Alexandra Irvin

Professor Deby Jizi

UWRT 1102
27 January 2016

Double Entry Journal

Citation:
Lyubormisky, Sonja. "How Happy Are You and Why?" 2015. Pursuing Happiness: A
Bedford Spotlight Reader. Place of Publication Not Identified: Bedford Bks St Martin'S, 2015.
179-96. Print.

Source: Quote (Page# or Paragraph #)

Responses

Its especially frustrating and perplexing to

be around such individuals when theyre in
the same difficult or troubling situation as we
are but seem happy in spite of it. (179)

Sometimes being around people like that

make you feel even more unhappy because
you feel like you arent doing something right.

As Angela sees it, Ella doesnt always have

what the other kids have, but she gets more
love than she could possibly want. (180)

I think that Angela has discovered for herself

and is teaching her daughter that family
support and love is more important than
material possessions.

Its virtually impossible to face ones

shadows alone. (180)

Even though Angelas life has been so hard

and many people have let her down she still
realizes the importance of having friends and
a support network.

Randy is an eternal optimist and claims that Sometimes you have to focus on the positive
seeing the silver lining in the cloud has
and know things are going to get better or
always been his key to survival. (181)
sadness can overtake you.
Although she is pleased with her academic
achievements, she believes that she cant
truly enjoy those achievements because of a
lack of self-confidence. (182)

It makes me sad to know that there are

people who, for whatever reason cant see
just how blessed their life is. Maybe
sometimes its easier for people that have
experienced tragedy to realize how precious
life is and to just enjoy it and be happy.

We cant define it, but we know it when we

see it. (184)

There isnt anything to truly define what

happiness is. Each person has to figure out

what truly makes them happy and its different

for different people
Happiness is not out there for us to find.
(185)

You cant buy happiness. You have to decide

inside yourself to be happy and no one is
going to take that away from you.

The reality is that the elements that

determined our happiness in the past, and
can make for future happiness, are with us
right now and are right here waiting to be
taken advantage of. (185)

What brings us happiness is always around

us, its just whether or not we choose to
recognize and accept it.

Many of us, especially those of us who are

not very happy, believe that our
unhappiness is genetic and theres really
nothing we can do about it. (186)

If genetics truly played a role in it then those

people who come from parents who are
abusive and unhappy would be genetically
more likely to be unhappy. However, in the
previous stories of Angela and randy both of
them proved that genetics has nothing to do
with making your own happiness.

But the research also shows us that yes,

while 50 percent of the differences among
our happiness levels is determined by set
points (and 10 percent, lets not forget, by
circumstances), fully 40 percent is still
available to us to mold. (189)

Research may show that happiness has a set

point, however, I truly believe that I have a
higher bearing on whether or not I am happy

But just because your happiness set point

cannot be changed doesnt mean that your
happiness level cannot be changed. (190)

We cant believe that were born unhappy. We

must choose to be happy and enjoy our life.

In a fascinating discovery, he notices that

happy people show greater activity in one
side of their brain than the other, and
unhappy people show the reverse pattern.
(193)

Its interesting to think that the left side of your

brain could have a significant impact on your
happiness.

Indeed, contrary to popular belief, people

actually get happier with age. (195)

This quote Is very true because I think the

older you get the more you realize how
valuable life is and how you need to enjoy
and be happy with every moment you have.

There is no happiness without action.

(196)

Again, we can make our happiness.