“Happiness is nothing more than good health and bad memory.”

           Albert Schweitzer

 

“When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others

feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.”

The Dalai Lama

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”
Helen Keller

         

Independent Task

 

E  Speaking Activity:     top

Instructions:   Read the following question.  On a piece of paper, takes notes on the main points of a response.  Then respond to the question.   

 

   -----  Preparation Time:  15 seconds        -----         Response Time:  45 seconds -----

            Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? 

            “The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise man grows it under his feet.”

                                                                                                                 James Oppenheim
 

Note to instructor:   For a variation on this activity, assign the students 10 minutes to formulate their answer to this question on a piece of paper.  Have the students share their responses with the rest of the class/group.  As a follow-up, select two students to write their responses on the board for peer/instructor editing. 

Integrated Task Part 1

 

$  Reading Activity    top

Instructions:    Read the following passage.  On a piece of paper, take notes on the main points of the reading passage.   

-----  Reading Time:  2 minutes  -----

For centuries, philosophers, mystics and artists have grappled with the question:  What is Happiness?   More recently, scientists have entered this debate in a quest to determine what might be the contributing factors to attain happiness.  What is certain is that happiness is the result of electrical activity in the left part of the brain which appears to be correlated to a sense of wellbeing that is achieved through personal, emotional, and financial success.  We all know some people who appear to have nothing yet are very happy.  Conversely, we know people who appear to have everything but are utterly dissatisfied.  It seems that one thing is for certain, happiness is irrational and unpredictable.  Notwithstanding this basic premise, happiness, like love, fear and guilt, is an emotion and like all emotions it has causes which theoretically, can be understood and controlled.   Not to be confused with joy, happiness is not the result of one fleeting experience, but rather an accumulation of moments of pleasure, a reward for achieving romance, friendship and success.  Once an individual attains confidence and self-worth, he/she is well on the road to attaining that elusive feeling we call happiness. 

NOTES: 

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Integrated Task Part 2

O   Listening Activity    top

Instructions:    Listen to the following lecture on happiness.  On a piece of paper, take notes on the main points of the lecture. 

NOTES:  

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¤ Now answer the following question: 

-----  Writing Time 20 minutes -----

            How does the information presented in the listening passage add to the ideas presented in the  reading passage?  

 


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Follow-up Task

$   Reading Activity     top

Instructions:    Read the text and answer the questions which follow.

[1]  In Happiness:  Lessons from a New Science, British economist Richard Laynard has attempted to find a so-called “scientific” link, or concordance, for happiness.  His underlying premise is that wealth doesn’t necessarily lead to happiness.  Specifically, he points out that the steady economic growth in western countries since the 1950s has not contributed to a corresponding increase in a general feeling of ‘happiness’ among the population.  According to Layard, because money has diminishing returns, we quickly get use to higher incomes and thus, we need ever-increasing salaries in order to maintain our current level of happiness.  In fact, because so much of our sense of well-being is attached to our position in society, no matter how much money we have, there will always be someone who has more.  Consequently, what makes others happy tends to make us less happy. 

[2]  Not to dispute the validity of Laynard’s argument, many, including me, feel that it is not that simple because there are many other contributing factors.

[3]  First, there appears to be lots of support for the argument that money, in some respects, does buy happiness.  One needs only to look at the direct relation between poverty in the Third World and the ensuing misery that it entails.  However, even Laynard agrees that after a certain point, approximately $20,000/year, the influence of income on happiness tends to decrease. 

[4]  Second, numerous surveys clearly show that an absence of hope and opportunity correlates to strong feelings of unhappiness.  Even in poorer countries, when there is optimism in the future, usually the result of markets opening up and a steady increase in income level, people generally report feeling happier than they used to.   For a recent example of this we need only look to Ireland which has demonstrated a steady economic growth since 1990 and reports to have a happier populous.   When we believe that our children will have a better life than we have, we feel that our lives have a sense of purpose and thus, we feel euphoric. 

[5]  Third, happiness is intricately tied to freedom.  This freedom is not merely a licence to pursue whatever we want, but also the freedom to say ‘no’.  While some individuals strive to work more and earn more, others choose to withdraw from the dog-eat-dog world and take some more time for themselves and family.  A survey conducted by Robert Fogul showed that “48% of Americans had, in the last five years, reduced their working hours, declined promotion, lowered their material expectations or moved to a quieter place.” 

[6]  Fourth, people who are actively engaged are more likely to be happy.  Evolution seems to have wired our brains to be busy and productive in order to survive.  Therefore, it is not surprising that lottery winners generally report little or no increase in their level of happiness after winning the lottery.  Furthermore, this may account for our desire to ‘complicate’ our free time with busy, creative and challenging tasks.  Although sitting in front of the TV for hours seems enticing, it often leads to feelings of isolation and boredom.      

[7]  Finally, if happiness stems from a sense of competence and activity, the concept of the ‘welfare state’, a government which provides everything, may in fact be even more detrimental to our quest for happiness than if we were to win the lottery.   With the absence of challenge, comes the absence of motivation and thus, our purpose in life.  Hence, a life without purpose is a life without happiness.  If we follow this argument to its logical conclusion, we can say that although government can’t buy us happiness, it can provide us the freedom to pursue or goals which in turn might furnish us with that elusive prize known as happiness.

 

1.  The phrase “according to” (in paragraph one) is used to:  
(a) introduce an example   (b) provide further information   (c) contradict a point   (d) pose a question

2.  The word “correlates” (in paragraph four) is closest in meaning to:  
(a) associated with (b) combines with (c) contradicts (d) solidifies  

3.  The word “populous” (in paragraph four) is a: 
(a) noun    (b) verb    (c) adjective     (d) adverb

4.  Based on the context of this passage, the phrase “dog-eat-dog world” (in paragraph five) most probably means: 
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5.  The phrase “pay off” (in paragraph four) means:   ________________________________________

6.  Use the word “enticing” (in paragraph six) in your own sentence.

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7.  Arrange the following items in order based on their influence on an individual’s level of happiness.  
Be prepared to defend your ranking. 

financial security     the esteem of your co-workers    happy children   a happy marriage/partnership good health       political freedom      a network of supportive friends

The most important

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2.  ___________________________

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The least important

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