In class this week, we were assigned a reading on thriving, focusing on happiness. Buettner, the author of this novel, claims that six factors will determine whether you thrive or not; your community, workplace, social life, financial life, home, and self. Limiting the work week and shopping hours and adding on vacation time and taking a maternity leave will help you become more social. Doing so, helps you create stronger interactions and connections with other people, leading you to that happy life you've always dreamed of. Finding the right job for you, one that you are passionate about, will help you become satisfied with the life you are living, as well. So many people choose their career due to the salary they will earn, but most of those people quickly lose interest and gain a confusion of their role in life.
I was relieved to find that, even though he talks about financial life being important, Buettner never says that money equals happiness. He mentions that "individuals who thrive tend to possess enough money to cover their basic needs, but rather than striving for more cash, they focus their time and energy on developing a caring group of healthy friends, working at meaningful jobs, engaging in enriching hobbies" (210). In America, even if we have enough money and materials to live, we want more and more...and more. Instead of doing so, we need to realize that the gaining bonds with the people around us is more important.
Overall, he talks about how we should reach out to different types of people, prioritize what's most important to them and value that, and get involved in their community/environment actively. Americans could learn a lot from this, and following these rules would be ideal, but we are shaped by our surroundings to want more, to have that desire for instant gratification, and do what the media and money tells us to do instead of what we want to do. These factors are great and beneficial, but the most important thing that can determine what "thrive" means to you and your life is where you live.
I liked that you mentioned that Americans are driven by our need for instant gratification. that is a unique take. Great Post!
ReplyDeleteI loved your expression! It is true that you should do things that are best for you. Just doing the work that earns u lot of money doesn't guarantee happiness.
ReplyDeleteI really liked what you said about how Americans can learn a lot from this article. Most of the values stated were things many Americans don't follow.
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