The most “sought after” emotion in life is happiness, and yet it is the most difficult for scientists to explain. Happiness is often interpreted to be positive, but there are numerous downsides to this cheerful emotion. Due to the expectations that often accompany it, one’s happiness tends to cause feelings of betrayal and depression. Researchers conclude that those who are constantly happy, or strive to be, are the same people that often dread attending family events. For instance, “Don’t Worry, Be Gloomy” by Susan David states “Striving for happiness establishes an expectation and confirms the saying that expectations are resentments waiting to happen.
Although it is great to be happy, that is not the only emotion people need in order to live a balanced and healthy life. Other emotions, such as sadness, fear, and anger, also play a significant role in the lives of many humans. Negative emotions are just as important as positive emotions. Though they may be quite unpleasant, negative emotions like sadness and fear play a vital role in human development. For example, in the article
The article “Happiness: Enough Already” explains this idea more thoroughly by stating, “Being ‘up’ all the time can cause you to play down very real threats” (Begley 456). A positive state of mind may cause one to neglect dangers and act out more sporadically, for the person believes he or she is just living life to the fullest (David 124). This seems great until it leads to the end of one’s life. Instead of taking antidepressants or constantly pursuing this detrimental state of happiness, one should accept that sadness, anger, and other feelings of negativity are not bad, but they actually allow for one to grow and reach success in a more optimal
Men in many societies are encouraged to never show weakness and are degraded and shunned for displaying emotions, such as sadness. When lifestyles only allow happiness, an individual’s behavior can become repetitive and reckless. According to Susan David, when people are happy all the time, they tend to partake in risky, careless behavior (124). Negative or “in between” moods allow people to form slower and wiser decisions. This is because people in somber moods tend to think more skeptically (David 125).
When given the choice people tend to choose happiness over depression or a comedy over a tragedy. It is rarely acknowledged that, “ ‘Negative’ moods summon a more attentive, accommodating thinking style that leads you to really examine facts in a fresh and creative way” (David 125). While under the influence of a negative emotion, it can be difficult to find motivation to participate in even the most mundane action. This lack of motivation allows for more time between the formation of an idea and the execution. Negative emotions allow for more time to consider audacious action and more rational thinking that includes many more factors than just being happy.
However, it is a traditional thinking, because a real story that happiness is a feeling exist in ourselves, it is something you always owned. Therefore, you always have a choice that you want to happiness or not. Most of us spend countless time in stress, anxiety and sorrow and even anger. Even if you attempt any way, you are not still so sure about what kind of feeling you will achieve. So the best way to be happy is very simple that create happiness in yourself by respect everything which you have, as well as accept and love yourself.
However, studies have shown that happiness can cause a person to become carefree, which puts them in dangerous situations. According to David, “An excess of freewheeling giddiness and a relative absence of more sober emotions can even be a marker for mania, a dangerous symptom of psychological illness” (124). Although one of positive psychologists’ goal is to decrease mental illnesses, such as depression, putting too much emphasis on being happy can lead to even more mental illness. The criticism that negative emotions receive can cause a lack of thought about decisions and in the end, can increase the number of people suffering from mental
It shows him or her how great being cheerful feels and can cause more positive thinking and lifestyle changes to be made that aid continuing or achieving happiness. Many begin to make changes in their life quickly to increase happiness after they have just experienced a “negative” feeling. One may not have a job and feels that getting one will increase their happiness. In a study by Jeffrey Kluger he states “a bad job is better than no job: previously out-of-work people are happier even if a new job has poor pay and hours.” One might make a change similar to this. Or may decide to change another aspect to create happiness in their life.
Are people supposed to be happy 100 percent of the time? While happiness is a key to living healthy, other emotions play a big role in individuals’ wellbeing such as: sadness, fear, anger, anxiety, and guilt. Being happy boosts one’s selfesteem, while being sad often makes one feel hopeless. People need to embrace their emotions rather than trying to conceal them. Everyone experiences different emotions, including: sadness, anger, fear, anxiety, and guilt at some point in their lives.
This means that we will seek their happiness through this success and are constantly trying to be as successful as possible in order to make you happier. But since it is impossible to be truly happy on the basis of external factors, we the true happiness in fact almost never even feel it. Will experience some moments of apparent happiness when, for example, get a lot of money or achieve success at work or when this would have been, they would still unhappy because we connect our happiness with success. And mostly because the society in which we live based on such