Introduction
Happiness can be a complex matter to understand since it varies between people depending on the environment and the context. Cuddy and Dowthwaite discuss their articles on the topic of happiness and share their thoughts regarding this matter. Although their views on the subject might differ from each other, they both agree that happiness is not always present in people’s lives, and it is normal. Firstly, without negative events or regular days filled with routine, people would not have a comparison and could not feel happiness without any contrast. Secondly, it is possible to achieve through making life meaningful and worth living, such as by having a purpose and achieving some specific goals which still cannot go without both positive and adverse moments. Finally, even pursuing hedonism as a method of getting ultimate happiness cannot work in the long run, but following the eudemonic concept of being the better person will contribute to a person being happy. Thus, this essay compares two articles about happiness with the common underlying message that happiness is dynamic and there is no constant state of happiness which is the way it should be.
Happiness Does Not Exist Every Time
In human life, it is impossible for one to feel happy all the time. Naturally, it is expected to be a discrepancy in the emotional state, which forms a significant part of reality about the self-pleasure brought by happiness. If one pursues being happy all the time, they can easily get isolated from social connections that may nourish them. The first article puts that the pursuit of happiness has created a country of nervous wrecks where happiness hangovers can leave one lost from the emptiness they may experience after the happiness (Cuddy par. 3). That means it is normal for one to have emotional variance which may bring joy, low mood, and other feelings.
It is Unrealistic to Pursue Happiness All the Time
The last matter that human beings should believe is that happiness can be present at every time. To be happy, there must be a psychological aspect of understanding that happiness does not come every time people need it. Importantly, happiness experts contend that happiness is a malleable quality that we can work on and eventually aspire for rather than a constant, permanent attribute (Dowthwaite par. 2). There are periods of discomfort that test an individual’s capability to pursue a meaningful experience, hence, happiness at the end of the day. The author says that ‘Experiencing stress, sadness, and anxiety in the short term does not mean we cannot be happy in the long term (Dowthwaite par. 5). It means that the moments which do not have happiness should not make people lose hope but find the pleasure of understanding the dynamics of life.
The Sense of Purpose Enables Meaningful Life
Having a concrete sense of purpose in life gives one a definition of life and an understanding of how happiness varies. When individuals have a greater sense of purpose, they become resilient to stress, which applies to people of all ages. The article says that ‘Studies of more than 2,000 US military veterans and more than 6,000 teachers in China both showed that people with a greater sense of purpose were also more resilient to stress’ (Cuddy par. 7). The article does not recommend quashing the desire to feel happy because joy must be savored.
Nevertheless, according to the study, we ought to give a people’s sense of purpose more important than happiness instead of making it our pinnacle aim. In a moment when so many people experience a constant sense of fear and instability, meaning may be the very factor that drives individuals to get out of bed each morning. Without hope, we are unable to expect pleasure for either ourselves or our children, and purpose offers us hope. Many of our activities go beyond being “simply our hobbies,” thus thinking about what makes them special might help us figure out what we find important and worthwhile. Moreover, perhaps it is through people’s struggles, such as illness, the passing of loved ones, or job loss, that they come to understand what is important to them. It is crucial for a person to identify a personal meaning in life and then surround themselves with additional activities that help to live out that meaning.
Hedonistic and Eudemonic Views of Happiness
There are major paths to happiness, that is, hedonistic and eudemonic perspectives. Those who believe in hedonism suggest that for them to be happy, they must maximize pleasure while avoiding pain. To elaborate on that, the view takes more of satisfying human desires and short-term appetites, which may change after a given period. The eudaimonic strategy, on the other hand, considers the big picture. It contends that individuals need to live genuinely and for the benefit of society. People should strive for significance and potential by being kind, just, honest, and courageous. In the eudemonic approach, there is a recommendation that people should live authentically and for what is termed as the ‘greater good’ (Dowthwaite par. 8). In that aspect, the key matter to pursue is kindness, bravery, and honesty for the potential of being happy. In contrast, if one views happiness from a hedonistic perspective, one will need to keep looking for new joys and experiences to top it off. In order to maintain a positive attitude, there will also be an effort to minimize unpleasant and painful sensations.
People’s Definition of Meaningful Life
Various matters give people a sense of purpose that catalyzes their feelings about life. Many people consider family and friends as the main subjects of this issue. There is a concrete feeling of pleasure and completion when individuals take care of others. On a similar note, some people feel a sense of life through art, culture, exploration, and interaction. Additionally, people have been said to measure what is meaningful to them through challenges faced in daily life. For example, the author says that ‘…we figure out what is meaningful to us through our challenges — illness, loss of a loved one, or losing a job (Cuddy par. 10). There is no place that someone can travel to where they will always be happy and safe from harm. Everyone, however, possesses a sense of purpose, and the trip will go much more smoothly if people take the time to discover it, express it, and enrich their lives. Hence, it means what matters to people is the discovery of meaningful subjects which enable them to pursue their desired insights that enable happiness.
Importance of Experiencing Adversity
When people experience adversity, they can grow from it depending on the response they have to the same. This point seems similar to the other article, as the author mentioned that allowing flexibility of different emotional states contributes to understanding happiness. The author says that ‘… many describe their experience as a catalyst for profound change and transformation, leading to a phenomenon known as post-traumatic growth’ (Dowthwaite par. 12). On that matter, it is possible to have people who faced difficulties such as illness or loss being happier and more meaningful than before when they learn to respond to adversity positively. Living a happy and fulfilling life is about personal progress by discovering purpose, as opposed to feeling joyful, which is a fleeting emotion. It is about embracing the good experiences and utilizing the bad ones in order to attain one’s full potential. It entails accepting humanity with all of its highs and lows.
Conclusion
Overall, understanding happiness may be challenging since it differs across individuals and depends on context and environment. In this essay, two essays that discuss the notion of happiness from different perspectives but with the same main point—that happiness is dynamic and that there are no fixed features or moments of bliss that may last a person their entire life—are contrasted. Although Cuddy and Dowthwaite have different perspectives on the matter, they both concur that it is natural for individuals not always to be happy. First off, without unpleasant experiences or mundane days filled with routine, humans would lack a basis for comparison and would be unable to experience a delight. Second, it is feasible to achieve by giving a life purpose and value, such as by setting and achieving specified goals, which yet cannot be achieved without both happy and unhappy times. Finally, even the pursuit of hedonism as a means of attaining ultimate pleasure is doomed to failure over time; yet, adhering to the eudemonic notion of striving to be a better person will make one happier.
Works Cited
Cuddy, Amy. “Looking for Happiness? Try Purpose Instead – the Boston Globe.”The Boston Globe, 2019. Web.
Dowthwaite, Lowri. “True Happiness Isn’t About Being Happy All the Time.”The Conversation, 2022. Web.