Grade 9
Unit 7
Reading
Page 54
Happiness
Did you know that happiness is good for your health? Experiments prove that it gives you a strong immune system, and you recover from surgery more quickly. Some psychologists have identified three elements to happiness - experiencing the joys in life, using your strengths in a positive way and having a spiritual life.
You don't need to have a lot of money to be happy, although living in poverty makes life difficult. But once you reach a reasonable level of income, more money doesn't make you happier. The material things that make life easier don't make us happier. The World Database of Happiness has found that people in the West have not got happier in the past 50 years, despite massive improvements in their standards of living.
Our thoughts also affects our happiness. If we are always thinking negatively, we will experience a negative state of mind, which leads to experiencing moments of unhappiness. The more negative thoughts you have, the longer you experience unhappiness, and sometimes even depression. However, the opposite is also true. Positive thinking gives you a positive state of mind, and moments of happiness. Positive thoughts can be about yourself, your success, and the things that make you happy. They can also be thoughts about other people, their good qualities and how they affect you positively.
The main sources of happiness are said to be family, friends, enough money, work, a social life, faith and health. The happiest people spend the least time alone and don't care about buying material things. Research has shown that if we feel happy, we also become more sociable and helpful to others. This also means we contribute more to the community.
