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Happiness And Happiness: The Concept Of Happiness

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Happiness is a concept in modern society that has nearly achieved a “fad” status. It is an idea that has rapidly developed into a buzzword, a popular phenomenon that people spend their lives attempting to figure out and ultimately, achieve. I set out to determine a set of explanations on what truly makes us happy. Is it the instantaneous burst of joy that I receive from my morning cup of coffee that qualifies me as “happy”? Is it the lifelong relationship I have developed with my siblings that has left me feeling satisfied and excited to go home at the end of the day? Is it the struggle of working long hours in a sweltering kitchen for hours and the reward of money I will eventually receive? Or is it the awards and accolades that have received for achieving my goals? Each an every experience shapes me and contributes to my so labeled “happiness”. The question still remains, however; which is the ultimate form and pure bliss and how does one find it?

I have lived the majority of my life with a dominantly positive attitude. I have always found ease in optimism. I have always been capable of seeing the “bright side”. Thus, I have lived my life with the assumption that I am wholeheartedly happy. This, however, is a conception that has recently been tested by the discovery of hedonic vs eudaimonic happiness. As told by Dr. Ilona Boniwell, an expert in the field of positive psychology, to live one 's life through the lens of hedonic happiness is to “striv[e] for maximisation

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