeating behaviors until we can move our conscious actions into the subconscious mind.

The book encourages us to focus on building new habits, one at a time. Although this may take a little time, according to Moss, once happiness is achieved the positive impacts are felt almost immediately.

To experience the book yourself, you can purchase it from Amazon .

Books about success

Books about success include old classics as well as new ones:

• How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey
• The Magic of Thinking BIG – David J. Schwartz, PH.D.
• Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill
• When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing – Daniel H. Pink

Carnegie shows us how to go after the job we want, and get it, how to take the job we have and improve it and how to take any situation and make it work better for us.

His words can help you achieve success in both your business and personal life. The book also includes:

• Six ways to make people like you.
• Twelve ways to win people to your way of thinking.
• Nine ways to change people without arousing resentment.

The book can help you achieve your maximum potential.

The 7 Habits book describes each habit step-by-step:

• Habit 1: Be Proactive.
• Habit 2: Begin With The End In Mind.
• Habit 3: Put First Things First.
• Habit 4: Think Win-Win.
• Habit 5: Seek First To Understand Then Be Understood.
• Habit 6: Synergize.
• Habit 7: Sharpen The Saw.

Dr. Covey’s 7 Habits book is both inspiring and impactful.

The book contains strategies that can help you:

• Believe in your own success.
• Cure yourself of the fear of failure.
• Think and dream creatively.
• Believe that you are what you think you are.
• Make your attitudes your allies.
• Learn how to think positively.
• Turn defeat into victory.
• Use goals to help you grow.
• Think like a leader.

In the end, magnifying your thinking strategy can be a great recipe for success.

Hill’s study of these “best practices” was revolutionary for the time it was published in 1937.

In the book, Hill talks about a 13-step program that will set you on the path to wealth and success.

• Auto-suggestion
• Specialized knowledge
• Imagination
• Organized planning
• Persistence
• Power of the mastermind
• The subconscious mind
• The sixth sense
• How to outwit the six ghosts of fear

“All the breaks you need in life wait within your imagination. Imagination is the workshop of your mind, capable of turning mind energy into accomplishment and wealth.”

Napoleon Hill

Called the greatest motivational book of all time, the book outlines the path to success for hundreds of America’s most affluent people.

According to Pink, the time of day can have a big impact when it comes to the decision-making process.

Timing can also come into play in how well we learn and our ability to be effective and productive.

Pink’s research is drawn from psychology, biology, and economics. Pink offers helpful strategies in how we can best time our lives to succeed. The book also offers strategies for self-improvement and helps us understand how we can we use hidden patterns of our day to build the ideal schedule.

Books about happiness are also wide-ranging:

• The How of Happiness – Sonja Lyubomirsky
• Flourish – Martin Seligman
• Thinking Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman
• The Happiness Advantage – Shawn Achor

According to Lyubomirsky, happiness is the Holy Grail of science. In her research, she not only presents the scientific literature but also has a self-help component where she gives advice and recommendations on what to do based on research results.

Some of the research-based exercises in the book include things like practicing optimism when imagining the future, instructions in how best to savor life’s pleasures in the here and now and a thorough explanation of the importance of staying active to be happy.

The book outlines the four components of wellbeing:

• Positive emotions.
• Engagement with what one is doing.
• A sense of accomplishment.
• Good relationships.

The book is filled with research and stories that help illustrate each component. It is a rich resource for living a life that makes you happier.

Kahneman describes system 1 as fast, intuitive and emotional and system 2 as slower, more deliberate and more logical.

The book talks about the overconfidence on corporate strategies, the difficulties of predicting what might make us happy in the future and the profound effect of cognitive bias.

The book also reveals how we can tap into the benefits of both parts of our mind to facilitate change.

Published in 2010, the book helps you think differently in terms of what happiness and success are truly about.

According to the book, chasing after success, in the hopes that it will make you happy is not a plan that works for most people.

The book focuses on strategies that help create happiness in the moment while capitalizing on its many benefits when it comes to becoming more successful.

Many of us think that when we hit that next sales target or lose that five pounds that we will then be happy. We have learned to put success first and happiness second.

Achor believes that formula is broken. He promotes happiness first, success second. In Achor’s opinion, happiness leads to success much more than success leads to happiness.

According to the author, we become more successful when we are happier and more positive.

To recap, the book covers ten main points:

• Why we have the formula for success backward.
• How happiness promotes productivity.
• How happiness can improve our physical health.
• How we are primed for high performance.
• How happiness can undo the negative aftereffects of stress.
• How we can become happier and believe change is possible.
• Using meditation as a permanent happiness boost.
• The benefits of physical exercise.
• Turning away from the news.
• Realizing money can buy happiness if it’s spent on experiences versus things.

According to Achor, more than a decade of groundbreaking research in the field of positive psychology and neuroscience has proven that the relationship between happiness and success works the opposite of what we think, which is very refreshing thought.

17 Exercises To Increase Happiness and Wellbeing

Add these 17 Happiness & Subjective Well-Being Exercises [PDF] to your toolkit and help others experience greater purpose, meaning, and positive emotions.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

What we think determines what happens to us, so if we want to change our lives, we need to stretch our minds.

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

Thomas A. Edison

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

Today is life–the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto.

Dale Carnegie

The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you do that, you’re in control of your life. If you don’t, life controls you.

Tony Robbins

Happiness doesn’t depend on what we have, but it does depend on how we feel toward what we have. We can be happy with little and miserable with much.

William D. Hoard

If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or objects.

Albert Einstein

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.

Albert Schweitzer

Until you are happy with who you are, you will never be happy with what you have.

Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.

Helen Keller

Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get.

Ingrid Bergman

When it comes right down to it, both happiness and success are interconnected in a sense. Happiness affects your level of success and your level of success affects your happiness.

Happiness is really a choice you can choose to make.

Many of us are so wrapped up in trying to get ahead that we forget that we can choose to be happy in the moment.

You can steal time out of your day to simply take a walk and enjoy nature. You can hug a friend or sit with a cup of tea.

You can take stock of your life and realize that you are very lucky to be exactly who you are.

Things don’t always make us happy nor does money or possessions or that perfect job. Relationships don’t necessarily make us feel happy if we are not already feeling that happiness within.

When it comes to the relationship between happiness and success, we can surmise that success is something we pursue while happiness is something we acquire.

According to Boehm and Lyubomirsky (2008) past research has demonstrated a relationship between happiness and workplace success.

For example:

• Happy people earn more money when compared to their less happy peers.
• Happy people also tend to display superior performance and perform more helpful acts.

Past research has often assumed that an employee is happy and satisfied because he or she is successful.

In the author’s review of the evidence, an alternative hypothesis may actually be more accurate, that happiness is a source of why particular employees are more successful than others (Boehm & Lyubomirsky, 2008).

The authors conclude that the evidence suggests that happiness is not correlated with workplace success, but that happiness often precedes measures of success and that the induction of positive affect leads to improved work outcomes.

In the end, we can’t always control our external circumstances because life is ever-changing.

The only thing we can have a say over is our state of mind. Whether or not you believe that happiness attracts success or not, choosing happiness is something you can do every day.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Happiness Exercises for free .

• Achor, S. (2016). The happiness advantage. Retrieved from http://goodthinkinc.com/resources/books/the-happiness-advantage/
• Boehm, J. K., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). Does happiness promote career success? Journal of Career Assessment, 16 (1), 101-116.
• Cherian, D. (2018, March 18). International Happiness Day: Science-backed ways to be happy. Gulf News. Retrieved from https://gulfnews.com/lifestyle/international-happiness-day-science-backed-ways-to-be-happy-1.2190116
• Diener, E. (2006). Guidelines for national indicators of subjective well-being and ill-being.  Journal of Happiness Studies ,  7 (4), 397-404.
• Gilbert, D. (2010, May). Stumbling on happiness. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2010/05/happiness.aspx
• Keyes, C. L. M. (2002). The mental health continuum: From languishing to flourishing in life.  Journal of Health and Social Research , 43(2), 207–222.
• Keyes, C. L. M., & Haidt, J. (Eds.). (2003).  Flourishing: Positive psychology and the life well-lived.  American Psychological Association.
• Lyubomirsky, S., King, L., & Diener, E. (2005). The benefits of frequent positive affect: Does happiness lead to success? Psychological Bulletin ,  131 (6), 803.-855.
• Lyubomirsky, S. (2008, April). The happiness diet. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2008/04/overthinking.aspx
• Moss, J. (2016). Unlocking happiness at work : How a data-driven happiness strategy fuels purpose, passion and performance. London, UK: Kogan Page.
• Norby M. (2013). Brain-based behavior: Our choices determine our happiness and success at work. Contract Management , 53 (8).
• Norrish, J. M., & Vella-Brodrick, D. A. (2008). Is the study of happiness a worthy scientific pursuit? Social Indicators Research ,  87 (3), 393-407.
• Seligman, M. E. P. (2011).  Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being.  Free Press.
• Seligman, M. E. P. (2018). PERMA and the building blocks of well-being.  The Journal of Positive Psychology ,  13 (4), 333–335.
• Sheldon, K. M., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2021). Revisiting the Sustainable Happiness Model and pie chart: can happiness be successfully pursued?  The Journal of Positive Psychology, 16 (2), 145–154.
• Therapist Aid. (2012). Building happiness (exercises). Retrieved from https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-worksheet/building-happiness-exercises

Share this article:

Article feedback

What our readers think.

Ok. The article was ok, I just feel as though it didn’t really answer as many questions as I would think, and some of the sentences were unfinished I didn’t really like it

“Success is not Happiness, Happiness is Success” Happiness is not a destination, it is the journey itself You can’t have Happiness, it is not something to possess You can’t go to Happiness, it is not a place You can’t be with Happiness, it is not a person You can’t buy Happiness, it is not a product You can’t achieve Happiness, it is not a transaction You can only be Happy, it is a state of being.

OMG!!! I so much love this, its so educating

Wow, I love the article. I was actually looking for counter claim if people with more meamingful lives agreed that relationships are more important than achievments. And I have found this helpful…. Thank you. MAY HE GOOD LORD BLESS YOU.

It’s really helpful…thanks

It`s a Bible of success! Great!

Very useful & informative , explains happiness & success in many different ways. The references are treasure of knowledge , thank you for sharing.

Al grano. No da espacio mas que a la acción. Que personalidad o manera de escribir tan clara! Se ve tan sencillo. Escribe y dices las cosas donde el tiempo de pensarlo es hacerlo o accionar. no hay otro tiempo mas que hoy. Gracias infinitas.

Fantastic explanation n mind-blowing examples. Extremely intresting, educative & comprehensive .

Let us know your thoughts Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Related articles

Embracing JOMO: Finding Joy in Missing Out

We’ve probably all heard of FOMO, or ‘the fear of missing out’. FOMO is the currency of social media platforms, eager to encourage us to [...]

The True Meaning of Hedonism: A Philosophical Perspective

“If it feels good, do it, you only live once”. Hedonists are always up for a good time and believe the pursuit of pleasure and [...]

Happiness Economics: Can Money Buy Happiness?

Do you ever daydream about winning the lottery? After all, it only costs a small amount, a slight risk, with the possibility of a substantial [...]

Read other articles by their category

• Body & Brain (52)
• Coaching & Application (39)
• Compassion (23)
• Counseling (40)
• Emotional Intelligence (22)
• Gratitude (18)
• Grief & Bereavement (18)
• Happiness & SWB (40)
• Meaning & Values (26)
• Meditation (16)
• Mindfulness (40)
• Motivation & Goals (41)
• Optimism & Mindset (29)
• Positive CBT (28)
• Positive Communication (23)
• Positive Education (37)
• Positive Emotions (32)
• Positive Leadership (16)
• Positive Parenting (14)
• Positive Psychology (21)
• Positive Workplace (35)
• Productivity (16)
• Relationships (46)
• Resilience & Coping (39)
• Self Awareness (20)
• Self Esteem (37)
• Strengths & Virtues (29)
• Stress & Burnout Prevention (33)
• Theory & Books (42)
• Therapy Exercises (37)
• Types of Therapy (54)

• Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

3 Happiness Exercises Pack [PDF]

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

Does More Money Really Make Us More Happy?

• Elizabeth Dunn
• Chris Courtney

A big paycheck won’t necessarily bring you joy

Although some studies show that wealthier people tend to be happier, prioritizing money over time can actually have the opposite effect.

• But even having just a little bit of extra cash in your savings account ($500), can increase your life satisfaction. So how can you keep more cash on hand?
• Ask yourself: What do I buy that isn’t essential for my survival? Is the expense genuinely contributing to my happiness? If the answer to the second question is no, try taking a break from those expenses.
• Other research shows there are specific ways to spend your money to promote happiness, such as spending on experiences, buying time, and investing in others.
• Spending choices that promote happiness are also dependent on individual personalities, and future research may provide more individualized advice to help you get the most happiness from your money.

How often have you willingly sacrificed your free time to make more money? You’re not alone. But new research suggests that prioritizing money over time may actually undermine our happiness.

• ED Elizabeth Dunn is a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and Chief Science Officer of Happy Money, a financial technology company with a mission to help borrowers become savers. She is also co-author of “ Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending ” with Dr. Michael Norton. Her TED2019 talk on money and happiness was selected as one of the top 10 talks of the year by TED.
• CC Chris Courtney is the VP of Science at Happy Money. He utilizes his background in cognitive neuroscience, human-computer interaction, and machine learning to drive personalization and engagement in products designed to empower people to take control of their financial lives. His team is focused on creating innovative ways to provide more inclusionary financial services, while building tools to promote financial and psychological well-being and success.

Partner Center

Can Money Really Buy Happiness?

Money and happiness are related—but not in the way you think..

Updated November 10, 2023 | Reviewed by Chloe Williams

• More money is linked to increased happiness, some research shows.
• People who won the lottery have greater life satisfaction, even years later.
• Wealth is not associated with happiness globally; non-material things are more likely to predict wellbeing.
• Money, in and of itself, cannot buy happiness, but it can provide a means to the things we value in life.

Money is a big part of our lives, our identities, and perhaps our well-being. Sometimes, it can feel like your happiness hinges on how much cash is in your bank account. Have you ever thought to yourself, “If only I could increase my salary by 12 percent, I’d feel better”? How about, “I wish I had an inheritance. How easier life would be!” I don’t blame you — I’ve had the same thoughts many times.

But what does psychological research say about the age-old question: Can money really buy happiness? Let’s take a brutally honest exploration of how money and happiness are (and aren’t) related. (Spoiler alert: I’ve got bad news, good news, and lots of caveats.)

Higher earners are generally happier

Over 10 years ago, a study based on Gallup Poll data on 1,000 people made a big headline in the news. It found that people with higher incomes report being happier... but only up to an annual income of $75,000 (equivalent to about $90,000 today). After this point, a high emotional well-being wasn’t directly correlated to more money. This seemed to show that once a persons’ basic (and some “advanced”) needs are comfortably met, more money isn’t necessary for well-being.

But a new 2021 study of over one million participants found that there’s no such thing as an inflection point where more money doesn’t equal more happiness, at least not up to an annual salary of $500,000. In this study, participants’ well-being was measured in more detail. Instead of being asked to remember how well they felt in the past week, month, or year, they were asked how they felt right now in the moment. And based on this real-time assessment, very high earners were feeling great.

Similarly, a Swedish study on lottery winners found that even after years, people who won the lottery had greater life satisfaction, mental health, and were more prepared to face misfortune like divorce , illness, and being alone than regular folks who didn’t win the lottery. It’s almost as if having a pile of money made those things less difficult to cope with for the winners.

Evaluative vs. experienced well-being

At this point, it's important to suss out what researchers actually mean by "happiness." There are two major types of well-being psychologists measure: evaluative and experienced. Evaluative well-being refers to your answer to, “How do you think your life is going?” It’s what you think about your life. Experienced well-being, however, is your answer to, “What emotions are you feeling from day to day, and in what proportions?” It is your actual experience of positive and negative emotions.

In both of these studies — the one that found the happiness curve to flatten after $75,000 and the one that didn't — the researchers were focusing on experienced well-being. That means there's a disagreement in the research about whether day-to-day experiences of positive emotions really increase with higher and higher incomes, without limit. Which study is more accurate? Well, the 2021 study surveyed many more people, so it has the advantage of being more representative. However, there is a big caveat...

Material wealth is not associated with happiness everywhere in the world

If you’re not a very high earner, you may be feeling a bit irritated right now. How unfair that the rest of us can’t even comfort ourselves with the idea that millionaires must be sad in their giant mansions!

But not so fast.

Yes, in the large million-person study, experienced well-being (aka, happiness) did continually increase with higher income. But this study only included people in the United States. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that our culture is quite materialistic, more so than other countries, and income level plays a huge role in our lifestyle.

Another study of Mayan people in a poor, rural region of Yucatan, Mexico, did not find the level of wealth to be related to happiness, which the participants had high levels of overall. Separately, a Gallup World Poll study of people from many countries and cultures also found that, although higher income was associated with higher life evaluation, it was non-material things that predicted experienced well-being (e.g., learning, autonomy, respect, social support).

Earned wealth generates more happiness than inherited wealth

More good news: For those of us with really big dreams of “making it” and striking it rich through talent and hard work, know that the actual process of reaching your dream will not only bring you cash but also happiness. A study of ultra-rich millionaires (net worth of at least $8,000,000) found that those who earned their wealth through work and effort got more of a happiness boost from their money than those who inherited it. So keep dreaming big and reaching for your entrepreneurial goals … as long as you’re not sacrificing your actual well-being in the pursuit.

There are different types of happiness, and wealth is better for some than others

We’ve been talking about “happiness” as if it’s one big thing. But happiness actually has many different components and flavors. Think about all the positive emotions you’ve felt — can we break them down into more specifics? How about:

• Contentment
• Gratefulness

...and that's just a short list.

It turns out that wealth may be associated with some of these categories of “happiness,” specifically self-focused positive emotions such as pride and contentment, whereas less wealthy people have more other-focused positive emotions like love and compassion.

In fact, in the Swedish lottery winners study, people’s feelings about their social well-being (with friends, family, neighbors, and society) were no different between lottery winners and regular people.

Money is a means to the things we value, not happiness itself

One major difference between lottery winners and non-winners, it turns out, is that lottery winners have more spare time. This is the thing that really makes me envious , and I would hypothesize that this is the main reason why lottery winners are more satisfied with their life.

Consider this simply: If we had the financial security to spend time on things we enjoy and value, instead of feeling pressured to generate income all the time, why wouldn’t we be happier?

This is good news. It’s a reminder that money, in and of itself, cannot literally buy happiness. It can buy time and peace of mind. It can buy security and aesthetic experiences, and the ability to be generous to your family and friends. It makes room for other things that are important in life.

In fact, the researchers in that lottery winner study used statistical approaches to benchmark how much happiness winning $100,000 brings in the short-term (less than one year) and long-term (more than five years) compared to other major life events. For better or worse, getting married and having a baby each give a bigger short-term happiness boost than winning money, but in the long run, all three of these events have the same impact.

What does this mean? We make of our wealth and our life what we will. This is especially true for the vast majority of the world made up of people struggling to meet basic needs and to rise out of insecurity. We’ve learned that being rich can boost your life satisfaction and make it easier to have positive emotions, so it’s certainly worth your effort to set goals, work hard, and move towards financial health.

But getting rich is not the only way to be happy. You can still earn health, compassion, community, love, pride, connectedness, and so much more, even if you don’t have a lot of zeros in your bank account. After all, the original definition of “wealth” referred to a person’s holistic wellness in life, which means we all have the potential to be wealthy... in body, mind, and soul.

Kahneman, D., & Deaton, A.. High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being. . Proceedings of the national academy of sciences. 2010.

Killingsworth, M. A. . Experienced well-being rises with income, even above $75,000 per year .. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2021.

Lindqvist, E., Östling, R., & Cesarini, D. . Long-run effects of lottery wealth on psychological well-being. . The Review of Economic Studies. 2020.

Guardiola, J., González‐Gómez, F., García‐Rubio, M. A., & Lendechy‐Grajales, Á.. Does higher income equal higher levels of happiness in every society? The case of the Mayan people. . International Journal of Social Welfare. 2013.

Diener, E., Ng, W., Harter, J., & Arora, R. . Wealth and happiness across the world: material prosperity predicts life evaluation, whereas psychosocial prosperity predicts positive feeling. . Journal of personality and social psychology. 2010.

Donnelly, G. E., Zheng, T., Haisley, E., & Norton, M. I.. The amount and source of millionaires’ wealth (moderately) predict their happiness . . Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 2018.

Piff, P. K., & Moskowitz, J. P. . Wealth, poverty, and happiness: Social class is differentially associated with positive emotions.. Emotion. 2018.

Jade Wu, Ph.D., is a clinical health psychologist and host of the Savvy Psychologist podcast. She specializes in helping those with sleep problems and anxiety disorders.

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Psychiatrist
• Find a Support Group
• Find Online Therapy
• United States
• Brooklyn, NY
• Chicago, IL
• Houston, TX
• Los Angeles, CA
• New York, NY
• Portland, OR
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Washington, DC
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Self Tests NEW
• Therapy Center
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

It’s increasingly common for someone to be diagnosed with a condition such as ADHD or autism as an adult. A diagnosis often brings relief, but it can also come with as many questions as answers.

• Emotional Intelligence
• Gaslighting
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

Happiness Essay

Our activity

Finished orders

Professional writers

Writers online now

Operators are online

Of 5 average writers' score

While learning, there are times you will encounter the most peculiar types of assignments and exams, and not because they are weird but mostly because they are personal. One of those moments will demand you to know how to write a happiness essay. The incredible thing about such topics is their flexibility in terms of creativity and vocabulary. Writing such an article will take you on a spiritual journey and will help you discover more on the social aspects of life than any school could teach you. The important thing when writing any essay is to put your effort into it no matter how demanding it can be.

A quick rundown on happiness essays is that we have all encountered moments of highs and lows in our lives. We are never pleased all the time, and yet we can learn to be. You will discover more about true happiness researching materials from philosophers, psychologists, and authors from all around the world. We know the task may be tedious and may be out of your abilities for now. However, in good time, you will learn all there is to know on writing happiness essays.

We have taken the liberty to highlight the crucial guidelines that will set you apart as an excellent student as you write a short essay about happiness in life. You will learn how to explore controversial statements such as money can’t buy happiness in great detail. Here is the blueprint for your perfect essay.

Choosing the Topic

Before beginning to write your paper, follow the instructions on the essay. This prompt from your teacher can be the very difference between a pass and a fail. The prompt will specify on word count, format and perhaps even allocate a topic for your essay. Be sure to ask for help understanding the instructions if in doubt. Sometimes, the teacher will demand creativity by letting you choose the topic for discussion under the happiness essay.

A great way to choose a topic is self-reflection and by meditating on it. The question will be something you are passionate to write about and explore further with your audience. People face a lot of fears and anxieties in life, and they’ll understand your topic better if it resonates with them. A good subject clicks with the audience or is personal to the writer. It may have been a heartbreak, the death of a loved one or even the importance of therapy. All these may be put under a happiness essay because they speak on what happens when one is happy or when one is not happy. You may write about something that makes many people happy, an example being how pets prolong the life of their owners. It should be a creative guess, something your teacher or audience may have never read before.

Happiness essays are a fascinating topic and maybe convenient to earn you good grades. People are curious to know more about it will pay great attention if you’re creative from the start to the finish line.

Writing the Thesis Statements

The thesis statement is the core generator of your spaceship. The heart of your paper that breathes life into it. This is because it should give the reader a general idea of what your paper purposes to do and explain. It is vital to the paper and should be executed well enough to start your essay with a bang.

The topic of your paper is based on a subjective sentiment that is happiness is different to many people. Thus, you should make your thesis statement something that is disputable and is your own opinion. It is not a research paper. Therefore you won’t have to argue for a particular point if it does not apply to anyone. Be objective and straight to the point when stating your main idea. Preferably, place it at the end of your introduction paragraph for a smooth transition to the main body paragraphs.

There are a few different ways of stating the main idea of your happiness essay, and here they are. First, you may choose to use phrases that show a cause and effect relationship on the topic. An example would be, “Whenever people lose a loved one, it is often difficult to express happiness even amidst friends.” Thus, either use happiness as the subject or the object, relating the thesis with happiness on the frontline. Support your thesis statement with some information. Reclassify your data into two groups. One should be arguing for the factor that affects happiness, and the other group should be the effects it has on happiness. Or the first group should have details supporting the causes of happiness and the other supporting the impact happiness has on an individual. Give citations from material researched from psychologists, philosopher, professor, and even online sites.

Check Our Samples

Argumentative Essay

New Technology: Beneficial or Dangerous?

Academic level: Bachelor

Subject: Communication

Paper format: MLA

Corporate Social Responsibility

Subject: Management

Paper format: Harvard

Master’s Prepared Nurse Interview

Academic level: Master

Paper format: APA

Research Paper

The Maya Tribe

Academic level: Undergraduate

Subject: History

Sample Thesis Statements on Happiness

Wealth is not the key to a happy life as we would not need therapy or rich people.

The paycheck should not determine happiness from our workplaces but rather from how we are respected and appreciated there.

Happy marriages are not based on love, wealth, or sex but rather on a good friendship, trust, and respect.

Our happiness should not be measured by our wealth but by our self-progress and the achievement of our goals.

Contentment is the doorway to true happiness because coveting what we don’t have is as bad a not appreciating what we do have at the moment.

The pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human right, as stated by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of independence. It should, therefore, be as important to us as breathing purified air.

How to Write and Summarize the Essay

There’s a way that makes your conclusion easy and remarkable at first glance.

Create an outline for your essay that makes it easier to write on the first draft.

Remember to proofread your document for any grammar and spelling errors.

Follow the prompt provided by your teacher. These are the instructions that will guide you when writing your paper.

Follow the structure of a good essay and adhere to the rules of Literature. Make your first paragraph the introduction that includes the thesis statement. The main body paragraphs should legitimize your thesis statement and should consist of illustrations and examples. A minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 sections should do.

Write about things that are close to your heart. That way you won’t mess up.

Helpful Pointers for Crafting a Happiness Essay

Once you’ve determined the topic worth discussion, there are a few more helpful tips that you need to know before embarking on the quest before you. Writing a short essay about happiness has never been easier than this.

Pick a group of people with similar characteristics and discuss how the topic is related to the. For example, ‘How depression may have set into the relatives of the people who died in the 9/11 attack.’ Or you could pick an individual, including yourself and talk more about how you or they define happiness. An example would be,’ How Lexi my pet snake changed my life when I had leukemia.’

Juggle with bright ideas on how happiness is defined and what are its effects. Cover most of your ground from having necessities to appreciating the little things in life. Good research will also be of help in documenting how different groups, cultures, and people view happiness and experience it.

Create an outline with your main points explaining the main idea from your introduction paragraph . Use a bubble map to sketch out these ideas into cardinal points.

Be creative within your main body paragraphs. Maturely express yourself and your ideas, giving reasons for the thesis statement in each paragraph. The topic sentence of each paragraph should be an explanation of the thesis statement. Follow through with a logical explanation that supports your opinion. The more creative you get, the better your grades, and the more interested your essay would be.

When writing your conclusion, be sure to highlight the most critical points and restate your thesis statement for emphasis. Make a summary of the causes and effects of happiness and give an inspiring call to action for your readers. An example would be to say, ‘Happiness is a state of mind, so don’t forget to meditate every day.”

Use linking phrases and words that connect illustrations to the thesis statement or statements to each other in a synchronized way. The level of harmony in your paper should be creative and flow smoothly throughout the article. Let the readers connect to the story magically without having to use much of their thinking. They should be able to meditate on your words afterward rather than struggle to get through your paper.

Do not overextend yourself beyond the necessary word limit that is required of you simply because you may have made a mistake in understanding the instructions. This will make you have to do the task again. Save yourself the pain of a low grade by adhering to the given rules and composing a quality paper that answers the question on the teacher’s mind. High school papers are meant to see if you are learning well and sticking to instructions is one way they gauge your intellect. So don’t give them a chance to fail you as you write your essay about happiness in life.

Hot to Be Rid of Distractions as You Write You Essays about Happiness

It is fairly wise to write your happiness essay while you’re happy. And quite often we are stimulated by external forces that won’t give us a moment’s peace. Even as we conjure our brilliant happiness definition essay, the pursuit of happiness essay, or just talking about how money can’t buy happiness. And often we assume the piece until the deadline is close before we jump into a hurried frenzy to get it out of the way.

Well, this is not an excellent way to earn a perfect grade. If you procrastinate a lot, chances are you might continue this habit for a very long time. However, kudos to you if control comes natural to you and you do tasks on time. Use wise tactics such as switching off your phone or putting it on airplane mode and eating early before doing your assignment. Forget Netflix or that game that you so desperately need to watch. Come to terms with the fact that the task is essential and will earn you good grades.

Examples of Happiness Essays

Below are four examples of well-crafted essays about happiness. The first is can money buy happiness essay, and the second is the happiness definition essay, the third is the pursuit of happiness essay, and the fourth is the essay about happiness in life. All these essays are essays about happiness and are fantastic examples.

Can Money Buy Happiness Essay?

The abstract concept of happiness has been a contentious topic for the longest time. For many, the journey towards happiness is higher than the destination of happiness. Every single person has their sources of joy. Others draw it from their achievements, others from seeing their fellow man becoming successful while other choices see controversial. Happiness is a state of mind more often than not. It is usually not the expression of joy or laughter, as some might think. Studies on depression have shown that even sad people mask generally their emotions with these outward expressions of happiness. The source of happiness has different foundations based on biology, physiology, religion, and psychology of the human psyche. This essay works to explore more on the economic aspect of this profoundly puzzling topic.

The very thought of happiness may trigger superficial expectations of a stable life. It may be idealized as the American dream of an excellent suburban home. A picket fence and children playing freely around the house while the parents have a good talk in the living room. The reality is, money cannot buy all the necessary components that will make up a delighted individual. A Polish researcher once identified the four essential values for happiness. The first is a state of profound joy, possession of the best goods, pure luck, and a sense of self-actualization with life satisfaction.

It is common knowledge that humanity is economically classed into some different categories. We have the upper class, the middle class, and the lower class citizens. So does this make any class happier than the other? Obviously, as with any other philosophical question, the answer lies more in-depth than the surface. Hunger, disaster, and suffering may be a fate of the poor. But in some outcomes, the rich also have their version of this, and their money does not make them any happier. Happiness may not be fully explained by one’s pleasure and prosperity, seeing that all humans go through stages of highs and lows. Happiness is an immaterial possession, and even the lowest class of citizens may find pleasure in such commonplace things as life and contentment.

Then arises the question of why even the richest people still work. It’s not about maintaining their billionaire statuses but rather for the feeling of self-actualization. The work we put ourselves to do may be the source of our greatest happiness and satisfaction. What’s more, people who are most motivated to work because of money are usually very problematic at work and fatigued by the end of the day.

In all honesty, happiness can only be truly understood and felt by having moments of deep sadness and dissatisfaction. Our ability to overcome these dark moments is what distinguishes happiness from deep depressive states. The pleasure we feel after overcoming a difficult task, healing from a significant illness, or being promoted after years of hard toil are all ways we can experience true satisfaction. Money may buy away our moments of sadness, but it cannot buy happiness.

Happiness Definition Essay

Happiness is a versatile and multifaceted subject worth exploring and defining. Is it perhaps the things money can buy or is it the pleasure we get from the things we treasure. I mostly believe that happiness is a personal affair that can be defined in different ways. In most cases, humans can’t pick out the moments of happiness because we think it is based on material things and the opinions of others. Especially in the age of social media where happiness is mediated by the number of likes and comments on the things we post to our accounts. Whatever the case, happiness is evasive and can change definitions depending on our expectations and our long term goals.

However, most people agree that happiness is an overwhelming emotion that is generated from a fate of well-being or fulfillment. It is the culmination of your thoughts, feelings, achievements, wealth, spirituality, philosophies, and relationships in your life. Somehow, different people may have common definitions of happiness. A great example is that we all love going to amusement parks, riding rollercoasters, going to the movies, and playing with children or pets in the park. These are all commonplace activities that fill us with a sense of fulfillment by human interaction and giving access to simple pleasures. These feelings fill our body with feel-good hormones such as adrenaline, oxytocin, serotonin ad dopamine that wash over us with an overwhelming wave of happiness. Whenever we feel low, these activities return us to our better, happier state of mind.

By another definition, happiness is fleeting and involves momentary feelings of pleasure. Comics and stand-up comedians have learned the value of telling jokes as they help people relate to the dark moments in a happier way. People laugh for different reasons such as funny pranks, well-written jokes, and moments of stimulating social interaction and to alleviate anxiety in public places. Therefore, laughter can be one of the more straightforward definitions of happiness.

Achievements in our lives give us a general sense of joy and maybe equated to real happiness. Whether they are promoted, finally go out on a date or learn to ride a bike, people usually feel happy about these things. Achievements define an improvement of our social standing or personal progress, and it is a way to be satisfied.

Sometimes, happiness is about being content with whatever is happening in your life. It means being happy and jovial without any real achievement or wealth of any form. This may be the actual form of happiness as it is not an outward emotion but based on a feeling of satisfaction with who you are at that point in time. Inner peace is the most accurate definition of lasting happiness.

Lastly, happiness can be found in having material wealth. This does not go against any moral laws and should be encouraged as it promotes hard work, patience, and even contentment with what you have achieved so far. When all is said and done, happiness is satisfying your desires in the way that you feel is best.

Pursuit of Happiness Essay

America is founded on a system that allows their citizens to pursue achievement and happiness with freedom and honor. The founding father, Thomas Jefferson famously included the phrase ‘pursuit of happiness’ in the U.S. Declaration of independence as a human right. By that definition, happiness is, therefore, a fundamental truth and a human right that should be pursued until one’s dying breath.

Most philosophers and scientists have agreed that it is human nature to follow their heart’s desires and aim to achieve them. This free will and independence is what makes happiness unique to each person and redefines happiness from every person’s perspective. The truth is that most human inventions and discoveries have been founded on the idea that humanity could avoid particular misfortunes. An example would be vaccinations in the field of medicine, and even space exploration is meant to find new homes for humanity in case Earth becomes uninhabitable.

Happiness is based on evolution, and once we have a sense of achievement, most people seek a higher state of that feeling. An example would be buying a new pair of shoe, then matching it up with some good socks and hen a new tie plus a striking blazer and finally a new car for yourself. With every achievement, our standards of happiness keep evolving and improving. This is what defines the pursuit of happiness and causes either contentment or social pressure to achieve something big. Generally, people will know when they feel happy or when they are dissatisfied with the direction of their life and their achievements.

Seeing that happiness is a state of mind, a person must always convince themselves to be happy despite the troubles they might be facing. You must expect and affirm your happiness each day for it is as visible yet elusive as smoke. Most people do this by meditating, doing yoga, exercising, reciting positive affirmations, and assessing their state of mind constantly. These are all healthy ways of coping with the constant pressure of pursuing material wealth, relationships, and achievements despite the mishaps that always occur. They help one to appreciate and celebrate little to considerable achievements in their lives and encourage a spirit of contentment.

An accurate way of pursuing happiness is by doing t others as we wish done unto us. Showing kindness, forgiveness, and other complementary virtues all give us a sense of peace and joy. These actions help us to be grateful and appreciate the little things in life. We should lose our focus on the negativity that is accompanied by the pursuit of happiness. Some of these things include; pending bills, car loans, mortgages, relationship issues, and even health issues. The ore we focus on them, the more they feed away on our happiness. As a ritual, we should meditate on the things that give us happiness and even share them with our friends and family.

In conclusion, the pursuit of happiness is a right that we get to enjoy at our pleasure. The truth is, we can achieve happiness and enjoy it every single day. Happiness is not an end goal, but the culmination of our thoughts and attitudes towards life’s crazy cycles of joy and sadness. Make it a habit to be grateful every day and stay positive.

Essay about Happiness in Life

Legends and fairy tale stories of fiction usually have a particular n formula that leaves the reader satisfied at the end. It is when the frog finally becomes a prince, when the dragon is slain, went the prince rescues and marries a princess and when the kingdom is restored to its true glory. The line is usually too famous to even repeat, but here it goes, “And they lived happily ever after.” It defines one of humanity’s greatest pursuit and forms an excellent line for ending stories.

Happiness is a psychological state. It has been sought after by monks, philosophers, and scientists from all around the world. But is there a formula or secret to happiness that we do not know about? I think not, simply because we all can find joy wherever we are in the stations of our lives.

It is a big world that has been existent before since any of us was here. The confusion is imminent when we are faced with advertisements and easy-going options for finding happiness. Therefore, it is no one’s fault when happiness becomes an illusion too hard to capture in their hands. It almost seems impossible to be simply happy and content with the blessings that they already have. Anyone willing to find they can always discover the solution for this. One should always stay motivated despite any challenges they face because everyone is facing some form of mishap to another. No one is perfect in this big bad wolf world.

The only way to achieve happiness is to be content with the environment we find ourselves in. Be grateful for the people in your life, the friends keeping you company and the family that is more loyal to you than you might notice. Pick out a hobby or visit amusement parks and movie theatres for an enjoyable time. Find whatever gives you purpose and pursue it without restrictions and permission.

Be willing to build happy relationships and friendships based on similar characteristics and mutual love from each other. Whatever relationship you might find yourself in, know your worth and leave whenever it becomes too toxic to bear. This is because close relationships might cause us depression and anxiety in the long run. Simply put, your loneliness can be very detrimental to your health, and you should find the birds of your feather and happily flock together. Also, make time for your loved ones, even with busy schedules and jobs. Your employment should not drag the happiness out of your life but should be a fountain of happiness as you achieve the goals and dreams of your youth.

Stay positive throughout your day and find positive affirmations that keep you connected to your inner strengths. Every single thought we have either eats away on our happiness or gives us a positive spin on life. Reinforce your joy with a purpose and satisfaction that is not based on the wealth you have or the way you are but the way you want to feel.

Nothing is as good as tackling a giant to the floor and cutting its head off. And that’s what we have done today as we explored the fantastic world of happiness essays. The instructions and guidelines provided are simple enough to answer all your problems and provided more solutions than one. We hope that this article will be of great help in your essay writing endeavors and that you will have an easy time as you tackle your next essay on happiness.

All the best as you write more pieces about happiness and discover for yourself why money can’t buy happiness. For more information and essay writing services, contact us.

Essay on Can Money Buy Happiness

Students are often asked to write an essay on Can Money Buy Happiness in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Can Money Buy Happiness

Introduction.

Money is essential in life, but can it buy happiness? This question has sparked debates worldwide.

Money and Materialistic Joy

Money can buy materialistic things that bring joy. For example, your favorite video game or a bicycle can make you happy, and you need money for them.

Money and Freedom

Money can provide freedom to explore hobbies, travel, and experience new things, which can lead to happiness.

Limitations of Money

However, money can’t buy love, friendship, health, or peace of mind, which are essential for true happiness.

250 Words Essay on Can Money Buy Happiness

The age-old question, “Can money buy happiness?” has sparked countless debates among philosophers, economists, and psychologists. While some argue that wealth is a key contributor to happiness, others believe that happiness lies in intangible aspects of life.

The Power of Wealth

Money, undeniably, holds power. It provides the ability to afford basic necessities, luxuries, and experiences. It can help in eliminating stressors like debt and financial instability, which are often associated with unhappiness. From a utilitarian perspective, money can indeed buy happiness as it facilitates access to goods and services that can improve quality of life.

The Limitations of Money

However, the relationship between money and happiness is not linear. Beyond a certain income level, additional wealth does not equate to increased happiness. This is known as the ‘Easterlin Paradox’. Also, an overemphasis on wealth can lead to materialism, which has been linked to decreased well-being and increased mental health issues.

The Role of Intangible Aspects

While money can provide comfort and security, it cannot buy intangible aspects such as love, friendship, health, or peace of mind. These aspects, according to many psychologists, are the true essence of happiness. They provide a sense of belonging, purpose, and contentment that money cannot procure.

In conclusion, money can buy temporary happiness by providing comfort, security, and experiences. However, it falls short in procuring lasting happiness that is often found in intangible aspects of life. Thus, the pursuit of wealth should be balanced with the pursuit of intangible aspects to achieve holistic happiness.

500 Words Essay on Can Money Buy Happiness

Money and basic needs.

Firstly, money is important because it helps us meet our basic needs. It allows us to buy food, clothes, and a place to live. Without money, we would struggle to survive. In this way, money can bring a certain level of happiness. It provides comfort and security, which are key to feeling satisfied in life.

Money and Material Possessions

Secondly, money can buy material things. This includes toys, gadgets, cars, or even vacations. These things can make us feel happy for a while. But after some time, the excitement fades. We start to want newer, better things. This is called the “hedonic treadmill.” It means that buying stuff only brings short-term happiness. Over time, we get used to what we have and want more.

Money and Relationships

Money and happiness: the real picture.

So, can money buy happiness? The answer is not straightforward. Money can buy things that make life more comfortable and enjoyable. But it can’t buy everything. It can’t buy love, good health, time, or peace of mind. These things are often the most important for true happiness.

Research shows that after a certain income level, more money doesn’t equal more happiness. This level is enough to meet basic needs and some wants. Beyond that, more money might not make a big difference in how happy you are.

Remember, happiness comes from within. It’s about being content with what you have, not what you don’t have. It’s about enjoying the simple things in life. And most importantly, it’s about being true to yourself and your values.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Essay Samples
• College Essay
• Writing Tools
• Writing guide

Creative samples from the experts

↑ Return to Essay Samples

Definition Essay: Happiness

Happiness. It is not measurable, profitable, nor tradable. Yet, above all else in the world, it is what people seek. They want to have happiness, and want to know they have a lot of it. But happiness, like air or water, is a hard thing to grasp in one’s hand. It is intangible. So how does one know if they have it? Is it just a feeling? And if someone does not feel happy, how can they go about achieving that feeling?

Happiness is not measured by material wealth. A new car or television, a waterskiing boat or a three-level house does not equate to joyful feelings. They are status symbols, surely, and ones that make others assume a person is happy, but they do not guarantee a happy life. The clichéd phrase, “money can’t buy happiness,” is heard often… because it is true. People who have wealth can be unhappy, just as the poor can be living on cloud nine. Possessions can be gained and lost, and with that comes fear. And fear rarely leads to happiness.

So if it isn’t ‘stuff’ that achieves happiness, then what can? Well, goals can. People need to have a sense of purpose. It is no coincidence that Peanuts creator Charles Schultz died a week after ending his famous comic strip. Without a purpose, he was lost. But people that have a sense of purpose in their life often have a feeling of satisfaction about them. They sense they were put on this planet for a reason. To each person, this purpose can be different. Maybe they were meant to teach. Maybe they were meant to mother. Maybe they were meant to learn. And goals can be small things, like taking an extra moment each day to breathe. But having progress in life, a feeling of forward motion, can make people feel happy.

But taking that forward motion too far can be a bad thing. Success at the expense of everything else, for example, leads to the opposite of happiness. Life requires balance. And people that understand that there is a balance to work and play, strife and joy, are more in tune with the universe and, therefore, better able to achieve happiness. Life with a dose of humor is more pleasant. Comedians, compared to any other profession, live the longest because they understand that laughter adds the spice to life, and makes daily progress worth the minor tribulations.

So people can be happy if they have something to strive for and something to laugh about. But is that it? Can people with goals and a sense of humor still be unhappy? Well, yes. After all, the final key to happiness is the decision to actually be happy. Human nature can see negative energy anywhere. People can fixate on problems instead of solutions. So at the end of the day, “happiness depends upon ourselves.” (Aristotle). As Lincoln said, “Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

Being happy with who you are and what you have, is a decision that has to be consciously made. Goals can help lead to happiness. Finding laughter in life is important. But at the end of the day, a person needs to make a choice about happiness. They need to agree they want it, deserve it, and have it.

Follow Us on Social Media

Get more free essays

Send via email

Most useful resources for students:.

• Free Essays Download
• Writing Tools List
• Proofreading Services
• Universities Rating

Contributors Bio

Find more useful services for students

Free plagiarism check, professional editing, online tutoring, free grammar check.

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Happiness — Riches And Eternal Joy: Possibility of Buy Happiness

Riches and Eternal Joy: Possibility of Buy Happiness

• Categories: Happiness Money

About this sample

Words: 802 |

Published: Apr 4, 2022

Words: 802 | Page: 1 | 5 min read

Works Cited

• Aknin, L. B., Dunn, E. W., & Norton, M. I. (2009). Money doesn't buy happiness: A reexamination with new evidence. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 1(3), 90-95.
• Diener, E., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2002). Will money increase subjective well-being? A literature review and guide to needed research. Social Indicators Research, 57(2), 119-169.
• Diener, E., Ng, W., Harter, J., & Arora, R. (2010). Wealth and happiness across the world: Material prosperity predicts life evaluation, whereas psychosocial prosperity predicts positive feeling. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 99(1), 52-61.
• Dunn, E. W., Gilbert, D. T., & Wilson, T. D. (2011). If money doesn't make you happy, then you probably aren't spending it right. Journal of Consumer Psychology , 21(2), 115-125.
• Graham, C. (2011). Adaptation amidst prosperity and adversity: Insights from happiness studies from around the world. In J. Helliwell, R. Layard, & J. Sachs (Eds.), World happiness report (pp. 36-60). Earth Institute, Columbia University.
• Layard, R. (2005). Happiness: Lessons from a new science. Penguin UK.
• Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K. M., & Schkade, D. (2005). Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 111-131.
• Ng, W., Diener, E., Aurora, R., Harter, J., & Arora, R. (2009). Affluence and subjective well-being: Evidence from 54 countries. Journal of Happiness Studies, 10(4), 447-463.
• Vohs, K. D., Mead, N. L., & Goode, M. R. (2006). The psychological consequences of money. Science, 314(5802), 1154-1156.
• Xu, J., Wei, L., & Liu, Q. (2018). Can money buy happiness? Evidence from a meta-analysis of studies using the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Economic Psychology, 68, 1-9.

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below:

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Karlyna PhD

Verified writer

• Expert in: Life Economics

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 316 words

3 pages / 1583 words

2 pages / 817 words

8 pages / 3838 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

If the ultimate goal in life is to reach happiness, then I have met the most incredible of winners. To me he is the best example of true goodness. He does not judge by looks, does not occupy his mind with hateful thoughts, nor [...]

Aristotle, one of the greatest philosophers in history, embarked on a quest to understand the ultimate human good, which he unequivocally identified as happiness. In his ethical exploration, Aristotle expounds upon the intricate [...]

The first examination of happiness gave satisfaction to a pleasant life, characterized by a majority of positive emotions, joy over sadness and a predominance of an optimistic mood compared to bad mood. This vision of happiness [...]

The first time I looked at a photograph of the F/A-18 Hornet strike aircraft on the verge of breaking the sound barrier, I felt a curiosity and a passion unlike any I had felt before. As I gazed at the image, I could almost [...]

Sanity is the requirement of the self insofar as we afford it moral responsibility. Susan Wolf in her essay, ‘Sanity and Responsibility’ wants to appeal to our ‘pre-philosophical’ intuitions about moral responsibility by [...]

In the short story The Shining Houses by Alice Munro, Mary is a young inquisitive mother who explores the lives of her neighbours in the community. The story follows her day on the way to a child’s birthday party, the [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Can Money Buy Happiness Argumentative Essay, With Outline

Published by Boni on February 21, 2022 February 21, 2022

Can Money Buy Happiness Argumentative Essay Outline

Can money buy happiness? A question we ask ourselves everyday but when it comes to writing essays on the subject, the best solution is finding cheap research papers online where you can get a uniquely customized essay that will get you good grades.

Elevate Your Writing with Our Free Writing Tools!

Did you know that we provide a free essay and speech generator, plagiarism checker, summarizer, paraphraser, and other writing tools for free?

Introduction

Thesis: Money can buy happiness as it reduces stress, enables control, and enables spending on others.

Paragraph 1:

Money can help one reduce or relieve intense stress.

• People with higher incomes experience less negative intensity from distressing events.
• The higher the income, the lower the intensity of stress one may undergo regardless of the circumstances.
• With reduced stress, one is likely to experience happiness as they do not have to develop negative thoughts.

Perhaps you maybe interested on learning how to write descriptive essays about the beach .

Paragraph 2:

Money enables one to exercise greater control over their life.

• One can largely determine the direction their life takes by spending large amounts of money.
• They can access more leisure time, fulfilling work, better nutrition and healthcare, and homes in friendly and safer neighborhoods.
• Satisfaction of human wants forms part of what one needs in order to be happy.

Paragraph 3:

Money makes it possible for a person to attain happiness by spending on other people.

• People experience high happiness levels by donating their annual bonus to charitable organizations or spending it on other people.
• Giving to others, or lending a helping hand, makes human beings develop a good feeling about themselves.
• People have to have enough for themselves first before they can consider giving.

Paragraph 4:

Some people may argue that people need family and friends more than they need money for happiness.

• This may be true to some extent as people often turn to family and friends for various kinds of help.
• However, without good income, one cannot offer meaningful help to another person.
• One can also be happy even without depending so much on their family and friends if they have good income.

Read an essay on The Divine Comedy by Dante Aligheri that tells a fictional story that takes the audience through the nine levels of hell.

• Money can buy happiness because with it, one experiences less stress, exercises control over their life, and can easily spend on other people.
• Less stress attracts more happiness while control over one’s life gives them immense satisfaction.
• Being able to help other people in terms of money makes one feel good about oneself.
• Therefore, it is not true that money cannot buy happiness.

Can Money Buy Happiness Argumentative Essay

It is often said that “ money cannot buy happiness .”This phrase has even become some wisdom of sorts, one that makes people regulate their “appetite” for money. The irony however is that almost all human needs, both primary and secondary, have some form of attachment to money. Plainly put, it is money that enables an individual to cater for most, if not all, of what they need in their daily life. This yields the question of whether it is true that one cannot buy happiness using money. While some people will align themselves with the argument that happiness depends not on money, others will argue that money attracts satisfaction and thus brings happiness. Irrespective of the argument one may front, money can indeed buy happiness as it reduces stress, enables control, and enables spending on others.      

Money can help one reduce or relieve intense stress. In a study investigating the relationship between stress and income, it was found out that regardless of their income, the participants experienced distressing circumstances and/or events almost in a similar manner (Blanding, 2022). The number of frustrations they underwent on a daily basis was similar. However, “those with higher incomes experienced less negative intensity from those events” (Blanding, 2022). The implication here is that the higher the income, the lower the intensity of stress one may undergo regardless of the circumstances. With reduced stress, one is likely to experience happiness as they do not have to develop negative thoughts which might plunge them into depression. It follows that with more money, it is possible that one may actually avoid being unhappy. They may spend their money in dealing with whatever stressing situation they may be experiencing and hence reduce the negative impact of the situation.

In close connection with the foregoing is that money enables one to exercise greater control over their life. One can actually largely determine the direction their life takes by spending large amounts of money. They can access more leisure time, fulfilling work, better nutrition and healthcare, and homes in neighborhoods that are friendly and safer (Gervais, 2015). As noted by Brooks (2022), satisfaction of human wants forms part of what one needs in order for them to lead a happy and fulfilling life. Therefore, when one can afford virtually everything they need for a comfortable life, there is no reason why they should be unhappy. They know they have control of what they will eat in their next meal. In the same breadth, they know they can determine the outcomes of happenings in their life. They are in full control of their life and are therefore very happy.

Money also makes it possible for a person to attain happiness by spending on other people. A research study revealed that participants recorded higher happiness levels upon donating their annual bonus to charitable organizations or spending it on other people than using it on themselves (Gervais, 2015). This was the outcome irrespective of the bonus amount. One explanation to this finding was that giving to other people, or lending a helping hand, makes human beings develop a good feeling about themselves (Clements, 2018). However, it is common knowledge that one cannot give if they do not have. In most cases, they have to have enough for themselves first before they can consider giving. The implication here is that in order to enjoy the happiness that comes with giving, one has to have a higher income or a substantial amount of money. It is a clear case of how one can buy happiness using money.

Some people may front the argument that people need family and friends more than they need money for happiness. To some extent, this may be true as people often turn to family and friends for various kinds of help (Blanding, 2022). It is however also true that in the world of today, one can only offer meaningful help to a friend or family member in need of help mostly if they have good income. On the same note, one may not easily ask for help if they are in a position to afford most of the things they need. This means they can be happy even without depending so much on their family and friends. This argument is in line with the finding that the higher the household income, the higher the happiness and life satisfaction one enjoys, even for those earning more than $75,000 (Hazell & Plant, 2021). People with such income are less likely to find themselves in compelling situations that require calling for help from outside.        

Money can buy happiness because with it, one experiences less stress, exercises control over their life, and can easily spend on other people. Less stress attracts more happiness as it ensures that one can avoid being sad because of distressing situations. Control over one’s life gives them immense satisfaction as they can determine the quality of their life. Being able to help other people in terms of money makes one feel good about oneself. Those with high incomes do not even need family and friends that much because they can respond to almost all that they need in good time. Therefore, it is not true that money cannot buy happiness, and people should strive to find better income generating activities so they may enjoy the happiness that accompanies being in possession of large amounts of money.   

Blanding, M. (2022). “More proof that money can buy happiness (or a life with less stress)”. Harvard Business School . Retrieved February 20, 2022 from https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/more-proof-that-money-can-buy-happiness    

Brooks, A. C. (2022). From strength to strength: finding success, happiness, and deep purpose in the second half of life . East Rutherford, NJ: Penguin Publishing Group.

Clements, J. (2018). From here to financial happiness: enrich your life in just 77 days . Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Gervais, S. (2015). “Three psychological principles to consider before you make your next purchase”. College of Arts and Sciences . Retrieved February 20, 2022 from https://psychology.unl.edu/can-money-buy-happiness     

Hazell, J., & Plant, M. (2021). “Can money buy happiness? A review of new data”. Giving What We Can . Retrieved February 20, 2022 from https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/post/2021/06/can-money-buy-happiness-a-review-of-new-data/    

More examples of argumentative essays written by our team of top-notch writers

• Same sex marriage argumentative essay
• American patriotism Argumentative Essay
• Argumentative essay on marijuana legalization
• Artificial Intelligence Argumentative Essay
• Euthanasia argumentative essay sample
• Argumentative essay on abortion – sample essay
• Gun control argumentative essay – sample essay
• Illegal Immigration Argumentative Essay

Do you know that you can buy argumentative essay online from Gudwriter and get a quality paper crafted from scratch by our team of experts? Try us now an improve your grades. We are available 24/7.

Special offer! Get 20% discount on your first order. Promo code: SAVE20

Related Posts

Free essays and research papers, artificial intelligence argumentative essay – with outline.

Artificial Intelligence Argumentative Essay Outline In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become one of the rapidly developing fields and as its capabilities continue to expand, its potential impact on society has become a topic Read more…

Synthesis Essay Example – With Outline

The goal of a synthesis paper is to show that you can handle in-depth research, dissect complex ideas, and present the arguments. Most college or university students have a hard time writing a synthesis essay, Read more…

Examples of Spatial Order – With Outline

A spatial order is an organizational style that helps in the presentation of ideas or things as is in their locations. Most students struggle to understand the meaning of spatial order in writing and have Read more…

Argumentative Essay On Happiness

What Is Happiness? Most often today when people are asked what makes them happy, they instantly reply money, clothes and cars. In particular with the younger generation, their concept of happiness Has been fabricated with music videos and false value to materialistic items. Notably not all parts of the world have the same options or opportunities as someone else may have on the opposite side of the planet. Some believe money brings happiness whereas one may see happiness as being with family and friends.

A recent study done by World Happiness Report, developed by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, analyzing the levels of appiness in 158 countries, which in result are indicators of the countries social development. Just like every culture is different in its own particular ways, happiness to one may be disgraceful to another in a different country. Yet humans always will seek for true happiness in their lifetimes, but will never figure out it’s always been the simple little things in our daily life that bring joy and happiness.

One of the hardest concepts humans will always argue about is what is true happiness. Happiness is one of those words where it has a different meaning to everyone. You can feel it when your happy by emotions of pride, joy and love. Yet to understand its causes and effects is a subject that was researched well by Ruut Veenhoven who once said, “Happiness is conceived as the overall appreciation of one’s life as a whole”. The concepts of happiness around the globe over generations has changed very much over the past 50 years.

Happiness is the feeling of being satisfied, yet it is not the meaning that has changed but the desires a human requires to Keep their satisfaction. However, in countries like North Korea, Somalia, and so on, they aintain repressive laws which strip them of their most basic god given rights from expressing views to assembling peacefully for speaking their mind. Yet in Canada we are allowed to gather around in a peaceful manner to protest our beliefs and thoughts at any time, the same cannot be said about other regions of the globe.

All humans require happiness to live a long and healthy lifestyle, so we all in some way or another have similar requirements that makes us Happy. Happiness has two sides to it, the subjective and objective Meanings, expressed by Rutt Veenhoven. Feeling happy about your life and everything you have is the subjective sense Of happiness due to one’s state of mind, further on objective happiness is how good the living conditions are and also having peace and freedom.

In an article done by the Forbes, it has been said that America, land of freedom and opportunity only came at 10th in the rankings of World’s Happiest Countries. A country where the whole world is well aware of its caliber yet it falls short to a country on the opposite side of the world, Denmark. For the simple fact that each income per person is an astonishing $57,000 a year. This creates a whole different objective sense of happiness, where it would ssist with making your own path you’d like to achieve in life.

So does that mean that money is the only reason that makes Denmark happy? In a sense yes, but money does also create more opportunity to provide for your family or invest in future establishments. Even though Denmark creates more of a income for the families who live there, the similarities is that America and Denmark both have Freedom to do as they please. People in both countries have the same opportunity to live a happy life. A question that has always been asked in curiosity, is, does happiness vary across Different cultures?

In some cultures, mostly non-western cultures according to Dan Weijers from his article called Journal Of Happiness Study, states happiness in non-western parts of the World, is a less valued emotion compared to in America or Canada. Researchers from The University of Wellington in New Zealand say that being raised in a culture where happiness Is not encouraged, creates a feeling of voidness. Yet if you carefully examine Western Civilization it is clear to see that humans attempt to increase their personal happiness so that they could forget about anything negative.

It is such a part of everyone’s life to be a happy camper that not showing signs of joy, raises concern of something wrong. In contrast with for example in East Asia where the people are told to believe that it is inappropriate to show emotions of joy. In some cases it is said that strong beliefs in karma and others viewing you as selfish for your thoughts, that you will be cursed with myths of supernatural beings that resent your current happiness and might punish you. There are many factors that affect happiness in a whole, with this in mind, any of these factors can be a negative or positive mpact.

Happiness in a society is very critical to a person’s social life and overall appreciation for being alive. If a society is happy, that will create an atmosphere for those who are friendly and open to coincide with one another to have a happy social life, opposite for a society that has poor social development. It is nearly impossible to be happy in an unhappy environment, that is why this is an important necessary factor for what true happiness is. That being said, we still as one, face disasters we all must encounter which in turn affects a society’s happiness.

From hanges in climate, poverty, increase in crime, hunger, and so many more issues that a strong community or society would be able to tackle. Fatih Muslu from her book, Strong Society Vs Weak Society, states that countries with strong states in power usually over power the weaker societies declining them to flourish into a society with freedom and choice. For example the weak power of democratic ways in Arab is so bad that it is one of the world’s most discussed topics. Muslu also states that social scientists have researched in depth to figure out that in middle eastern regions, “Middle East is considered culturally

More Essays

• Definition Of Happiness Essay
• Aristotle’s Essay On Happiness
• Less Stuff More Happiness Analysis Essay
• The Pursuit Of Happiness Essay
• Essay about Epicuruss Philosophy Of Happiness
• Happiness Definition Essay
• Paradox Of Happiness Essay
• Definition Essay On Happiness
• The Pursuit Of Happiness In Aristotles Nicomachean Ethics Essay
• The Pursuit Of Happiness In Rasselas The Happy Valley Essay

Free Essay Samples for Academic Success | EssaysDot.com

A collection of free essay samples, college essay examples and sample research papers for your studies.

Argumentative Essay about Money and Happiness

A common assumption in the media and everywhere else is that being rich means that one is happy. The debate on money and happiness has been going on for a while. There is a belief that the more money one has, the more comfortable he/she becomes. With money, one can buy the basic needs. Though money can satisfy our physical needs, we need to understand that happiness is not material. Instead, satisfaction is a more profound natural feeling that comes out of a person and is not necessarily dependent on money. What we need to understand, therefore, is that money does not bring happiness as many people would imagine.

For long, people have not understood that money can only help a person in making individual choices. Having large amounts of money does not necessarily lead to happiness. The belief that being rich is having a lot of money is often misconstrued (Badiou 75). Given a chance, it is evident that most people are likely to choose riches. However, we should ask ourselves if money can make others to love us. The desire of human beings is the need to love and be loved in return. It is the feeling that we possess that should be of importance compared to the financial status of an individual. Regardless of the amount of money that one possesses, happiness cannot be bought. Cases of pretense to get monetary gains from other people have been on the rise. People have shown superficial love to others to satisfy their selfish interest. In most cases, relationships of this kind do not end up in the best way. Therefore, the perception that riches bring happiness in a relationship should not be taken seriously.

Riches cannot be considered to be a source of happiness. Riches can enable a person to have access to more resources and luxuries in life. However, the excitement that is brought about by monetary gains temporary. In some instances, you might find people with riches indulging in precarious activities as a way of self-fulfillment. It explains that wealth only helps us to focus on wants instead of needs. Happiness is one of the requirements in n life which can only be fulfilled if one has peace of mind (Badiou 90). The misconception we have that money is the source of happiness ought to change if we are to experience the real meaning of happiness. Contrary to the popular belief that money can offer us happiness, the contrary has proven to be true. People with less money do not have many luxuries in life as rich.

In relationships, riches cannot guarantee a person the happiness they need. It is the personality of a person that matters. A person may be wealthy, but if his/her character is terrible, people may not want to be associated with them. A person with a better personality is likely to attract friends or lovers, who can, in turn, offer them the gratification that they may need thus leading to happiness. People with evil personalities, on the other hand, are likely to be shunned by other people. Few individuals can wish to be around a person with a lousy personality. Even when the person has money, the few friends who hang around them are likely to be there because of money.

Similar sentiments are evident when it comes to love (Pischke 120). Money cannot buy happiness or make people love you. Buying the feelings of another person is impossible. It is not strange to married people who do not love each other. They might be in the marriage because of monetary gains. In most cases, these marriages are likely to end up in catastrophe. In many relationships, it is the valuable time that a person spends with his/ her family that brings about happiness. Money can be a fuelling factor in the strengthening of a relationship but it ought not to be seen as the source of happiness. In all situations, the family has to be put in the front. The time an individual spends with his/her family is crucial I comparison to the amount of money that a person has. Though rich people think that money is a source of happiness, this notion is often misconstrued. For instance, a person can use the money to buy gifts and other presents for another but what matters in a relationship is the time and affection that people share. It is the time spent together in a relationship that gives people a sense of identity and selfhood.

Money is crucial since it enables people to cater for their primary needs. However, money should not form the basic underlying principle for our source of happiness. It is the reason why I believe that contrary to the belief by many people that money brings joy, happiness is not long lasting and can only be for a temporary period (Burke 100). Until we realize that money is just a source of temporary happiness, then we are likely to suffer heartbreaks. True happiness can only come from within a person. People who idolize money are likely to be frustrated in the long run. They are likely to focus more on looking for money and forget that their loved ones expect to be shown love. Money can be a cause of stress and frustrations in any relationship. People who have money often think that their money can buy them any form of happiness. However, in most cases, they end up with frustrations especially when they are rejected. Instead of using the money to gain happiness in a relationship, a person can try to adopt other means. For instance, developing hobbies that bring fun and relaxation can be a way of bringing happiness.

We often torture ourselves looking for happiness in the wrong places, yet there are better ways of creating our happiness. For instance, having time to relax is the best solution for a healthy life. We ought to learn therefore that though money is necessary, it should not be the definition of happiness in our lives. Wealthy people put emphasis more on their luxuries compared to the attention they give to their necessities. However, this perception ought to change since material things are likely to fade off over time. People also tend to look for other things that can get them occupied. In life, we should focus more on better ways of gaining happiness which is a primary need for every person.

Money has also been associated more with misery more than bringing happiness. While searching for more money, people are likely to compete against each other (Burke 150). As a result, they may end up looking for options of making more money and lose interest in the things that satisfy them. When a person is focused on searching for money he/she rarely finds time to do other things that can make them happy. It is because they usually spend all their time working and rarely have time to relax. Good health symbolizes happiness. However, most of us think that having more money is a guarantee that one can cover their health schemes. Though money can cater to good medical covers and pay for proper medical services, it is not a guarantee of happiness and good health for an individual.

It is clear that even if a person has money, the money cannot be a cure for certain terminal illnesses. Health is more important than money. One might have a lot of money, but if he or she is not healthy, then happiness remains an illusion. Therefore, good health is better than having lots of money in the banks. It is high time that people realize that money is not a source of happiness and look for other ways of finding happiness.

It is essential to notice that money can only contribute to the happiness of meeting the basic needs. A person’s level of income does not directly determine his/ her level of happiness. It is the way that the individual can channel the earnings to purposes that can probably bring satisfaction and happiness. People who have a lot of money have been known to get their comfort and happiness by giving to charity. There are satisfaction and gratuity in the act of giving. Having vast amounts of money does not guarantee happiness, but it is the deeds of an individual that matter.

Findings have shown that having large quantities of money does not guarantee happiness. Having vast social networks can be a better source of satisfaction. Strong social networks are likely to develop mutual affection among people compared to what money can do (Berk 78). Earning a lot of money can be significant. Equally essential however is having people who care and whose company one can enjoy. The satisfaction that is brought through bonding has longer lasting effects than what money can do for a person.

There have been cases of people who have a lot of money but lack happiness. When searching for money, most of us forget that we have people who love and care for us. The focus is normally on how to gain more money which in the end makes people to even lose their families. In some instances, rich people have committed suicide after missing people who are ready to bond with them (Burke 85). It is therefore important to realize that even though money is an essential part of our lives, it cannot give us all the satisfaction and happiness that we need.

Works Cited Badiou, Alain et al. Happiness. Bloomsbury Academic, 2019. Burke, Elaine A. “What is the Key to Happiness? Love or Money?” Psyccritiques, vol. 59, no. 25, 2014. Portico, doi: 10.1037/a0037105. Berk, Kiki. “Does Money Make Us Happy? The Prospects and Problems of Happiness Research in Economics”. Journal of Happiness Studies, vol. 19, no. 4, 2017, pp. 1241-1245. Springer Nature, doi: 10.1007/s10902-017-9857-y. Pischke, Jörn-Steffen. Money and Happiness. National Bureau of Economic Research, 2011.

Related Posts:

• New Leadership Research Paper
• Effects of Alcohol Abuse Research Paper
• UK Grocery Sector Research Paper

Published by edadmin

View all posts by edadmin