Critique: Everyone Wants to be happy, Almost Everyone is going about it Wrong
Therapists are always ready and willing to help their clients get the satisfaction they need in life. The author of the text, Sherry Amatenstein believes that it is the therapists’ professional obligation to make guide their clients have a positive perspective about life. The author points out that most clients admit that happiness is a priority goal to them. However, their definition of happiness is very different. These differences make the therapists find out that their clients are misguided. For instance, some believe that they can get happiness if they get all they need, a situation that leads to good feelings. Such feelings give a clear indication that they
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Although it is easy to face a challenge and get a solution within few minutes, some tragedies and traumas in life can take some time. For instance, if a beloved dies of cancer, how long can that situation last? It must be quite long. However, the author indicates that clients can overcome such life traumas if they spend some time relaxing, plying games, and maybe staying with loved ones. Again, one of the author’s clients believed that getting a negative review is the most traumatizing moment in his life. The author had to put across that we should never live in a hypothetical world. Individuals should accept that they cannot always be happy, but they have to face some moments of sadness. The author insists that dealing with depression attacks become easier when the client is in a good place. As such, Amatenstein’s pieces of advice that keeping bad feelings and pretending they did not face them cannot help. Any individual has to face them and find solutions before they land them into …show more content…
For instance, some get to wonder when they see people with the latest cars, gadgets, big beautiful houses, and expensive wardrobes. They think that such people should be the happiest in the world. The fantasy they are in is due to a crafty that lasting happiness is because of expensive things. However, this is not the case as most of these people are the unhappiest people. With this example, the author had a client who got in debts with a shoe dealer. The client would always buy such expensive shoes whenever she was depressed since they would last longer in her closet. To get her out of such a pleasure-seeking behavior, the therapist told her that such expensive items lead to short-lived pleasures.
Some clients have their parents to blame after facing some traumas in life. For instance, from the text, it is evident that the one client’s parents did not have time for her. As a result, they just bought her anything she would ask for after seeing it on TV. However, her strong craving was just to get their love and attention rather than have the things. The author indicates that after advising her, she sold most of her shoes, and she does not like visiting shopping websites. She learned that the most important thing in life was getting satisfied with oneself and their lifestyle than their
1. The main idea is not only that owning stuff is not the key to happiness, it’s also that consumers today own more than they need to thrive which directly impacts the environment. Hill illustrates the environmental impact by showing statistics of global warming today versus the past century, and how consumerism is leading to a hotter climate. Hill debunks claims of buying happiness by discussing a study where stress hormones spike to their highest when people are managing their personal belongings. Hill’s most prominent example that consumerism is not the answer is himself, as he discusses some of the most stressful times of his life being right after coming into a large sum of money and buying whatever he fancied. When Hill concludes his article, he states that “I have less—and enjoy more. My space is small. My life is big” (213).
If I got lost in a desolate desert , I would survive because I value things that are essential and beneficial for survival. King Tut would have died if he got lost because he values items like gold and jewelry, whereas I bring the essentials. This is a good habit because money does not bring happiness into anyone’s life. It is the moments that they spend with their family that bring true happiness into their life. When people value material possessions greater than their own or their family's survival won’t live a happy life. This essay will include “The Necklace”, “Civil Peace”, and “The Thrill of the Chase”.
On a sunny Saturday morning with beautiful blue skies, and birds chirping, James Hamblin was in his balcony with a cup of coffee on his desk eager to write his short argumentative essay titled “Buy Experiences, Not Things”. In this short essay, Hamblin wanted to depict the fact that happiness in individuals, is mainly due to experiential purchases than to material purchases. One of the things he said to prove that point was “waiting for an experience elicits more happiness and excitement than waiting for a material good’ (Hamblin, 2014). He also stated that “a mind should remain in one place, and a mind that wanders too much is a sign of lack of happiness” (Hamblin, 2014). Instead of buying the latest iPhone, or Samsung galaxy, we should spend
Happiness is a feeling that everyone tries to accomplish, yet some people sometimes only capture portions of it. In Brian Doyle essay, “Irreconcilable Dissonance,” he explains that divorce is becoming common among many couples today. Most couples are putting less effort into making a relationship/marriage work. There are many couples who get married, and most of them know that if the marriage does not work that divorce is always an option. With divorce in their back of their mind they lack the true meaning of having a happy marriage. In Eduardo Porter essay, “What Is Happiness,” Porter states that happiness is determined by people’s qualities in their life. People who experience a positive viewpoint on life and about others are overall to
He tries to grab the attention of his audience whom includes anyone who desires what they cannot have. Lasn also draws in his audience’s attention when he writes about “The state college you graduated from left you with a $35,000 debt” (pp 114, paragraph 4). This quote implies that the average college student always has student loan debt. Nothing in life is perfect so someone is always dreaming of a better life thinking that all their problems will be solved. But nothing is set in stone. Famous name brands mentioned in the essay continuously show how luxury is one of the things a person desires to
The studies given as examples and discussion focuses on teenagers and young adults, but includes anyone is struggling to find happiness. Evidence to Support Thesis: Point 1: The level of well-being is emphasized as more people continue to lose track of what makes them happy. Shawn Anchor is reminding people to capture the essence of simple contentment and asking his audience to think about what they value. Anchor’s book provides seven principles that involve having an open mind to becoming happier. Anchor includes other research studies as evidence to his claims throughout the book.
Li, a teenager, is enraptured by this western product, witnessing the duality of lifestyles portrayed by media and reality. Whereas her reality is poor in contrast, describing how “half the people [she] knew cooked in the hallways” because they had no kitchen, Tang glorifies a lifestyle of luxury and wealth. By falling for the persuasive advertisement, Li becomes obsessed with Tang and the lifestyle it represents. Within the Tang advertisement, all individuals had “healthy complexions and toothy, carefree smiles” and a “kitchen [that] was spacious and brightly lighted,” an ideal desired by lower-income families. Because this vision did not fit Li’s reality, Li becomes resentful and jealous, as it is not the lifestyle she has. Li effectively utilizes pathos in this instance by evoking a sympathetic effect. Similar to a baby who wants a candy bar but is given a strawberry instead, Li desires this luxurious lifestyle but is given her current
Erika’s sweet sixteen is today, and her parents bought her a brand new car. She pulls into the school’s parking lot and flaunts about how her parents not only got her a car, but also a trip to Italy. People start to walk away, even some of her best friends. As the day goes on, her friends have not talked to her since morning. Fed up, Erika asks them what is wrong. Kristie, one of her friends, tells her how they cannot stand listening to her talk about her ostentatious gifts anymore. When Erika gets home from school, her mom asks her what is wrong. It is then she realizes what her friends were trying to say and tells her mother she does not want the car anymore. Her mother, astounded, asks why not and gets a reply of money cannot buy friends, nor can it buy happiness. According to “Does Money Buy Happiness,” by Don Peck and Ross Douthat, they disagree with the connection between money and happiness.
Upon reading more closely, the story is revealed to present a tragic journey of a man who has lost his sanity but seeks solace in the materialistic comforts of his old life. The story succeeds in making a number of statements about human nature: that wealth is the most powerful measure of social status and anyone without it will face ostracization; that denial of one 's mistakes and unfortunate circumstances only leads to more pain; that even the most optimistic people can hold dark secrets and emotional turmoil inside them. All of these themes compel the reader to ponder their real-life implications long after the story is
Through a series of assessment tools, she reveals the types of activities that we can commit to doing on a daily basis which will improve our level of happiness. She reinforces the numerous benefits of being happier. Happier people are more sociable and energetic, more charitable and cooperative, and better liked by others. Being happy boosts their immune systems, improves productivity, and can lead to a longer life. It allows them to be more creative and...
Who doesn’t like shopping? I can’t name one person. Phyllis rose states many positive qualities in her essay “Shopping and Other Spiritual Adventures in America Today”. One of the positives qualities she mentions about shopping is that it’s a form of therapy. Being that I love to shop. Rather it’s online or going to the stores it’s something I also find very therapeutic. You don't really need, let's say, another sweater. You need the feeling of power that comes with buying or not buying it. You need the feeling that someone wants something you have--even if it's just your money. To get the benefit of shopping, you needn't actually purchase the sweater. After a long stressful work or school day there’s nothing more relaxing than walking around
An individual 's happiness is vital to their overall wellbeing and is affected by numerous factors, all to varying extents.
Real happiness is more than brief positive feelings but rather a lasting state of peace or contentedness. According to Reich, a former professor of psychology at Arizona State University, happiness is “deeper than a momentary good mood” (Reich). When ordinary happiness is experienced, Jacobsen, a professor in the Department
Instead they rely completely on money to be happy. People often do not appreciate what they have, and they feel like they deserve better, and they complain instead of making the best of what they have. It is not necessary to be rich to enjoy life. Often those who have everything tend to live miserably. People can become too attached to money to the point that they forget about enjoying life and caring for their family. The theme of materialism is shown throughout the story of “The Rocking Horse Winner” to explain how being too attached to money can ruin people’s lives.
Daisy Grewal, who holds a BA in psychology from UCLA and PhD in social psychology from Yale University, put an article on scientificamerican on February 18, 2014 —“A happy life may not be a meaningful life.” This essay points out that happiness and meaning do not always go together.