What Do You Need to be Happy?

  Our recent class discussion led to some pretty big questions.

(image via)

The New York Times article to which I refered in class was "The Futile Pursuit of Happiness" by Jon Gertner. It focuses on Harvard research.

In analyzing Ani DiFranco’s “Coming Up”, our recent class discussion led to some pretty big questions. A few of them are:

What are our core values?
Should we balance idealism with pragmatism?
What if I had been born the poorest of poor?
Are rich people happier than those who are poor?

Is it possible to have power without military strength?
Can the poor be happier than those who are economically wealthy?
Is wealth measured soley by money ? Can people be “wealthy” in other ways?
In the end, I asked you to ponder the question: what do I need to be happy?

The New York Times article to which I refered in class was "The Futile Pursuit of Happiness" by Jon Gertner. It focuses on Harvard research. The article is quite long, but I found it fascinating. Check it out!

Here are some other studies on the subject of money and happiness. They're quite interesting to read, though they deserve further study.

Mind over Money: Studies indicate cash affects our social interaction

Mere Thought of Money Makes People Selfish

When Money DOES Buy Happiness

Take time to reflect upon the above questions, and post your comments. Our class discussion really got me thinking, and I hope it got you all thinking, too!

Comments

[StandAlone]

Are rich people happier than those who are poor?

I oppose the idea that rich people will be or are happier than those who are poor. People usally think wealth will bring true happiness but that is not the reality. Physically money can buy things such as luxury items but it cannot buy health. When a rich person loses something concerning wealth it is more than a poor person because the invested amount is extremely high. Most rich business men spend less time with their family and spend more time in their work. As a result families break up, health problem occur due to excessive stress from family problem and work. They will always be worrying about their money or company and would have many sleepless nights and tasteless meals. Such as a man who has no time to even go see his new born baby. For poor people, they would spend more time with family. There is nothing much to worry about. If they can feed the whole family and being together is the key to happiness for them. They will not lose a lot of money when they invest in something such as growing a field of crops but it did not grow. They can regain what they lose by just waiting but for most rich people it is the end. Therefore rich people cannot be happier than those who are poor.

[Xkira]

Are rich people happier than those who are poor?

I both agree and disagree with this idea. My parents used to tell me that rich people can never be happy. I thought this was true. But I found out that rich people can also live happy life. This does not mean all the rich people are happy and enjoy their life so much. Because some rich people have so much pressure on their life and jobs. Some are full of responsibilities and others are lonely. It is not true that rich people’s suicide rate is high than the poor. Indeed, poor people have such a high suicide rate. Many poor people think their life is very miserable and hates to live it.
When we say a person is rich, it usually means he/she has a lot of money. I think how people spend their money decides their happiness. If we spend our money for other people, who needs money, we can be happy. I think sharing makes the receivers happy, but givers happy too. However, if you do not spend your money for others and be greedy, those people won’t be able to achieve their happiness. Because their greed does not stop forever.

[PurPly_PunK]

What are your core values?

My core values were brought up my grandparents and how they raised me.

1. Respect
Since I was little, the first thing I was told to do was to acknowledge people. So when I get home, I have to say “Hi Grandpa, or Grandma, I’m home” before I go into my room and do what I want. Or if I see my aunts and uncle, I have to acknowledge them as well. I have to call my elder with appropriate titles like Big Uncle, Small Aunt, and Older Cousin. If I don’t call them, then they will say I am rude and lecture me.

Then I was always taught to answer whenever someone calls so if my grandpa calls me and ask me to do something, even if I am not free, I have to go to him and do what he wishes. But nowadays, it has loosened a bit but still if they call me and I am busy, I have to tell them I will come but I don’t have to right away.

Once I accidentally hung up on my grandparents and they took it as a really disrespectful act and felt offended.

2. Family is forever.
I was taught “Family first because it is forever”. It is okay to go out with friends but in times of emergency, family is always first in line even if it is a very small incident. Whenever something happens to one person, we all have to be supportive and all have to be there for one another. If someone in the family was sick, then someone had to stay home with them.

3. Education first, fun later.
I was expected to choose education over fun and leisure time. I was expected to get good grades like my older cousins. It was hard because if I didn’t do as well as them, I would get a big lecture from my parents. It was always education is your life; you can have fun later in life. My family believes in making every experience educational.

[GODsmurf]

I would like to comment on about 'Are rich people happier than those who are poor?'
I would stay yes.. without other factors contributing to it. Like for example deaths of your love ones. If both the rich and the poor have the same state of mind, and atmosphere, I think the rich would be happier. I think rich people are happier then the poor. The rich usually have material things to keep them happy. It is true that these material things have a short lasting effect of happiness. But if you are rich I think you can buy alot of these material things and always renew your happiness.

[coxyspace]

Is it possible to have power without military strength?
Can the poor be happier than those who are economically wealthy?

I would first like to reflect on the first question. Firstly I would like to say that life is such a broad topic that making conclusions and generalizations about it isn't practical at all. There are so many factors that affect life, many factors lead to happiness or sadness and therefore, concluding that only one of those factors is the cause isn't right. Such generalizations would simply lead to more and more debates and no consensus. Similarly, the debate we had in class tried to argue a broad topic and trace only one of the many factors that cause happiness and the possession of power.
It is definately possible to have power with out military strenght, but it wouldn't be right to draw distinct lines between yes and no, because neither "no" nor "yes" is the anwer to the first question. Us common people can definately have power but usually it is force that proves to drive the actions of people. The whole point of a democratic form of government is to give the people the power so that there wouldn't be dictators in the future, but any historian in the world would agree that democracies don't work everywhere. Usually it is a dictatorship that brings peace in society and a stable life in a nation, like in Germany after World War 1. Dictatorships definately give a bad impression because there were more brutal, totalitarian leaders than good dictators who worked for the people. Dictatorship is like a drug. One may become addicted to it after realizing its true power. In times of crisis, dictatorships are used to bring peace to a nation, like military rules are ordained by a democratic government (as in most democracy based constitutions) to bring peace to a nations by putting down any violet protests. But leaders have always used dictatorship to their advantage, like the emperors of Asia, the kings of Europe, the Czars of Russia etc. So, basically, military strength is the ultimate power, but as history tells us, when ever dictarships have tried to control the people and when ever the dictators military weakens, the people unite and fight back. Throughout history the people united have proved to be more powerful than a dictator, because eventhough a dictator rules with force, he rules for the people, thus he needs the people's support, so once the people express their discontent, the government is eventually toppled. So the people can overthrow a govenrment but unity is vital. This is where Gandhi played a big role in Indian independence. He didn't directly give India independence but he united the people against the British in two ways: firstly those who wanted to boycott the British occupation in India, send them out by non-violent protests. Due to his efforts, the most famous independence fighters of India united to fight the British. The British actually left their colonies in Souteast Asia due the damages they suffered after world war II. They just couldn't support their colonies and so they granted India independence.
The second question asks whether the poor could be happy more than the economically wealthy. I think they can. Living with a family and having low standards of life is the key to being happy when poor. Basically, the more money one has the high standards of living they expect. The society in which one lives changes with an increase in income and therefore standards and goals increase. The rich suffer greater loses than the poor, because gambling money is the key to getting rich in the world of bussiness. Money isn't the only factor that may make a person happy but money certainly buys a person food and shelter and with out such neccessaties, how could a person possibly be happy. Therefore, I think if a poor person is content with living a simpel life and can afford his/her family's needs then a poor, happy life is possible. But I think money is very important to live a happy life.

[Mud]

Are rich people happier than those who are poor?

Well are rich people happier than those who are poor? From my opinion I can't really say rich are happier than poor or poor are happier than rich. To me this question has no right or wrong answers, because the answer depends on the situation. It's a situational base question. Rich people might say "Oh what I sad life I have my business is not working that well and I'm having a lot of stress, look at those poor people they start out a day with a smile. Their life is way better and happier life." But on the other hand the poor people would say "Oh what a life the rich people have, starting a day with good food, and not need to worry about shortages of meals for their family. With a happy family they have with their own car every where they go." There is not much of a big difference between the rich and poor. Both of them are human beings, with heart that can feel pain, happiness and sadness. It's only a matter of time. What I see in this world is good wealthy rich people will say that their life is worse than the poor people's life so that they can be viewed as nice beings with sympathy. I truly believe that there is no right or wrong answer to this question from my point of view.

[white_love13]

Are rich people happier than those who are poor?

In my opinion, poor people tend to be happier than rich people. Poor people don't have any worries in their lives. They don't have to worry about their wealth for they don't have a large amount of them whereas rich people always have to be worrying about their wealth for they own a lot of possessions.

The poor people don't live in a large society unlike the rich ones who live among popular and other rich people. So, the rich people have the worry of getting poor. They won't be able to live once they become poor for they have never come across such life. The poor people just have their own little society where they don't have to care as much as the rich people since nothing is going to happen to them if they become poorer. They can still live the kind of lives they are living now even if their conditions change. Moreover, the poor people do not have so much stress in their lives for they are just making their ends meet for each day whereas, rich people are under so much stress, trying with all their might to multiply their possessions everyday.

Rich people have more worries in their lives than the poor people. The poor people are just carefree, working the same job everyday and doing their daily chores while the rich people are always worrying about making more money each day. Furthermore, the poor people don’t know the advancement in the world so they are not competitive. The rich people are always competing in a rat race in their lives. They have to compete for more wealth and fame.

The rich people have so many worries in their lives because they are wealthy and because they live in a society surrounded by other rich people and people with fame while the poor people have less worries since they only live in their own small world with a family and making their ends meet each day.

Since rich people have more worries than poor ones, I think poor people tend to be happier than rich people.

[Go_Rush]

Are rich people happier than those who are poor?

I personally think that happiness doesn't depend on money. I think it depends on the situation and environment that the people are in. For example, the farmer(Just for an example) in the countryside could happier than the rich bgusinessmen in the cities because those famrers might not be as rich as those rich businessmen but satisified about what they have got and how they live. On the other hand, the rich businessmen might not be satisifed about what they have and might want more money and more ambitious about their career, money, or future. I'm trying to say that those businessmen who are never satisifed and never find happiness in their life but money then once they collapse or lose money, their happiness will be gone. But not all the rich businessmen are like that. They could be satisifed and donate what they've got and try to share with other poor people and from there, their happiness could come. It also talks about poor people. If the farmer's are ruined and all then their happiness will be gone as well. But on the other hand, if they think about it postive way and all and still satisifed about how they live and all then they will be happy no matter what! My point is happiness doesn't belong to money but the positive mind.

[haha921]

Are rich people happier than those who are poor?

We can not answer this question from one point of view. They are many ways to tackle the question to get the answer. For example, we can not just assume that all rich people are happy. In fact, they have their own problems, such as stress, responsible for the family (if they have one), how to handle a situation, and decision making. Almost a lot of rich successful people have stress. They always worry about how much money they’re making and when would they lose their money and become poor. Although these are negative sides of being rich, there are positive things about being rich. You can spend all the money you want and not worry about how much money will be left for your kids, and family. There would be no problems when it comes to household budget.

Talking about household budget, it is usually concerned by a lot of people who have limited budget or are salary man. They need to plan the budget really well in order to survive. Money is usually the problem faced by those kind of people so tight budget makes them stress. They have to think about things that rich people don’t have to think about, such as feeding the kids, educating them, and all.

In the end, we all just can not say that rich people are happier or poor people are happier. They are happy in their own ways.

[ringmybella]

Is wealth measured soley by money ? Can people be “wealthy” in other ways?
I definitely don’t think wealth is always measured by money. I feel like there are plenty of other ways that a person can be considered wealthy. I feel like being rich doesn’t always have to do with money. For example, one of the most important things in life is family and friends. Let’s say a rich person was a millionaire and a poor person lived with 5 family members, and both of them got sick. The rich person would call for the finest doctor and get cured through medication, and operations. On the other hand, the poor person would have a hard time getting medicine. But, the poor person would have the best cure of all, the love of the family members. As for friends, a rich person might have a lot of friends, but that brings us to this question. “Are they true friends? Or are they using the rich person to meet their personal needs?” On the other hand, a poor person might not have as many friends as the rich, but even if they had a few, they would really be true friends.
For making me happy, I’ve mentioned it in my journal, but I think a person that I truly love would make me happy. A person who loves me for who I am and not for what I have or what I can do.
In conclusion, I would like to repeat that some of the most valuable things in this world, cannot be bought with money.

[Slayer 19]

Are rich people happier than those who are poor?

Before I go on to say anything about this question, I feel a need to say that this question is a bit broad. First of, how can one define a rich person and a poor person? It is going to be very different from each and every one of us. For example, a billionaire might think that a poor person is a person who works as a garbage man. But of course in reality, a garbage man is not poor at all. I mean they get paid more than normal teachers do (at least in the United States). Second of all, I think that this question is too generalizing the group as ‘rich people’ or ‘poor people.’ Again this brings back the first argument that every one has different views of the ‘rich’ and the ‘poor.’ The division of rich and poor can be different within a town, city, or even in an apartment with the neighbors. It’s just too broad in my opinion.
But if I had to answer this question, and choose one of the groups, ‘rich’ or the ‘poor,’ I would choose the ‘poor.’ ‘Poor,’ in my perspective are people who have just a place to live, a family, and just enough food to not go starving. These people have nothing in the world to worry about, but their stomachs. So they live a life in which they always look for food. But that is all they need. They try their best to educate their children but they are not capable of it. Children are only elementary graduates. But they rely on one another, thickening the bond between each and every one of the members in the family through love. Rich people however, are always uneasy because of their huge amount of money they have. They are afraid that a robber will steal their money; causing them to become psychologically disordered.
These are the reasons why I think that poor people are happier than that of rich people. But this is only my opinion. It is not an established fact, for there are always some people that are excluded from these generalized groups.

[Ball4Life]

What do I need to be happy?
To be happy, I need a good and happy family that will always support me, I need friends that would always be by my side when I need them and are loyal, I need to win, I need to achieve things, I need to be well liked by everybody and of course I need food, money and shelter and live a good life. These are all I need to be happy but to be extremely happy, I need to get all my dreams come true. One would be to play professional basketball in the NBA and earn millions by doing something that I love, which is playing ball. Earn millions of dollars, famous, make my family happy, ride Bentleys, own a huge mansion, have true friends, live well, and accomplish all my goals. It would truly make me happy. Anyways, I'm already pretty happy with my life. I belong to a really good family, I got good friends, I'm well liked by people, I get good education, sometimes I feel like I'm really lucky, and I know that I'm making use of all the opportunities granted to me to build a good future. I just want to make my parents happy as I grow older and support them with the money I make. I think it's money, success, love and the basic needs of life that anyone needs to be happy.

[fatandconfused]

Is it possible to have power without military strength?

I think that it is impossible to have material power without military strength. Although I believe that true power is to have power over what people feel and think, material power is what runs the world. I think that military power forces those people who would oppose better change to be silent or not to physically oppose that change. I think that without military power nations would fall, and people would die. To have power over what people do is key to a strong leadership and in the long run a safer environment. Although military power can and is abused on a daily basis, with the correct leadership I believe that military power is a nesesary to a "eutopia". To form a "prefect" society or even a great one, the leader must have a strong base from which to lead a force change. There will always be opposition to change, but I think that to begin and complete a change one must use military power in the beginning to bring about positive or negative change. If the change is good then eventually most or all will mentally be changed and understand the necesity of the military power. Eventually after the change has remained for a long time and people no longer oppose it, then military might is no longer needed. This is what I believe. (At least for now)

[Watersfish]

What are my core values?

Well there is a slight complication in that apparently simple question. Is it asking for what my core values are or what i wish they were but right now i will just talk about what one's core values should be primarily i agree with purply that one's number one value should be respect.
Respect is vital when living in a society without respect there will be conflict and when there is conflict society cannot exist in harmony affecting every one inside the society. The second most important core value should be your strenth in staying away from wrong doing may it be illegal or morally and ethically negative.
Living in such a world when there are so many unjust happenings allready i believe that there should be no more acts that would harm many for the sake of gain or comfort to a few.
These two are preobably the biggest core values a person should have.

[x.Zon!X]

Are rich people happier than those who are poor?

Well, it's not necessarily true that rich people are happier than poor people. Many people conclude that rich people are not happy because of all the stress that they get from work and from trying to protect their possessions and money. Even though this is true, many lack to really analyze all the luxury that they have. They would never have to worry about not having enough food nor enough money. Poor people would admire those rich people who have more than what they need. Who wouldn't want to have unlimited access to money??
Therefore, I disagree with many others and I believe that money does bring happiness.

Furthermore, poor people don't generally tend to be happier than rich people. Like rich people, they also live in a society and a large community. They too would have concerns about reputation and money. In this case, money matters alot and that is one of the top most important factors of the lives of the poor people. Many poor people struggle to gain food and money just barely enough to stay alive. If they were given a million dollars, they would no doubt be happy about it.

Happiness doesn't really depends on whether people are rich or people. I think it rather depends on the individual self and the environment they are brought up in and influence of people around them.

[chAos-D-]

What if I had been born the poorest of poor? If i had been born poor i would not have what i have right now and i would not have the privileges that would be given to me now. And i wouldn't know how to use a computer so i would not be posting these things. If i was poor i think the only language i would speak is just plain burmese and i would be more resistant about life and i would be much more stronger than i am now. I would be mentally and physically strong. I would not be spending money but saving up for my starving family and i would look out for my siblings. If i was poor i would have to watch out for all not just me and i couldn't be selfish so much.

[DieAloneXplosiv3]

Are rich people happier than those who are poor?

We can’t say that rich people are happier than those who are poor and we can’t also say that the poor are happier those who are rich. I am sure that there are rich people who are happier than those who are poor and there are poor people happier than those whoa are rich. Each people has their own aim and goal, depending on their goals and the situation that they in, and if their goals and the situation that they are in make them satisfy, they will be happy but if they aim is higher than the situation that they are in than they will not be happy. I personally think that rich people are less happy than the poor even though they have everything they needed.

[bert]

Are rich people happier than those who are poor?

I think that under certain circumstances, the poor can be happier than the wealthy. It really depends on how the wealthy and how the poor person individually live their lives. It really is the choices that people make or their personality that pushes them to be happy or unhappy with what they have. A poor person could be depressed and work very hard because they want to get somewhere in life, or they work hard just so they could get enough money to get a drink at night. Same with the wealthy. They can be hard workers to get to the point they are in life, and be totally happy with what they have and they could help people, or they could be depressed too, maybe have no family members or everyone has turned against them. In the end, I really just think that it depends on what type of person they are, personality wise, rather than what social status they have or how much money they make in a month. People can be as equally as sad as people with money, and they can be as equally as happy with people who are happy and have money. it depends on how the person individually decides what they want in life, how they will be in life, and how they live there life. you can never make an assumtion about a group of people because people indiviually have different views and personalities

[miniart168]

Q. What if I had been born the poorest of poor?

Well, If I had been born the poorest of poor (right now), then it will be really depressing because I already know the things that I can gain from being rich. I know what it's like to be wealthy so I get more depressed than ever. But If I was originally born poor without knowing anything what it is like to be like rich, I would live with whatever I got. ^ ^
But I know myself that, I will have a dream and a vision although being poor.
I don't perfectly know who I am but I definitely know this that 'I' am full of passion that I will always search for something for new wherever I stay and what condition that has been given to me. Because even right now, I live with my vision therefore, I exist today. If I didn't have any dream, vision, challenge and hope to look forward to, then I don't think I'll survive.
So basically, being born as a poor is kind of sad thing but I think I'll keep marching with what I've got.

[Conan]

How to be happy

People believe that being rich would be making people happy. But I do not believe that because my father has a lot of money and power but he is still very unhappy. Being poor is also a source and idea and an answer of being happy. For example Bangladesh is a poor country and one of the poorest country in the world but it is also one of the happiest country in the world because since they are so poor they need help from the neighbors. So the answer of this answer are so diverse that people do not know what the real answer is but what I believe is that to accomplish a goal that you are trying is the real answer for being happy.

[bakz]

Are rich people happier than those who are poor?

Well, I'm not actually sure about this statement. Since I haven't lived my life for a long time, I don't know what will make me happy. But I think this statement is quiet true although I'm not 100% agree with this idea.

In our life, we need many opportunities to be successful and so we are happy by receiving those results. I think the happiness depends on people's perspective of views in their life. For examples, some people think that money will make the world more brightly, and they think that it is only way to survive in this society.
Some people say that although they are not wealthier than the rich, or they are poor, they are happier than those who have money.

I think both ideas are true. Money motivates people more ambitious and they will be more successful than those who don't have money. However those who are not wealthy, they all have experienced sadness and happiness at same time. Therefore I think that those hardships have made them realize how this world is circling around well.

Summing up, I want to say that people should experience hardship which will later give them happy results. In other words, we need to overcome obstacles to feel empowered!