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Essay on Happiness

List of essays on happiness, essay on happiness – short essay (essay 1 – 150 words), essay on happiness – for kids and children (essay 2 – 200 words), essay on happiness – 10 lines on happiness written in english (essay 3 – 250 words), essay on happiness (essay 4 – 300 words), essay on happiness – ways to be happy (essay 5 – 400 words), essay on happiness – for school students (class 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 standard) (essay 6 – 500 words), essay on happiness – ways of developing happiness (essay 7 – 600 words), essay on happiness – sources of suffering, happiness and conclusion (essay 8 – 750 words), essay on happiness – long essay on happiness (essay 9 – 1000 words).

Happiness is defined by different people in different ways. When we feel positive emotions we tend to feel happy. That is what happiness is all about. Happiness is also regarded as the mental state of a person in an optimistic manner.

Every person defines happiness in his/her own manner. In whatever manner you may define happiness; the truth is that it is vital for a healthy and prosperous life.

In order to make students understand what true happiness is all about, we have prepared short essays for students which shall enlighten them further on this topic.

Audience: The below given essays are exclusively written for school students (Class 3, 4 ,5, 6 and 7 Standard).

Introduction:

Happiness is a state of mind and the feeling expressed when things are going great. It is what we feel when we get our first car, buy a new house or graduate with the best grades. Happiness should be distinguished from joy. When joy is a constant state of mind, happiness depends on events in our lives.

Importance of Happiness:

The opposite of happiness is sadness which is a state of negativity in the mindset. When we remain sad for an extended period of time it can lead to depression. To avoid this state of mind we must always remind ourselves of happenings in our lives that made us happy.

Conclusion:

Though life throws countless challenges at us on a daily basis, if we drown in those challenges we would definitely become depressed. It is important that we find positive things in our daily lives to get excited about and feel the happiness.

Happiness is a state of mind which makes you feel accomplished in life and having everything in this world without a single reason to repent. Well, although there can be no perfect definition of happiness; happiness is when you feel you’re at the top of the world where a sense of complete satisfaction prevails.

The meaning of happiness is relative and varies from people to people. For some, happiness is when you experience professional success, reunions with family and friends, eating out, reading books or watching good movies. While for others, happiness can be accomplished by some weekend activities which might help you de-stress and get the satisfaction of mind.

If you involve yourself in social activities where you help the needy and provide support to the weaker section of the society, you can experience happiness if not anything else. When a young boy flies a kite, plays with mud, and watches the nature, for him, that is the greatest happiness in the world.

The happiness of mind is often considered quite contrary to jealousy and anger which you experience once you have failed or unaccomplished any desired goal. You should always try to rehearse the ways of keeping yourself satisfied and keeping away from negativity to experience peace and happiness in life. True happiness begins where desire ends!

What is happiness? It is a state of being happy. But it does not mean to be happy all the time. Happiness is a feeling of something good that is happening in our life. We feel happy when we achieve something. But happiness is spread when our dear one is happy as well. Some people find true happiness in playing with their pets, while some may find happiness in staying engaged in creative work.

Happiness is often derived from channelizing thoughts to positive thinking. However, it is not as simple as it may sound.

To achieve the state of complete happiness one has to practice on improving the state of life by:

1. Staying contended in life with what you have. Cribbing and grumbling never lead to happiness.

2. Staying focused on the current life instead of daydreaming of the good days or old days.

3. Stop blaming for something that went terribly wrong in life. The life is all about moving on. Stop worrying and set new goals in life.

4. Being thankful to God for all the good things that you have in your life.

5. Having good people around you who can boost up positivity in your life.

Everyone desires to be happy in life. Happiness cannot be achieved without establishing complete control of one’s thoughts as it is very easy to be carried away by the waves of thoughts and emotions surrounding us. Remind yourself of the good things of your life and be thankful about it.

What is happiness? Some would state that happiness implies being well off. Others would state that for them, happiness intends to be sound. You will discover individuals saying that for them happiness implies having love in their life, having numerous companions, a great job, or accomplishing a specific objective. There are individuals, who trust that the want of a specific wish would make happiness in their life; however, it may not be so. Having true happiness is something which is desired by all.

The Path to Happiness:

There are small things which when incorporated into our daily lives, can lead us to the path of happiness. For instance, instead of thinking about problems, we should actually be thinking about the solutions. Not only will we be happier but we shall also be able to solve our problems faster. Similarly, once in a while, you start the day with the longing to achieve a few targets. Toward the day’s end, you may feel disappointed and miserable, in light of the fact that you haven’t possessed the capacity to do those things. Take a look at what you have done, not at what you have not possessed the capacity to do. Regularly, regardless of whether you have achieved a ton amid the day, you let yourself feel disappointed, due to some minor assignments you didn’t achieve. This takes away happiness from you.

Again, now and then, you go throughout the day effectively completing numerous plans, yet as opposed to feeling cheerful and fulfilled, you see what was not cultivated and feel troubled. It is out of line towards you.

Each day accomplishes something good which you enjoy doing. It may tend to be something little, such as purchasing a book, eating something you cherish, viewing your most loved program on TV, heading out to a motion picture, or simply having a walk around the shoreline. Even small things can bring great levels of happiness in our lives and motivate us for new goals.

Happiness is not what you feel from outside, rather it is something which comes from your inner soul. We should find happiness in us rather than searching for it in worldly desires.

Happiness is defined by different people in different ways. Some find happiness in having a luxurious life while some find it in having loving people around them rather than money. True happiness lies within us and our expectation of happiness. It is something that should be felt and cannot be explained in words.

Even though this simple word has a lot of meaning hidden in it, many fail to understand the real one or feel the real happiness. Finding happiness in the outer world is the main reason for this failure. Nothing can buy you happiness, whether be the favorite thing you desire for or the person you love the most or the career you build, unless and until you feel it within yourself.

Ways to be Happy:

Bring happiness and soulful life to yourself rather than expecting it from the outside world like things, money, etc. Being happy is not as easy as advised to be one happier person. To be content and happy with whatever you have and yourself it takes time and patience. You should practice to be a happier person in all moments and eventually you will notice that no sorrow can sink you down.

Whatever good or bad happened in your past shouldn’t bother your present. Learn to live today with more happiness than yesterday and forget about your past sadness for a harmonious life. Thankfulness to the life you got is another important character you should acquire to be happy. If you compare yourself with someone with better luxurious life, then you will never be happy or content and do it the other way.

Don’t depress your mind with bad and negative thoughts about yourself and around. Try to find every goodness in a situation you face and accept the things that already happened, whether good or bad. Never forget to choose merrier and positive people to be closer to you so that their vibes will also help you in being one merrier person.

Whenever you feel low and depressed never hesitate to go to those around you to find happiness. But be aware of those negative ones that may pull you even deeper into the bad thoughts. Always surround yourself with positive thinking and motivating people so that you can rise higher even from the deepest fall.

Happiness is nothing but a feeling that will be seeded into your soul only if you wish to and nothing other than yourself can indulge this feeling in you. Don’t spoil your life finding happiness somewhere else.

Happiness is a very complicated thing. Happiness can be used both in emotional or mental state context and can vary largely from a feeling from contentment to very intense feeling of joy. It can also mean a life of satisfaction, good well-being and so many more. Happiness is a very difficult phenomenon to use words to describe as it is something that can be felt only. Happiness is very important if we want to lead a very good life. Sadly, happiness is absent from the lives of a lot of people nowadays. We all have our own very different concept of happiness. Some of us are of the opinion that we can get happiness through money, others believe they can only get true happiness in relationships, some even feel that happiness can only be gotten when they are excelling in their profession.

As we might probably know, happiness is nothing more than the state of one being content and happy. A lot of people in the past, present and some (even in the future will) have tried to define and explain what they think happiness really is. So far, the most reasonable one is the one that sees happiness as something that can only come from within a person and should not be sought for outside in the world.

Some very important points about happiness are discussed below:

1. Happiness can’t be bought with Money:

A lot of us try to find happiness where it is not. We associate and equate money with happiness. If at all there is happiness in money then all of the rich people we have around us would never feel sad. What we have come to see is that even the rich amongst us are the ones that suffer depression, relationship problems, stress, fear and even anxiousness. A lot of celebrities and successful people have committed suicide, this goes a long way to show that money or fame does not guarantee happiness. This does not mean that it is a bad thing to be rich and go after money. When you have money, you can afford many things that can make you and those around you very happy.

2. Happiness can only come from within:

There is a saying that explains that one can only get true happiness when one comes to the realisation that only one can make himself/herself happy. We can only find true happiness within ourselves and we can’t find it in other people. This saying and its meaning is always hammered on in different places but we still refuse to fully understand it and put it into good use. It is very important that we understand that happiness is nothing more than the state of a person’s mind. Happiness cannot come from all the physical things we see around us. Only we through our positive emotions that we can get through good thoughts have the ability to create true happiness.

Our emotions are created by our thoughts. Therefore, it is very important that we work on having only positive thoughts and this can be achieved when we see life in a positive light.

Happiness is desired by every person. However, there are very few persons that attain happiness easily in life.

It is quite tough to get happiness in life as people usually link it with the things and the people around them. The simple fact is that happiness usually starts as well as finishes with your own life. All those people who understand this fact easily get the true happiness in their life.

Happiness in Relationships:

There are lots of people who link happiness with the money and there are few others also who link it with the personal relations. It is very important to know that if you are not happy with yourself then, it is not possible to remain happy in your relationship as well.

The problems in the relationship have been increasing speedily and the main cause behind it is the huge amount of expectation that we have from the other individual. We always want them to make us feel happy. For example, some people feel happy if their partner plans a surprise for them or if he/she buy them a new dress. But all these things are not a true source of happiness in life.

Ways of Developing Happiness:

The lack of happiness in the relationship not only exists in couples but also in the relationship of friends, sister – brother or parent-child.

The following are the few ways that help in creating happiness in the relationships:

1. Pay Attention to Yourself:

You should always pay attention to yourself to get happiness. You should not give importance to any other person in your life in comparison to yourself and also expect the same from that person. Giving too much importance to the other and not receiving anything back from them makes a person disappointed and happiness gets lost.

2. Have some Initiative:

You can make the plan of traveling outside yourself. Don’t wait for your parent, partner or kid to take you outside. You can ask them to come along with you if they want. But, if they decline your offer then, don’t get discouraged and carry on your trip plan along with full happiness.

3. Provide some Space:

It is necessary to provide some amount of space to every individual and spend some time with oneself. It helps in creating happiness.

Happiness is Necessary for Good Life:

It does not matter that whether you are a working expert, a schoolchild, a retired person or a housewife, happiness is necessary for everybody to live a good and happy life. Happiness is essential for an individual’s emotional comfort. A person who is not fit emotionally will feel an impact on his complete health that will drain very soon.

Unluckily, despite the fact that happiness is tremendously necessary, people do not give so much importance to all those habits which can keep them happy. They are so excessively captivated inside their professional lives as well as other nuts and bolts of life that they overlook to relish the happy memories of their life. It is also the main reason that problems like anxiety, stress, and depression are increasing gradually in people’s lives today.

Happiness is an internal feeling. It is a healthy emotion. Happiness helps us to stay fit both mentally and physically. Happiness helps in lowering stress and keeping away from any health issues. The reason of happiness may be different for different person. You just need to find out what actually makes you happy. So, if you want real happiness in life then, you need to understand that only you can make yourself happy.

“There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way” this sentence has been attributed to Buddha. Well, at least that’s what it says on one sticker in my dorm room. The fact is that man has occupied himself with the path to happiness for millennia. Something happened during our evolution that made us deeply question the purpose of our existence. People like Buddha are part of the answer, or at least they try to give us the answer.

Since these questions have troubled us there have been many who sought to answer them and by doing so, they formed philosophies and religions. The search for earthly happiness will make many do incredible deeds but if this energy is used in the wrong way it can cause great suffering. How can we know which recipe for happiness is the best one and what we should devote our time and attention to? The trick is, there is no right answer and as the first sentence of this essay states, there is no way to be happy because being happy is the way. That’s how I got my head around this problem, let me explain some more.

Source of Suffering:

At the expense of sounding Buddhist, when you think about most of the things that make us unhappy are material in nature. They are the things that we really do not need but they make us feel happy. This notion is not just something the wise man from the 6 th century BC India expressed but many more have said this before and after him. Socrates and Jesus to name just a few.

What I find interesting in the struggle for happiness is the paradox present in the instructions to reach it. One has a  thought all through life to be good and hard working so he can get the things he wants and needs later on in life but then as you start to struggle for the money you realize that your life is turning into a money grabbing game. So, the source of happiness and stability becomes the source of all your anxiety and aggression. Naturally, we can see how some people thought that all material things stand on the path to our happiness.

But what about the immaterial, what if you are in love with someone you are not supposed to love? The above instruction would tell you to surrender your heart’s desire and you will be free from constraints. Is this happiness? Or is it the struggle to do and achieve the impossible the real source of happiness?

Source of Happiness:

People often forget that they are animals and like all of them they have a logic to their nature and their own specific needs. Like all the other animal’s people are caught in the struggle for existence and sometimes surviving the day can be a real ordeal if you get caught in the wrong circumstances. Men has made himself safe from most of the things that could have harmed him in nature but in doing so he forgot what he has made.

Think about the present from a historical perspective. Even a hundred years ago most people lost up to 80% of all their children to diseases, clean water was a rarity for most of our existence, and people actually had to labor to make food and to have enough to feed their family all through the year. The fact is we have a lot to be grateful for in the present age and the fact that some of us are unhappy because we do not have all our heart’s desires is just a symptom of collective infancy. Having all of your loved ones around you, with a roof to shelter under and with lots of delicious food is the only source of happiness man needs everything else should just be a bonus.

Happiness cannot be found by rejecting everything that is material or by earning more money then you can spend. The trick is to find balance by looking at yourself and the lives of people around you and by understanding that there is a lot to be grateful for, the trick is to stop searching for a path and to understand that we are already walking on one. As long as we are making any type of list of the prerequisite for our life of happiness, we will end up unsatisfied because life does not grant wishes we are the ones that make them come true. Often the biggest change in our lives comes from a simple change of perspective rather than from anything we can own.

Happiness is the state of emotional wellbeing and being contented. Happiness is expressed through joyful moments and smiles. It is a desirable feeling that everybody want to have at all times. Being happy is influenced by situations, achievements and other circumstances. Happiness is an inner quality that reflects on the state of mind. A peaceful state of mind is considered to be happiness. The emotional state of happiness is mixture of feelings of joy, satisfaction, gratitude, euphoria and victory.

How happiness is achieved:

Happiness is achieved psychologically through having a peaceful state of mind. By a free state of mind, I mean that there should be no stressful factors to think about. Happiness is also achieved through accomplishment of goals that are set by individuals. There is always happiness that accompanies success and they present feelings of triumph and contentment.

To enable personal happiness in life, it is important that a person puts himself first and have good self-perception. Putting what makes you happy first, instead of putting other people or other things first is a true quest towards happiness. In life, people tend to disappoint and putting them as a priority always reduces happiness for individuals. There is also the concept of practicing self-love and self-acceptance. Loving oneself is the key to happiness because it will mean that it will not be hard to put yourself first when making decisions.

It is important for an individual to control the thoughts that goes on in their heads. A peaceful state of mind is achieved when thoughts are at peace. It is recommended that things that cause a stressful state of mind should be avoided.

Happiness is a personal decision that is influenced by choices made. There is a common phrase on happiness; “happiness is a choice” which is very true because people choose if they want to be happy or not. Happiness is caused by circumstances and people have the liberty to choose those circumstance and get away from those that make them unhappy.

Happiness is also achieved through the kind of support system that an individual has. Having a family or friends that are supportive will enable the achievement of happiness. Communicating and interacting with the outside world is important.

Factors Affecting Happiness:

Sleep patterns influence the state of mind thus influence happiness. Having enough sleep always leads to happy mornings and a good state of mind for rest of the day. Sleep that is adequate also affects the appearance of a person. There is satisfaction that comes with having enough sleep. Enough rest increases performance and productivity of an individual and thus more successes and achievements are realized and happiness is experienced.

Another factor affecting happiness is the support network of an individual. A strong support network of family and friends results in more happiness. Establishing good relationships with neighbors, friends and family through regular interactions brings more happiness to an individual. With support network, the incidences of stressful moments will be reduced because your family and friends will always be of help.

Sexual satisfaction has been established to affect happiness. It is not just about getting the right partner anymore. It is about having a partner that will satisfy you sexually. There is a relationship between sex and happiness because of the hormones secreted during sexual intercourse. The hormone is called oxytocin and responsible for the happiness due to sexual satisfaction. Satisfaction also strengthens the relationships between the partners and that creates happiness.

Wealth also plays a significant role in happiness. There is a common phrase that is against money and happiness: “money cannot buy happiness” is this true? Personally, I believe that being financially stable contributes to happiness because you will always have peace of mind and many achievements. Peace of mind is possible for wealthy people because they do not have stressors here and then compared to poor people. Also, when a person is wealthy, they can afford to engage in luxurious activities that relaxes the mind and create happiness. For a person to be wealthy, they will have had many achievements in life. These achievement make them happy.

A good state of health is an important factor that influences the happiness of individuals. A healthy person will be happy because there are no worries of diseases or pain that they are experiencing. When a person is healthy, their state of mind is at peace because they are not afraid of death or any other health concerns. Not only the health of individuals is important, but also the health of the support system of the person. Friends and family’s state of health will always have an impact on what we feel as individuals because we care about them and we get worried whenever they are having bad health.

Communication and interactions are important in relation to an individual’s happiness. Having a support system is not enough because people need to communicate and interact freely. Whenever there are interactions like a social gathering where people talk and eat together, more happiness is experienced. This concept is witnessed in parties because people are always laughing and smiling in parties whenever they are with friends.

Communication is key to happiness because it helps in problem solving and relieving stressors in life. Sharing experiences with a support system creates a state of wellbeing after the solution is sought. Sometime when I am sad, I take my phone and call a friend or a family member and by the time the phone call is over, I always feel better and relieved of my worries.

Happiness is an important emotion that influences how we live and feel on a daily basis. Happiness is achieved in simple ways. People have the liberty to choose happiness because we are not bound by any circumstances for life. Factors that influence happiness are those that contribute to emotional wellbeing. Physical wellbeing also affects happiness. Every individual finds happiness in their own because they know what makes them happy and what doesn’t.

Emotions , Happiness , Psychology

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Essays About Happiness: 5 Essay Examples and 6 Writing Prompts

Being happy and content is essential to living a successful life. If you are writing essays about happiness, start by reading our helpful guide.

Whenever we feel positive emotions rushing through our heads, chances are we are feeling happy. Happiness is what you feel when you enter the house, the smell of your favorite food being cooked or when you finally save up enough money to buy something you’ve wanted. It is an undeniably magical feeling. 

Happiness can do wonders for your productivity and well-being; when you are happy, you are more energetic, optimistic, and motivated. So it is, without a doubt, important. However, do not become caught up in trying to be happy, as this may lead to worse problems. Instead, allow yourself to feel your emotions; be authentic, even if that means feeling a little more negative.

5 Top Essay Examples

1. causes of happiness by otis curtis, 2. how to be happy by tara parker-pope, 3. reflections on ‘happiness’ by shahzada sultan.

• 4.  Happiness is Overrated by John Gorman

5. Toxic positivity by Suhani Mahajan

6 prompts for essays about happiness, 1. why is it important to be happy, 2. what is happiness to you, 3. the role of material things in happiness, 4. how does happiness make you more productive, 5. is true happiness achievable, 6. happiness vs. truth.

“If you don’t feel good about yourself you will have a similarly negative attitude towards others and education is one way of having good self-esteem, as it helps you to live life successfully and happily. Education is one way of getting that dream job and education is an essential cog in the wheel to living comfortably and happily. One English survey that included over 15,000 participants revealed that 81 percent of people who had achieved a good level of education had a high level of life satisfaction.”

Based on personal beliefs and research, Curtis’ essay describes different contributing causes to people’s happiness. These include a loving, stable family and good health. Interestingly, there is a positive correlation between education level and happiness, as Curtis cites statistics showing that education leads to high self-esteem, which can make you happier. 

“Socratic questioning is the process of challenging and changing irrational thoughts. Studies show that this method can reduce depression symptoms. The goal is to get you from a negative mindset (“I’m a failure.”) to a more positive one (“I’ve had a lot of success in my career. This is just one setback that doesn’t reflect on me. I can learn from it and be better.”)”

Parker-Pope writes about the different factors of happiness and how to practice mindfulness and positivity in this guide. She gives tips such as doing breathing exercises, moving around more, and spending time in places and with people that make you happy. Most importantly, however, she reminds readers that negative thoughts should not be repressed. Instead, we should accept them but challenge that mindset.

“Happiness is our choice of not leaving our mind and soul at the mercy of the sways of excitement. Happiness cannot eliminate sorrow, suffering, pain or death from the scheme of things, but it can help keep fear, anxiety, sadness, hopelessness, pessimism and other fathers of unhappiness at bay.”

Sultan discusses what happiness means to her personally. It provides an escape from all the dreariness and lousy news of daily life, not eliminating negative thoughts but keeping them at a distance, even just for a moment. She writes that to be happy; we should not base our happiness on the outcomes of our actions. We cannot control the world around us, so we should not link our happiness to it. If something doesn’t go our way, that is just how the world works. It is useless to be sad over what we cannot control.

4.   Happiness is Overrated by John Gorman

“Our souls do float across the sea of life, taking on water as they go, sinking ever so slightly — perhaps even imperceptibly — into despair. But our souls are not the bucket. Happiness itself is. And it’s the bucket we use to pour water out our souls and keep us afloat. What we really need is peace. Peace patches the holes in our souls and stops the leaking. Once we have peace, we will no longer need to seek happiness.”

In his essay, Gorman reflects on how he stopped trying to chase happiness and instead focused on finding peace in life. He writes that we are often so desperate looking for happiness that our lives become complicated, chaotic, and even depressing at times. He wants readers to do what they are passionate about and be their authentic selves; that way, they will find true happiness. You might also be interested in these essays about courage .

“That’s the mindset most of us have. Half of toxic positivity is just the suppression of 200% acceptable feelings such as anger, fear, sadness, confusion, and more. Any combination of such feelings is deemed “negative.” Honestly, mix ‘em up and serve them to me in a cocktail, eh? (Fine, fine, a mocktail. I reserve my right to one of those little umbrellas though.)

But by closing ourselves off to anything but positivity, we’re experiencing the same effects as being emotionally numb. Why are we doing this to ourselves?”

Mahajan writes about the phenomenon known as “toxic positivity” in which everyone is expected to be happy with their lives. It trivializes people’s misfortunes and sufferings, telling them to be happy with what they have instead. Mahajan opposes this, believing that everyone’s feelings are valid. She writes that it’s okay to be sad or angry at times, and the stigma around “negative feelings” should be erased. When we force ourselves to be happy, we may feel emotionally numb or even sad, the exact opposite of being happy. 

Many would say that happiness aids you in many aspects of your life. Based on personal experience and research, discuss the importance of being happy. Give a few benefits or advantages of happiness. These can include physical, mental, and psychological benefits, as well as anything else you can think of. 

Happiness means different things to different people and may come from various sources. In your essay, you can also explain how you define happiness. Reflect on this feeling and write about what makes you happy and why. Explain in detail for a more convincing essay; be sure to describe what you are writing about well. 

Happiness has a myriad of causes, many of which are material. Research the extent to which material possessions can make one happy, and write your essay about whether or not material things can truly make us happy. Consider the question, “Can money buy happiness?” Evaluate the extent to which it can or cannot, depending on your stance.  

Happiness has often been associated with a higher level of productivity. In your essay, look into the link between these two. In particular, discuss the mental and chemical effects of happiness. Since this topic is rooted in research and statistics, vet your sources carefully: only use the most credible sources for an accurate essay.

In their essays, many, including Gorman and Mahajan, seem to hold a more critical view of happiness. Our world is full of suffering and despair, so some ask: “Can we truly be happy on this earth?” Reflect on this question and make the argument for your position. Be sure to provide evidence from your own experiences and those of others. 

In dystopian stories, authorities often restrict people’s knowledge to keep them happy. We are seeing this even today, with some governments withholding crucial information to keep the population satisfied or stable. Write about whether you believe what they are doing is defensible or not, and provide evidence to support your point. 

For help with this topic, read our guide explaining “what is persuasive writing ?”

For help picking your next essay topic, check out our top essay topics about love .

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Happiness — Exploring the Path to Happiness: What Makes Me Happy

Exploring The Path to Happiness: What Makes Me Happy

• Categories: Happiness

About this sample

Words: 631 |

Published: Sep 7, 2023

Words: 631 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Connection and relationships, pursuit of personal growth, embracing creativity and expression, mindfulness and well-being, acts of kindness and giving, fulfillment through passion.

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By Johannes Helmold

Though happiness is said to be universal, it can be derived by countless things and actions. Each person has specific phenomena that trigger happiness in him or her. In this essay, I would like to endeavor to explain what makes me personally happy.

It seems that the greatest happiness I have gained is from seeing other people become happy. There is a saying that you do not know happiness until you have sacrificed for others. I believe this sentiment wholeheartedly. When you give something away to someone, or volunteer, or put your life in danger for others, you garner a sense of satisfaction that is difficult to duplicate. Time magazine has this to say about giving and its correction to happiness: “Scientific research provides compelling data to support the anecdotal evidence that giving is a powerful pathway to personal growth and lasting happiness. Through fMRI technology, we now know that giving activates the same parts of the brain that are stimulated by food and sex. Experiments show evidence that altruism is hardwired in the brain—and it’s pleasurable. Helping others may just be the secret to living a life that is not only happier but also healthier, wealthier, more productive, and meaningful” (Santi, Jenny). Though it is a bit of paradox, gaining the greatest happiness is usually when we are not concerned about our own wellbeing, but the wellbeing of others.

Another act that provides me with happiness is being creative. No matter whether I am singing, writing, or playing percussion, I derive happiness from it. Why? I believe the spontaneous nature of creating something beautiful, interesting, deep, and expressive builds a sense of contentment within an individual. Doing something creative is also therapeutic, and therapy usually gives way to happiness in the end. The website Greatist says that, “Some psychologists talk about “flow,” or getting so immersed in creative work that we don’t pay attention to anything else, like what time it is or how our body feels. These experts argue that getting into a state of flow can produce substantial happiness, the kind that lasts longer than the pleasure we get from eating a good cookie” (Lebowitz, Shana). What is also joy-giving is seeing people enjoy your creative efforts. I cannot remember how many times I have seen people dance while I am playing percussion and seeing the excitement on their faces as they let loose, and that reverberating back to me as happiness. I also cannot remember how many times I have seen people ponder my poetry and essays, and get a sense of happiness when it enriches their lives. If we create just for ourselves, we are only gaining half of the happiness available from creativity, if not less.

Deep friendship is also at the top of my list of what makes me happy. A great friendship can make you feel as if you have truly connected with another human being. This is essential, as often we go through life thinking we have only got acquainted with people, or have the illusion of friendship. When we find a person we can connect with on many levels, we feel like we have found a kindred spirit. According to Happify , “A Harvard Medical School study of 5,000 people over 20 years found that one person’s happiness spreads through their social group even up to three degrees of separation, and that the effect lasts as long as a year. On the flip side, sadness isn’t as contagious: while having a friend who’s happy improves your likelihood of being happy by 15 percent, having one who’s unhappy lowers your chances by just 7 percent” ( Happify.com ). Without finding a true friend, we can easily feel alone in this life. Loneliness is never a sign of happiness. Thus, to be happy, we need to garner deep friendship.

When I give to others, when I am creative, and when I experience deep friendship, I am the most happy. Without these three aspects of my life, I could not say that I am a happy person. Thank you reading this essay, and I hope it has given you some perspective as to how to be a happy person.

This is just one of the examples of how a reflective essay can look like. It can cover a wide range of topics as well. If you want to try yourself in this type of writing, but don’t know where to start, go through some reviews for college paper writing services . The mentioned platforms can provide you with guidance on your creative path.

Santi, Jenny. “The Secret to Happiness Is Helping Others.” Time , Time, 4 Aug. 2017, time.com/4070299/secret-to-happiness/.

Lebowitz, Shana. “The Scientific Reasons Why Being Creative Can Make You Happier.” Greatist , Greatist, 6 June 2016, greatist.com/happiness/how-creativity-makes-us-happier.

“Why Friends Make Us Happier, Healthier People.” Happify.com , www.happify.com/hd/why-friends-make-us-happier/.

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What Is Happiness Essay

What is happiness? We can ask hundreds of people, and each of them would probably give different answers. One would say that happiness is to be with a loved one, the second would say that happiness is the stability, and the third, on the contrary, would say that happiness is the unpredictability. For someone, to be happy is to have a lot of money while for others – to be popular. All in all, there are plenty of different understandings of happiness.

Personally, I consider happiness as simplicity and peace when my family and friends are healthy and happy as well. I recognize that they all are dear to me and able to understand what is going on inside me. I know that they will support me in any situation doing everything that depends on them. In return, I am also ready to do much for them. What we do for others, helping them when they need our help, advice, or support and obtaining appreciation, is happiness because helping others, we are doing something very significant and necessary.

What does it mean to be happy? I think it is, primarily, a state of mind, it means to have harmony with yourself and the people around. Happiness is multi-faceted. Perhaps, the word “love” is the most appropriate one to describe my happiness as love is driven by our world. People create wonderful things concerning their job, hobby, or family. Love is life, and I am happy when I realize that I live up to the hilt.

However, some people might be unhappy even though they should be. For example, teenagers who have everything to live a happy life, including healthy family, close friends, and enough money to satisfy basic needs, ask their parents to buy the latest model of IPhone. In the case, parents could not afford it, some teenagers tend to feel unhappy. After all, one can be a successful leader and have millions as well as prestige, but do not have a loving family and emotional harmony.

In my opinion, material values are not a true measure of happiness. Happiness is the ability to be optimistic in spite of difficulties and the ability to overcome them successfully. Finally, challenges should be taken as the lessons that life presents us. Even the negative things teach something, give a new experience, or refer to the correct direction.

I believe that happiness is not a gift and not a given right as every person has its own happiness inside. Moreover, it is never too late to become happy. We can inspire and motivate ourselves and others to be happy. A stranger’s passing smile, warm rays of the sun penetrating the window, or a cup of freshly brewed coffee – happiness is in detail. Everyone chooses and prefers different sources. It is of great importance for people to enjoy moments of life, even the most insignificant ones.

We need to appreciate every moment in our lives remembering that happiness is within us. After all, time passes, and we are getting hurt by the fact that we did not appreciate the time when we had a chance. Therefore, living in peace and harmony with others, helping those who need your help, and avoiding things that you would regret about in future are paramount ways to find happiness and make others happy.

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IvyPanda. (2023, October 29). What Is Happiness Essay. https://ivypanda.com/essays/what-is-happiness-essay/

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1. IvyPanda . "What Is Happiness Essay." October 29, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/what-is-happiness-essay/.

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What Is Happiness? – My Essay On Defining Your Happiness

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Updated on July 11, 2023

Happiness is probably the most pursued factor in life, above wealth, health, and good relationships. We all want to be happy, above everything else, right? Who cares about money when you’re not happy? Who cares about friends when you’re not happy with who you are? Who cares about good health if you’re lonely and depressed?

Happiness is the thing that most people want, yet it is one of the most difficult aspects of life to quantify. How do we measure happiness? How do we define happiness? What is happiness!? This is an essay that explores the many different faces of happiness. As you’ll learn, happiness doesn’t have a single universal definition. Its definition is unique for every single human being out there. Including you.

After reading this essay, you’ll know exactly what happiness is, how to define it for yourself, and even how to find it based on actionable advice.

Definition of happiness

Happiness synonyms, different kinds of happiness, a happy balance, why eternal happiness doesn’t exist, why eternal happiness can still be pursued, defining your own happiness, closing words, what is happiness.

Before starting this essay about happiness, we must at least have a broad idea of what happiness is. Let’s first have a look at how happiness is defined across the web.

Definitions of happiness vary quite a bit across multiple sources. Google thinks happiness is defined as follows:

The state of being happy

You can see how Google is pretty vague about the definition of happiness. Furthermore, it quickly follows with a long list of synonyms.

Wikipedia has a much more interesting definition of what happiness is.

The feeling of an emotion such as pleasure or joy, the appraisal of life satisfaction or the quality of life, subjective well-being and eudaimonia.

Lesson learned? It is really difficult to find a universally correct and agreed-upon definition of what happiness really is.

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Think of all the synonyms that we use to describe feelings that are similar to happiness.

What I like about Google is that it shows synonyms of happiness to people that are looking for its definition.

It’s like they’re saying: “Hey, we don’t know exactly how to define happiness, but here are a couple of concepts that we believe are very much similar!”

The list of synonyms is quite big:

• Contentment
• Satisfaction
• Carefreeness

I think there is a lot we can learn just from the fact that happiness has so many synonyms.

Why? Because these synonyms are all specific variants of what happiness means to me. And I bet you feel the same.

All these different emotions are part of what happiness truly is. And that’s what makes happiness so incredibly difficult to define and measure. It’s a weighted average of all these different synonyms, and the equation of happiness truly changes per person . I’ll even go as far as to say that the happiness equation changes per person per day.

If pleasure makes me happy today, it doesn’t mean that that same amount of pleasure makes me happy tomorrow.

If short-term satisfaction made me happy yesterday, then it won’t necessarily make me happy next week.

What I want you to realize is that your personal definition of happiness is unique. What makes you happy doesn’t necessarily make another person happy. In fact, your definition of happiness is likely a combination of satisfaction, cheeriness, merriment, and jollity.

But the way you personally define happiness will likely change from day to day as well.

And that’s one of the most critical aspects of happiness. That’s also why it’s supposedly so hard to measure and quantify. Here’s an entire article I wrote recently about how difficult it is to define happiness, but you can still try for yourself !

Still with me? Good, because I’m going to add yet another reason why happiness is such a difficult thing to measure!

There are different kinds of happiness. Not just in the way we define happiness, but also in the way we experience it.

As part of this essay, I want to introduce the concepts of short-term and long-term happiness.

Short-term happiness

Short-term happiness is relatively easy to explain. It’s based on small and easy to obtain, yet rather unsustainable happiness. When looking at the list of happiness synonyms, I think the following concepts are clearly centered around short-term happiness:

You see, short-term happiness is based on the release of the chemical dopamine in our brain . This organic chemical is released whenever we are stimulated by things that please us. Some examples are sex, having a laugh with friends, finishing a race, watching a funny video online, or watching an exciting game of football. A more extreme example is drugs.

These things result in short-term happiness because dopamine is released based on a single event. When this event is over, the pleasure is gone. That’s why I consider this to be short-term happiness.

And then there is long-term happiness.

Long-term happiness

Long-term happiness is a little bit harder to explain because it revolves around other concepts of happiness. Instead of joy, pleasure, and ecstasy, the concepts that make up long-term happiness are:

I hope you can spot the difference here. Long-term happiness is created by feeling happy about your purpose in life, the successes that you’ve had and/or the satisfaction of who you are and what you’ve accomplished. Long-term happiness is based on concepts that are not created by a single event. For example, I’m happy at the moment because I’m grateful for the life that I have right now. This happiness is not caused by something I’m doing at this very moment. No, I’m happy because I work hard and have achieved things that I am proud of. I have created a situation in which I am happy by default, without having to rely on single events.

Now that you are aware of these two different kinds of happiness, I want you to picture some scenarios.

• Picture a life in which you spent your youth partying, doing whatever you want to do, using drugs and living without planning for a good future. Sure, you feel pretty happy when doing these things, but you can probably see how this lifestyle will eventually catch up with you, right?

You might have guessed it, but this scenario is focused exclusively on short-term happiness. And the simple fact is that pursuing nothing but short-term happiness does not lead to a sustainable happy life.

Now picture the following scenario:

• You’re in your early twenties and want to become the next Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk. You have great ambitions and are incredibly disciplined and inspired to become everything that you think you can become. You spend an incredible amount of time working on your projects, and you even make sacrifices just for the sake of your goals. You don’t have time for sleep, social activities or relationships. Hell, even your health starts to decline. It doesn’t matter though, because you eventually want to reach your goals, and then you’ll be happy right?

This is another extreme example of happiness. You can probably see how this person is very likely unhappy. He is spending the best years of his life making sacrifices in anticipation of what he eventually wants to become. For a lot of people, this sounds like a logical decision. But to me, this sounds like a huge mistake. You might feel satisfied with the progress you’re making, but are you truly happy? If you get in a fatal car crash tomorrow, would you have any regrets?

I want you to think about this for a moment since a lot of people in industrialized countries have the urge to constantly be planning for the future. And while this is not a bad thing in principle, we often take it too far. As a result, we are constantly sprinting from one deadline to the other. Sure, you want to plan for a happy future, but what’s the point of all of this when you’re not happy in the process itself?

The thing is, these extreme examples are not something that you should want. You can only lead a truly happy life when you actively pursue both short-term and long-term happiness.

It’s important to find out what your perfect balance is.

I’m not here to tell you that you should focus 50% of your attention on short-term happiness and the other 50% on long-term happiness. No. I’m here to tell you that you should be aware of your own happiness. Every single person on this planet has a different definition of happiness. You need to find out what happiness means to you, and how you want to pursue it.

They say happiness is a journey and not a destination. I think happiness can – and should – be both.

For me personally, I often notice how much short-term happiness I’m sacrificing in anticipation of long-term happiness. Some examples:

• I go out for a long-distance training run in the pouring rain because I want to eventually finish another marathon in 3 months. I don’t even enjoy the long-distance run but I think that it will eventually lead to a great finish time, and thus long-term happiness.
• Instead of just playing a videogame, I decide to write an essay about my understanding of happiness. Why? Because I think it will grow my website, which will make me happy in the long run.
• I skip a nice snack because I want to maintain my weight

These are some real examples of how I’ve been sacrificing my short-term happiness for long-term happiness. I want you to think of a couple of examples for yourself. Have you ever made a bad decision that resulted in a decreased level of happiness?

Think about some real scenarios that you’ve experienced and whether you should have acted differently.

I’m not saying that sacrificing short-term happiness for long-term happiness is bad. I just want you to know that you need to find a balance. For example, I do actually want to finish my next marathon within a decent time, but I’m not going to make myself miserable by pushing myself to the limit in preparation. That’s not the balance that I’m after.

The thing is, realizing the difference between short-term and long-term happiness makes it easier for us to pursue happiness in our lives.

Pursue happiness, you ask?

Yes! I believe that happiness can actively be pursued and that you can steer your life in the best direction possible by doing this. However, there are a number of people that believe that pursuing happiness is a loser’s game. These people argue that by pursuing happiness , you’ll be more tempted to choose short-term happiness over long-term happiness. This is where the hedonic treadmill will quickly evaporate whatever happiness you’ve created for yourself.

The hedonic treadmill

Imagine something that you would really like to do right now.

What did you think of? Taking a long warm bath? Drinking wine with your friends? Going to an amusement park?

Wouldn’t it be great if you could do that right now? That would definitely have a positive influence on your happiness, right?

Now think about doing that exact thing every day, for the rest of your life, until the day you die.

Do you think you’d still be happy from doing that same thing after the 10th time? Or the 100th time? Or the 1000th time?

The answer is probably no. Even though this example is extreme, the theory of diminishing returns applies here. When repeated, the effect of the same event on your happiness will diminish to zero. That’s because the norms of what defines your happiness are constantly adapting. Your happiness equation transforms with your changing life, whether it’s for better or worse.

One of the best examples of this hedonic treadmill is the following:

Think of a big salary bump. You receive a raise of 50%! Congratulations, you now have money to spend on all kinds of things that make you and your family happy ! Will that happiness sustain into the future? Unfortunately not. Instead of appreciating the luxury of your raise, you will grow accustomed to this extra money and will slowly take it for granted. This adaptation is known as the hedonic treadmill , and it is generally conceived as the arch-enemy of happiness.

Now that you know what this hedonic treadmill is, it might seem like a waste of time to continue reading this essay, right?

NO! While the hedonic treadmill is very much real – I’ll never deny that – I don’t want you to think that greater happiness can’t be achieved. You just need to be willing to actively look for it in the right places.

See, nobody on the internet will be able to define happiness for you. What makes you happy is a constantly changing equation that is unique in every way. Why would you believe some scientist when he or she claims that happiness is impossible to pursue? What does that scientist know about you? Nothing!

It’s up to you to define what makes you happy.

How to find your own happiness

By now, you should know 3 things:

• Your happiness equation is unique. Nobody can tell you what exactly to do in order to be happy.
• You can pursue both short-term happiness and long-term happiness. The key is to find the perfect balance between the two. You can be happy on the journey towards a happy future.
• The hedonic treadmill will diminish the effect events have on your happiness over time.

Let’s combine this knowledge. I want you to realize that you can learn more about your own happiness equation. You can find out what it is that makes you happy.

Got it? Good, because the next step is to define what the difference is between short-term and long-term happiness. You have to find out how much you value your happiness on the journey itself and how much of that happiness you want to sacrifice by investing in a potentially happier future.

Now, what if I told you that a perfect balance between long-term and short-term happiness can limit the effect that the hedonic treadmill has on you?

Yes, by consciously varying the pursuit of short-term and long-term happiness, you can vary the factors in your life in a way that leads to greater happiness. If you are aware of your own happiness equation, you’re able to pursue happiness in the areas where it matters the most.

What I want you to do is consider your personal happiness again for a moment.

Think back at the last week, and remember what things or events had a positive influence on your happiness. Think of the things that really made you smile or feel satisfied with where you were or how you acted.

What came to your mind? Was it work? Was it your relationship? Was it that silly movie you watched? Was it a nice sunny day spent outside? It could be literally anything! What I want most of all now is that you realize how you just measured a part of your happiness.

You see, even though happiness is claimed to be the factor of life that’s the most difficult to measure, you can still measure what is currently part of your happiness equation. It’s simple. For me personally, when I think back to yesterday, I remember that I really enjoyed spending time with my girlfriend, walking through the woods on a sunny day, and just relaxing (a.k.a. doing nothing!)

These are happiness factors that were a vital part of my happiness equation yesterday. It was a weekend day after a long and busy week at work, so I was really trying to find some short-term happiness. The things that I did yesterday were perfect, as it was a very happy day for me.

You should not be surprised if I told you that I was consciously trying to be happy by spending my day doing things that satisfied my short-term happiness.

You can do exactly the same. All you need to do is to define your own happiness.

And with that said, I want to conclude this essay about happiness. Happiness is different for every single human being on this planet. If you arrived at this essay without having a clear idea of what happiness is, I hope you now know that your personal happiness can be defined, measured, and quantified. But only YOU can do this, no one else will be able to tell you what happiness really is. If you are willing to actively pursue greater happiness, I believe you can steer your life in the best direction.

Now it’s time to hear from you! How do you define your own happiness right now? What has been your biggest happiness factor last week? Do you think you can learn from your own happiness?

I’d love to hear all about it in the comments!

Founder of Tracking Happiness, with over 100 interviews and a focus on practical advice, our content extends beyond happiness tracking. Hailing from the Netherlands, I’m a skateboarding enthusiast, marathon runner, and a dedicated data junkie, tracking my happiness for over a decade.

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Happiness Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on happiness.

Happiness is something which we can’t describe in words it can only be felt from someone’s expression of a smile. Likewise, happiness is a signal or identification of good and prosperous life. Happiness is very simple to feel and difficult to describe. Moreover, happiness comes from within and no one can steal your happiness.

Can Money Buy You Happiness?

Every day we see and meet people who look happy from the outside but deep down they are broken and are sad from the inside. For many people, money is the main cause of happiness or grief. But this is not right. Money can buy you food, luxurious house, healthy lifestyle servants, and many more facilities but money can’t buy you happiness.

And if money can buy happiness then the rich would be the happiest person on the earth. But, we see a contrary image of the rich as they are sad, fearful, anxious, stressed, and suffering from various problems.

In addition, they have money still they lack in social life with their family especially their wives and this is the main cause of divorce among them.

Also, due to money, they feel insecurity that everyone is after their money so to safeguard their money and them they hire security. While the condition of the poor is just the opposite. They do not have money but they are happy with and stress-free from these problems.

In addition, they take care of their wife and children and their divorce rate is also very low.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Happiness Comes from Within

As we now know that we can’t buy happiness with money and there is no other shortcut to happiness. It is something that you feel from within.

In addition, true happiness comes from within yourself. Happiness is basically a state of mind.

Moreover, it can only be achieved by being positive and avoiding any negative thought in mind. And if we look at the bright side of ourselves only then we can be happy.

Happiness in a Relationship

People nowadays are not satisfied with their relationship because of their differences and much other reason. But for being happy in a relationship we have to understand that there are some rules or mutual understanding that keeps a relationship healthy and happy.

Firstly, take care of yourself then your partner because if you yourself are not happy then how can you make your partner happy.

Secondly, for a happy and healthy relationship give you partner some time and space. In addition, try to understand their feeling and comfort level because if you don’t understand these things then you won’t be able to properly understand your partner.

Most importantly, take initiative and plan to go out with your partner and family. Besides, if they have plans then go with them.

To conclude, we can say that happiness can only be achieved by having positive thinking and enjoying life. Also, for being happy and keeping the people around us happy we have to develop a healthy relationship with them. Additionally, we also have to give them the proper time.

FAQs about Happiness

Q.1 What is True Happiness? A.1 True happiness means the satisfaction that you find worthy. The long-lasting true happiness comes from life experience, a feeling of purpose, and a positive relationship.

Q.2 Who is happier the rich or the poor and who is more wealthy rich or poor? A.2 The poor are happier then the rich but if we talk about wealth the rich are more wealthy then the poor. Besides, wealth brings insecurity, anxiety and many other problems.

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BRYN DONOVAN

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How to Describe Happiness: 100 Phrases

You’d think figuring out how to describe happiness would be easy…

but when you’re trying to think of how to express happiness in a sentence, it’s easy to draw a blank. That’s why I’m sharing this list of ways to describe happiness, excitement, and joy. I hope these happy phrases help with your novel, story, or whatever you’re writing!

When I shared my Master List of Ways to Describe Anger the other week, on my Facebook author page , one person told me she expected a paywall when she clicked. That was a pretty nice compliment! So I thought I’d do one on how to describe happiness, too. Most of the time, you can express emotions through internal monologue, dialogue, and actions. Once in a while, though, you run into the need to describe the feeling in the point of view of your character.

There are really infinite ways to convey emotion in writing. I have 100 ways here to write about happiness, joy, contentment, hope, and gratitude here. They’re not in any particular order — really, it’s just the order that I thought of them. 🙂

They aren’t all going to be ones you use personally, because every writer is different! Chances are, they’ll make you think of even more words and phrases.

How to Describe Happiness

his heart leaped up for joy

he felt a surge of happiness

I was paralyzed with happiness

their mood lifted

she was bursting with joy

he could hardly contain his happiness

his mood lightened

my spirits brightened

hope bloomed inside her

happiness glowed inside him

he felt a sudden flare of joy

I could barely conceal my delight

they were flabbergasted with joy

sunshine flooded her soul

his spirits were flying high

her hopes soared

she felt like her feet barely touched the ground

joy engulfed me

it cheered her soul

joy took hold of him

inside, she was smiling

she almost jumped for joy

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happiness overtook him

she took a defiant joy in it

happiness streaked through him like a comet

a quiet contentment spread through him

contentment filled her heart

happiness trembled inside of her

his heart dared to hope

happiness swelled within her

gratitude flowed through her

had she ever been happier in her life?

it elevated his mood

he couldn’t think of a time he’d ever been happier

their joy unfolded like a flower

she felt a glimmer of happiness

he felt dizzy with excitement

joy rushed through me

my happiness was so intense it scared me

he thought he would die of joy

her heart was singing

she felt drunk with happiness

he was intoxicated with joy

his heart throbbed with happiness

she burned with a fierce joy

happiness crept over him

it was almost more happiness than she could take

he knew a profound joy

her happiness grew

I was wild with joy

happiness expanded inside him

they were suffused with happiness

joy sparkled inside her

happiness shimmered inside me

happiness danced through her thoughts

he almost collapsed with happiness

it raised his spirits

it brought my spirits up

contentment warmed her from within

happiness radiated through him

he’d never felt more alive

she felt fully and wonderfully alive

I was filled with joyful energy

she could’ve wept for joy

I wanted to shout for joy

he was weak with gratitude

his heart pounded with happiness

she savored the feeling of contentment

a sudden feeling of happiness surprised him

an unexpected happiness consumed her

happiness made me feel invincible

joy rippled through him

gratitude welled up inside her

he felt a flush of happiness

happiness resonated through him

she was transported with joy

it was almost too much happiness to bear

contentment tiptoed into her heart

he was overcome with happiness

he’d unearthed a greater joy than any he’d ever known

her spirits bounded higher

it brought him a ray of happiness

she felt a whisper of happiness

he felt an inkling of joy

she felt a stab of hope

satisfaction settled in his soul

happiness washed over her

his soul took flight

she felt in love with the whole world

he had no words for the gratitude he felt

she was buzzing with happiness

she felt like she was floating

he was in heaven

she was treasuring every moment

she surrendered to bliss

the weight lifted from my soul

he felt a solemn sense of happiness

joy bubbled up inside of her

his happiness overflowed

my heart almost broke with joy

I’m curious: if you read the whole list straight through, did it make you feel happier? It had that effect on me!

Either way, I hope you’re happy to have the list! And if you you like lists for writers, check out my book Master Lists for Writers, if you haven’t already!

Do you have some ideas about how to describe happiness? Would you like to share an example of a description of happiness from your own writing? Please go ahead in the comments section below! Thanks for stopping by, and happy writing!

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45 thoughts on “ how to describe happiness: 100 phrases ”.

Bryn, your posts are always filled with such awesome information for the reader and writer in all of us! Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy life to do this. And, yes, I was smiling towards the end!

Hi, Marcia! Oh, I’m so glad you like them. 🙂

Yup! U r right!

I love these lists. I print them out and use them regularly. They help inspire and find the right words. I use them as a cheat sheet.

Constance, I’m so glad they’re helpful! I do think of them as “cheat sheets” (except it’s not really cheating, of course!)

These are great! And SO helpful!! <3

Hi, Caro! Aw thanks. Hope you’re having a great week!

You helped me improve in my composition a lot.THANK YOU!???

I absolutely love your lists. I refer to them all the time when I find myself needing inspiration or repeating too many phrases. Thank you so much for sharing.

Ohh, thank you friend. 🙂

Wonderful list! Thank you, Bryn.

Thank you so much. I’m so happy that I’ll no longer spend minutes trying to convey a simple emotion and it’s all thanks to you!

Thanks, Bryn. These are great descriptions. 🙂 — Suzanne

Thanks Bryn, I’ve saved this and will use it often. Happiness has crept over me! Cary

How amazing! Where do you get all these ideas from?

Aw thanks! It took me a long time. 🙂

How long????

Thanks for this wonderful list about happiness

I was wondering on Google and I found this!!! Such a lovely article ? I too write on aintyouliving.blogspot.com from India. Hopefully you’ll find something interesting on my blog. Well, love from India ♥️

This was so useful! I started using a few in my everyday writing and it’s made a huge difference

This is a great post and a huge help for writers like myself. Amazing information! Thank you.

Hi Margie! Thanks—I am so glad you found it useful!

Hi! I kind of used this in my writing. Thank you so much!

What I wrote: The room erupted in cheers. People were laughing and smiles were everywhere. Thank GOODNESS! I could barely conceal my happiness. Joy and relief welled up inside of me, and I sighed. I let out the deep breath that I had been holding onto for what seemed like a long time. My job here was done and my dream… had come true.

Ashlyn, so glad it helped. And I love what you wrote! Thanks for sharing!

Wow! Amazing ?! I LOVE it!!!

what an amazing list of words, enjoyed it thank you!!

they helped me a lot in my creative writings.

Wow,Bryn! Thank you ?! I use it a lot on my Compositions!

OMG this is priceless, thank you thank you thank you thank you! Bless your soul for this.

thx, my child now gets high marks for her compo

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awww you are soo sweet,you are helpful you are a role modelll:)

thanks this really helped with my compo ???

my god! Amazing stuff!, huge round of Applause!!

I am Sheema Suroor Mohammad

Thanks heaps great list!!

Thank you. This is exactly what i was looking for. Please note that you are helping emerging authors with this your list that i personally refer to as inexhaustible list.

That is an impressive list! Thanks for sharing!

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Happy to learn happiness in so many words, Wonder how it comprehends so wide! Thank you so much.

this really helped me and i fucking hate you

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I found this website a couple of days ago, and let me tell you, I love it so much! These are so helpful when trying to make things sound interesting without using the same phrases over and over again! Thank you for making these!

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Essay Writing Tips: 10 Steps to Writing a Great Essay (And Have Fun Doing It!)

by Joe Bunting | 118 comments

Do you dread essay writing? Are you looking for some essay tips that will help you write an amazing essay—and have fun doing it?

Lots of students, young and old, dread essay writing. It's a daunting assignment, one that takes research, time, and concentration.

It's also an assignment that you can break up into simple steps that make writing an essay manageable and, yes, even enjoyable.

These ten essay tips completely changed my writing process—and I hope that they can do the same for you.

Essay Writing Can Be Fun

Honestly, throughout most of high school and college, I was a mediocre essay writer.

Every once in a while, I would write a really good essay, but mostly I skated by with B's and A-minuses.

I know personally how boring writing an essay can be, and also, how hard it can be to write a good one.

However, toward the end of my time as a student, I made a breakthrough. I figured out how to not only write a great essay, I learned how to have fun while doing it . 

And since then, I've become a professional writer and have written more than a dozen books. I'm not saying that these essay writing tips are going to magically turn you into a writer, but at least they can help you enjoy the process more.

I'm excited to share these ten essay writing tips with you today! But first, we need to talk about why writing an essay is so hard.

Why Writing an Essay Is So Hard

When it comes to essay writing, a lot of students find a reason to put it off. And when they tackle it, they find it difficult to string sentences together that sound like a decent stance on the assigned subject.

Here are a few reasons why essay writing is hard:

• You'd rather be scrolling through Facebook
• You're trying to write something your teacher or professor will like
• You're trying to get an A instead of writing something that's actually good
• You want to do the least amount of work possible

The biggest reason writing an essay is so hard is because we mostly focus on those external  rewards like getting a passing grade, winning our teacher's approval, or just avoiding accusations of plagiarism.

The problem is that when you focus on external approval it not only makes writing much less fun, it also makes it significantly harder.

Because when you focus on external approval, you shut down your subconscious, and the subconscious is the source of your creativity.

The subconscious is the source of your creativity.

What this means practically is that when you're trying to write that perfect, A-plus-worthy sentence, you're turning off most of your best resources and writing skills.

So stop. Stop trying to write a good essay (or even a “good-enough” essay). Instead, write an interesting  essay, write an essay you think is fascinating. And when you're finished, go back and edit it until it's “good” according to your teacher's standards.

Yes, you need to follow the guidelines in your assignment. If your teacher tells you to write a five-paragraph essay, then write a five-paragraph essay! If your teacher asks for a specific type of essay, like an analysis, argument, or research essay, then make sure you write that type of essay!

However, within those guidelines, find room to express something that is uniquely you .

I can't guarantee you'll get a higher grade (although, you almost certainly will), but I can absolutely promise you'll have a lot more fun writing.

The Step-by-Step Process to Writing a Great Essay: Your 10 Essay Writing Tips

Ready to get writing? You can read my ten best tips for having fun while writing an essay that earns you the top grade, or check out this presentation designed by our friends at Canva Presentations .

1. Remember your essay is just a story.

Every story is about conflict and change, and the truth is that essays are about conflict and change, too! The difference is that in an essay, the conflict is between different ideas , and the change is in the way we should perceive those ideas.

That means that the best essays are about surprise: “You probably think it's one way, but in reality, you should think of it this other way.” See tip #3 for more on this.

How do you know what story you're telling? The prompt should tell you.

Any list of essay prompts includes various topics and tasks associated with them. Within those topics are characters (historical, fictional, or topical) faced with difficult choices. Your job is to work with those choices, usually by analyzing them, arguing about them, researching them, or describing them in detail.

2. Before you start writing, ask yourself, “How can I have the most fun writing this?”

It's normal to feel unmotivated when writing an academic essay. I'm a writer, and honestly, I feel unmotivated to write all the time. But I have a super-ninja, judo-mind trick I like to use to help motivate myself.

Here's the secret trick: One of the interesting things about your subconscious is that it will answer any question you ask yourself. So whenever you feel unmotivated to write your essay, ask yourself the following question:

“How much fun can I have writing this?”

Your subconscious will immediately start thinking of strategies to make the writing process more fun.

The best time to have your fun is the first draft. Since you're just brainstorming within the topic, and exploring the possible ways of approaching it, the first draft is the perfect place to get creative and even a little scandalous. Here are some wild suggestions to make your next essay a load of fun:

• Research the most surprising or outrageous fact about the topic and use it as your hook.
• Use a thesaurus to research the topic's key words. Get crazy with your vocabulary as you write, working in each key word synonym as much as possible.
• Play devil's advocate and take the opposing or immoral side of the issue. See where the discussion takes you as you write.

3. As you research, ask yourself, “What surprises me about this subject?”

The temptation, when you're writing an essay, is to write what you think your teacher or professor wants to read.

Don't do this .

Instead, ask yourself, “What do I find interesting about this subject? What surprises me?”

If you can't think of anything that surprises you, anything you find interesting, then you're not searching well enough, because history, science, and literature are all brimming   over with surprises. When you look at how great ideas actually happen, the story is always, “We used  to think the world was this way. We found out we were completely wrong, and that the world is actually quite different from what we thought.”

These pieces of surprising information often make for the best topic sentences as well. Use them to outline your essay and build your body paragraphs off of each unique fact or idea. These will function as excellent hooks for your reader as you transition from one topic to the next.

(By the way, what sources should you use for research? Check out tip #10 below.)

4. Overwhelmed? Write five original sentences.

The standard three-point essay is really made up of just five original sentences surrounded by supporting paragraphs that back up those five sentences. If you're feeling overwhelmed, just write five sentences covering your most basic main points.

Here's what they might look like for this article:

• Introductory Paragraph:  While most students consider writing an essay a boring task, with the right mindset, it can actually be an enjoyable experience.
• Body #1: Most students think writing an essay is tedious because they focus on external rewards.
• Body #2: Students should instead focus on internal fulfillment when writing an essay.
• Body #3: Not only will focusing on internal fulfillment allow students to have more fun, it will also result in better essays.
• Conclusion: Writing an essay doesn't have to be simply a way to earn a good grade. Instead, it can be a means of finding fulfillment.

After you write your five sentences, it's easy to fill in the paragraphs for each one.

Now, you give it a shot!

5. Be “source heavy.”

In college, I discovered a trick that helped me go from a B-average student to an A-student, but before I explain how it works, let me warn you. This technique is powerful , but it might not work for all teachers or professors. Use with caution.

As I was writing a paper for a literature class, I realized that the articles and books I was reading said what I was trying to say much better than I ever could. So what did I do? I quoted them liberally throughout my paper. When I wasn't quoting, I re-phrased what they said in my own words, giving proper credit, of course. I found that not only did this formula create a well-written essay, it took about half the time to write.

It's good to keep in mind that using anyone else's words, even when morphed into your own phrasing, requires citation. While the definition of plagiarism is shifting with the rise of online collaboration and cooperative learning environments, always  err on the side of excessive citation to be safe.

When I used this technique, my professors sometimes mentioned that my papers were very “source” heavy. However, at the same time, they always gave me A's.

To keep yourself safe, I recommend using a 60/40 approach with your body paragraphs: Make sure 60% of the words are your own analysis and argumentation, while 40% can be quoted (or text you paraphrase) from your sources.

Like the five sentence trick, this technique makes the writing process simpler. Instead of putting the main focus on writing well, it instead forces you to research  well, which some students find easier.

6. Write the body first, the introduction second, and the conclusion last.

Introductions are often the hardest part to write because you're trying to summarize your entire essay before you've even written it yet. Instead, try writing your introduction last, giving yourself the body of the paper to figure out the main point of your essay.

This is especially important with an essay topic you are not personally interested in. I definitely recommend this in classes you either don't excel in or care much for. Take plenty of time to draft and revise your body paragraphs before  attempting to craft a meaningful introductory paragraph.

Otherwise your opening may sound awkward, wooden, and bland.

7. Most essays answer the question, “What?” Good essays answer the “Why?” The best essays answer the “How?”

If you get stuck trying to make your argument, or you're struggling to reach the required word count, try focusing on the question, “How?”

For example:

• How did J.D. Salinger convey the theme of inauthenticity in  The Catcher In the Rye ?
• How did Napoleon restore stability in France after the French Revolution?
• How does the research prove girls really do rule and boys really do drool?

If you focus on how, you'll always have enough to write about.

8. Don't be afraid to jump around.

Essay writing can be a dance. You don't have to stay in one place and write from beginning to end.

For the same reasons listed in point #6, give yourself the freedom to write as if you're circling around your topic rather than making a single, straightforward argument. Then, when you edit and proofread, you can make sure everything lines up correctly.

In fact, now is the perfect time to mention that proofreading your essay isn't just about spelling and commas.

It's about making sure your analysis or argument flows smoothly from one idea to another. (Okay, technically this comprises editing, but most students writing a high school or college essay don't take the time to complete every step of the writing process. Let's be honest.)

So as you clean up your mechanics and sentence structure, make sure your ideas flow smoothly, logically, and naturally from one to the next as you finish proofreading.

9. Here are some words and phrases you don't want to use.

• You  (You'll notice I use a lot of you's, which is great for a blog post. However, in an academic essay, it's better to omit the second-person.)
• To Be verbs (is, are, was, were, am)

Don't have time to edit? Here's a lightning-quick editing technique .

A note about “I”: Some teachers say you shouldn't use “I” statements in your writing, but the truth is that professional, academic papers often use phrases like “I believe” and “in my opinion,” especially in their introductions.

10. It's okay to use Wikipedia, if…

Wikipedia is one of the top five websites in the world for a reason: it can be a great tool for research. However, most teachers and professors don't consider Wikipedia a valid source for use in essays.

Don't totally discount it, though! Here are two ways you can use Wikipedia in your essay writing:

• Background research. If you don't know enough about your topic, Wikipedia can be a great resource to quickly learn everything you need to know to get started.
• Find sources . Check the reference section of Wikipedia's articles on your topic. While you may not be able to cite Wikipedia itself, you can often find those original sources and cite them . You can locate the links to primary and secondary sources at the bottom of any Wikipedia page under the headings “Further Reading” and “References.”

You Can Enjoy Essay Writing

The thing I regret most about high school and college is that I treated it like something I had  to do rather than something I wanted  to do.

The truth is, education is an opportunity many people in the world don't have access to.

It's a gift, not just something that makes your life more difficult. I don't want you to make the mistake of just “getting by” through school, waiting desperately for summer breaks and, eventually, graduation.

How would your life be better if you actively enjoyed writing an essay? What would school look like if you wanted to suck it dry of all the gifts it has to give you?

All I'm saying is, don't miss out!

Looking for More Essay Writing Tips?

Looking for more essay tips to strengthen your essay writing? Try some of these resources:

• 7 Tips on Writing an Effective Essay
• Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement

How about you? Do you have any tips for writing an essay?  Let us know in the  comments .

Need more grammar help?  My favorite tool that helps find grammar problems and even generates reports to help improve my writing is ProWritingAid . Works with Word, Scrivener, Google Docs, and web browsers. Also, be sure to use my coupon code to get 20 percent off: WritePractice20

Coupon Code:WritePractice20 »

Ready to try out these ten essay tips to make your essay assignment fun? Spend fifteen minutes using tip #4 and write five original sentences that could be turned into an essay.

When you're finished, share your five sentences in the comments section. And don't forget to give feedback to your fellow writers!

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Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

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Cute Cats and Psychedelia: The Tragic Life of Louis Wain

Louis Wain was one of the most popular commercial illustrators in the history of England. Born in 1860, his anthropomorphic portrayals of cats captured the imagination of the Edwardian era, and his work helped to elevate the profile and popularity of our feline friends to unprecedented heights. Before Wain, cats in England were often thought of with contempt, but his work humanised them and helped to show them as something to be liked, admired and even loved. His illustrations were so popular that throughout the beginning of the twentieth century, most homes had at least one of his famous cat annuals and many nurseries had Wain posters hanging on their walls. “He made the cat his own” H.G. Wells once remarked . “He invented a cat style, a cat society, a whole cat world.” Today, his work continues to attract interest, but his legacy is based more on his struggles with mental health than the work that he created. While never officially diagnosed with schizophrenia, many people believe that he suffered from this condition, and some have argued that his later drawings demonstrate his psychotic deterioration. While this is certainly a fascinating aspect of his work, it is only one part of a greater story; we should be careful not to allow it to overshadow the fascinating work he created during his lifetime.

Surprisingly, Wain never started out wanting to be a cat illustrator. Early on in his career, he had felt that nobody would take him seriously if he just drew pictures of cats, and so his initial ambition was to be a press artist. In his early years, he specialised in drawing animals and country scenes, and he had work published in several journals, including the popular  Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News . It wasn’t until 1884, when Wain was twenty-four, that he sold his first drawing of a cat to The Illustrated London News . Two years after this, he got his first real taste of success when he was commissioned to illustrate a children’s book for Macmillan called Madame Tabby's Establishment (pictured above). Written by Caroline Hughes (under the pen-name Kari), his illustrations seem a lot more traditional and sober when compared to his later work. Yet even in these early examples, we can see signs of his ability to give a cat a personality and a playful nature. Despite the happiness seen throughout his work, the tale of Wain’s interest in cats is sadly a tragic one. In 1883 Wain married Emily Richardson. Not long after the couple wed, Emily became unwell. Over the course of her prolonged illness, the illustrator sketched their cat as a way to keep her spirits up. She must have been delighted when, in the Autumn of 1886, she saw their cat depicted in Kari’s book. There must have been even more reason for joy when a few months later Wain was commissioned again by The Illustrated London News to draw more illustrations based on their cat. His work, ‘ A Kitten’s Christmas Party ’ was hugely popular and a great success. It set Wain on the road to artistic and commercial greatness, but, sadly, he was unable to enjoy this accomplishment as – a few months later – Emily passed away. The effects of this tragedy had a huge impact on Wain, and he became increasingly more inward-looking. As his success went from strength to strength, he continued to struggle with anxiety and depression, and despite his professional accomplishments, his personal life was never quite the same again.

Looking back at his work now, it may be possible to read some of this sadness in his early illustrations, but perhaps I am simply projecting. Either way, his cat illustrations certainly tapped into something that resonated well with the people of the time. Often playfully poking fun at Edwardian trends – his cats could play golf, be mothers, drink tea, smoke cigarettes and go to the opera. They weren’t social satires per se, but they certainly had fun in highlighting the topical trends of the time. Wain’s illustrations have a sardonic sense of humour, and the human-like expressions of his creatures continue to amuse and entertain.

As an illustrator, Wain was hugely prolific. A regular contributor to British magazines and newspapers, his images populated many of the era’s most loved children’s books and postcards. During the 1900s, Wain was producing on average six hundred new designs every year, and his annual output of cats could reach up to one-and-a-half thousand. In his lifetime, he illustrated more than two hundred books and had sixteen hugely successful Christmas annuals.

For a brief period, he even branched out into ceramics – creating a collection of bizarre and brilliant futurist cats . Wain was much loved and could easily be considered a celebrity of his day. He became known as a leading authority on all things cats and was elected president of the National Cat Club. He judged cat competitions and was involved in several animal charities. All of this helped to bolster the country’s love and appreciation for the domesticated cats, but it wasn’t just England that fell for Wain’s charms. He also had considerable success in America and, between 1907 and 1910, he contributed a cartoon strip at Hearst's New York Journal-American . Tragically this was to be his last regular job.

Wain lacked a sense of business acumen and was often exploited. A lot of the time, he sold his work outright and never asked for publishing royalties. By the time the war broke in 1914, Wain found himself struggling to find a market amid the wartime paper shortage. By the 1920s, he was in poverty. His depression continued, and his mental health deteriorated. Often known to strike out in violent and erratic ways, he was eventually committed to the pauper ward of London’s Springfield Mental Hospital in 1924.

In those days, the understanding of mental health was primitive at best. We have no way of fully understanding, or even knowing, exactly what Wain was suffering from. The culture at the time simply sent anyone who had a mental illness to the asylum. During this period, Wain continued to draw cats. Some of these became more and more abstract – often reaching a point where their features were nearly impossible to identify. Were these drawings the product of schizophrenia, or were they merely an artist experimenting with a new style? Could Wain have suffered dementia, or did he have Asperger’s Syndrome? We’ll probably never know the full answer for sure, but one thing we can all agree on is that the work is fascinating to look at. Each drawing seems to have a certain coherence, and Wain has a brave sense of experimentation and vibrant use of colour. They’re all beautiful drawings to look at.

One thing that is often overlooked is the fact that Wain also continued to produce work in a more traditional style during this time too. The belief that his abstract drawings demonstrate the progressive deterioration of his mental state is quite likely a falsehood – the result of a claim made in a book called Psychotic Art that was published in the 1960s. All art should be considered as an expression of the artist, and Wain’s progression into psychedelia is just one aspect of his creative identity. Whether or not that aspect was triggered by mental illness is a moot point. What we do know is that Wain had a difficult life; and that he spent much of his time making some amazing, some curious and some fascinating illustrations.

For me, Wain’s most affecting image is not one of his more abstract works. It is, in fact, quite a modest piece that at first looks somewhat unassuming. Made in chalk and ink, it shows a small and cheery cat who stares out from the page with a broad and jolly grin. Underneath is written: “I am happy because everyone loves me”. It aims at positivity, but there is an unavoidable sadness to it. Made while Wain was in care, it is arguably the illustrator’s most revealing work – capturing the despair in his life and highlighting his tragic struggle for happiness.

Wain would spend the remaining fifteen years of his life in institutional care. Initially, many of his friends and admirers didn’t know of his incarceration. But, when his situation was discovered in 1925, his circumstances were publicised widely. A public appeal was made that eventually raised £2,300. After a personal intervention by Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, the money was able to send Wain to the Bethlem Royal Hospital – one of the better hospitals of the time. In many ways, it was a small gesture for a man who had given the world so much happiness but hopefully, it made his final years a little easier.

The life and work of Louis Wain is a story of contradictions. His work seems happy, and yet his life was tragic. His cats seem playful, and yet they are also seem unsettling. Should his work be viewed as an expression of the artist, or should we choose to view it as an expression of an illness? Did his condition open him up to a world of colours and shapes, or were those things already deep inside him? Who knows. We could easily spend a day debating on how and why these images were made, but what really matters is the fact that they were made and, for many people, they brought great happiness and entertainment. Hopefully, that was something that Wain himself could recognise and, hopefully, that offered him some small sense of comfort during his difficult life.

Where next?

If you found this essay interesting, you might also enjoy exploring these selections: Gottfried Mind: The Raphael of Cats Swiss artist Gottfried Mind (1768–1814) had a special talent for drawing cats. Born autistic, Mind's teachers found he was incapable of meeting the demands of school work but recognised his artistic potential and encouraged him to pursue a career as an artist. Mind had a great fondness for cats and spent much of his time with them. His ability to depict them in such a realistic manner earned him a reputation as 'The Raphael of Cats'. The Mainzer Cat Postcards Another Swiss artist who loved cats was Eugen Hartung (1897–1973). A popular children's book illustrator in his native Switzerland, Hartung is possibly best known for the postcards he illustrated for the Alfred Mainzer Company. Often depicting comical scenes with anthropomorphised cats, his images were hugely popular during the 1950s. Mental Health and Art Art and mental health have always had a relationship with examples from people like James Tilly Matthews (1770–1815) to contemporary people like the musician and artist Daniel Johnston (1961). In 2013, the BBC's Imagine presented a fascinating documentary on the subject called ' Turning the Art World Inside Out '. If you can track down a version of it, I highly recommend you give it a watch.

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A thank-you message

Learn how to write a thank-you message to a colleague.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and tips and do the exercises.

Preparation

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From : Paco To : Maria Subject : Thanks

I hope you're well.

I'm just writing to say thanks for your help on the project last month. We really appreciate you stepping in to support us. I know you had to put in extra hours to catch up on your own work, so thank you very much.  

Your expertise was vital for this project and we couldn't have finished it successfully without you. You really helped us and we hope to work with you again on future projects.

I'll be in touch again soon about possible future collaborations. I look forward to working with you more closely this year.

All the best,

• Start with a friendly comment: I hope you're well.
• It's usually best to use an informal style with colleagues: Hi Maria, … Thanks for your help.
• Keep it short.
• Mention the good work they did and the positive effect of it: Your expertise was vital for this project. We couldn't have finished it successfully without your help.
• End with a positive comment about future collaboration: I hope to work with you more closely in future. I look forward to working with you again.

When was the last time you thanked a colleague for something?

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he helped me a lot to rebuilt my life after a bad experience with a guy who hurt me and i thanked him for everything

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Hello Anna,

How are you?

I am fine, my jorney is coming to the end and I want tell you how I am grateful with your help during these days. My dog has never felt my absence and my plants has never been so green. What about you? Did you enjoy take care of my house in these days? 

Thank you for all,

I try to be always grateful people for anything that they do for me.

Hello Merida,

I hope you and your family are well.

I just was thinking about the last week and I want to say thanks for all your help with the kids, I aprreciate it. Take care Maria and Paulo is not easy work, but you did it really great.

Yesterday they asked me about when you are going to come back! I am so happy and grateful for your love with kids, so If you are interested in work with us more often, please let me know.

The best wishes and we hope see you soon,

Hi roshan, I'm just writing to say thank you for being a very comfortable roommate for me. Every day, you make sure that I'm okay. You have been a very good brother and not just a roommate for the past 5 years. It is not easy to maintain good terms with the same roommate who annoys you so much. As a roommate, I didn't participate in any cooking, cleaning, or washing for most of the time, but you took care of the house with love. You are the best brother who has amazing qualities.

I'm by your side at any stage of your life. I'd like to see from a great height. I'm sure you'll..

Is everything going well these days?

I'm just writing to say thanks for your help with last semester. Without your help, I'm 100 percent sure I would have failed the exam. All of your study materials saved me. I really appreciate your help and kindness,men.

Let's meet and hang out before the new semester starts.

Just phone me when you are available.

I know you are busy with a part-time job. All the expenses and treats are on me.

Waiting for your phone call.

When was the last time you thanked a colleague for something? three months ago, I encountered a problem in my program and as much as I searched or tried to solve it, It didn't work. because I believe that When something is hard, It means I don't understand the base of the problem well. As a result, I stopped struggling and sent a message to my colleague and explained my question. He answered me right off the bat!! God knows, How many hours I would have to spend to solve it. If I didn't get help. I really appreciated him for his help so fast! Fortunately, I was at the right place and at the right time.

Hello Paco. I hope you're doing well. I'm writing this message just to say thank you for helped me lasth month. I really apreciatte the cbolaboration of us, and the development of this company was very successful and that wouldn't be possible without your help. You carried out a hardly task. In the future I hope we can work together again, It'll be amazing. My best wishes.

I hope you are well.

By this mail I want to thank you for all your support during the first months in my new job. I joined our company with little experience and you were always on my side to give me helpful tips. As a result of your constant assistance I soon became familiar with the requirements of my job and how to cope with them.

As you have left our department there is little chance to work together with you in the near future. However, I hopefully will meet you occasionally and we will have a chat.

Yours Dieter

From: Natacha to: David Subject: Thanks

Hello, I hope you're well. i am writing to you for say thanks for sharing your knowledge and company. And I hope we can see each other again soon. Bye.

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Why Travelling Makes Us Happy

Near  San Agustín, Colombia

A couple of months ago (was it already that long ago?!) I wrote a post called On Being Happy With Being Content . In it, I discussed how since moving to London I’ve embraced the idea of settling somewhere and the feeling of happiness I get from routine in my life. To be completely honest, I wrote that post to try to make sense of what I was feeling at the time, the restlessness mixed with the feelings of withdrawal from a life of almost constant travelling. My two-year London anniversary is coming up this summer, and it’s the longest I’ve lived anywhere since 2005. I haven’t even left the UK in two and a half months, the longest I think I’ve gone in a while without being abroad.

Writing that post really helped me, and the comments that came with it  really helped me. As a result, the past couple of months in London have been some of my happiest yet; I’m a lot healthier in mind and body. I write daily now, and I’ve even started jogging. I know, I know.  Who am I?! 

Seoul, South Korea

That being said, I am never going to deny that some of the happiest days of my life have been while I was on the road. So today, in honour of International Day of Happiness (don’t roll your eyes), I thought I’d post some of the reasons I personally feel happy when I travel. I’d love it if you could contribute why travelling makes you happy in the comments.

Travelling makes me happy…

…because of its never-ending ability to amaze me, to pique my curiosity. It seems that no matter where I go, even if I’ve already been there or if I think I have an idea of what I’ll see when I arrive, I am always surprised. I love the newness travel brings: new cultures, new faces, new customs, new landscapes.

Machu Picchu, Peru

…because of all of the wonderful people I meet. While beautiful destinations certainly appeal (especially if it includes a beach), I travel mainly to meet and interact with people. My favourite moments on the road have all occurred in the presence of others, either locals or fellow travellers.

Bhaktapur, Nepal

…because it overloads my senses in the very best way. I live in one of the biggest and busiest cities in the world and sometimes I realise I’m tuning everything out, because I’m used to the glittering lights and double-decker buses and accents from all over the globe. When I travel, I become hyper-aware of everything around me: the sights, the sounds, the smells. I love that first day in a new city, when you just wander around and take it all in.

Yangon, Myanmar

…because of all the delicious food I get to eat. Be it a local beer , an infamous sandwich , or a selection of treats from a street market, I always try to sample the cuisine of any place I’m in. And yes, that includes the things I may not always want to try; I can’t say that I particularly wanted to eat snake hearts when in Vietnam, but I’m happy that I at least had the opportunity to do so.

Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia

…because it makes me feel engaged, interested, and fulfilled. I like who I am when I travel, I like how I go with the flow, how I’m open-minded, how I laugh with my head thrown back. I’m not saying I’m totally different in London, but travelling seems to unlock a part of me that I love to embrace.

In the Himalayas, Nepal

…because it makes me learn about myself. There’s that incredibly cheesy cliché that “you have to get lost to really find yourself”; I don’t necessarily think it takes a backpack and a plane ticket to India to really discover who you are, but travelling certainly brings some aspects of your personality to light. Are you organised? Punctual? Curious? Do you like cobblestoned European cities or secluded mountain hikes? If there’s an emergency and you’re halfway around the world, can you handle yourself? I love that travelling has made me realise things about myself I didn’t know until I was thrown into situations I wouldn’t have (or couldn’t have) experienced at home in Canada.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

…because it has made me realise that no matter what, I’m going to be okay. Travelling has made me incredibly independent. If I want to book a trip to Africa by myself, I know I can do it. If I want to move to a new city where I don’t have any connections, I know I can do it. Travelling has made me a much more self-sufficient and ambitious person than I could have ever dreamed of becoming ten years ago.

Bangkok, Thailand

…because it represents how special my life is. I often read about travellers who hate when people tell them, “You’re so lucky, you get to travel all the time”. I get the sentiment behind their aggravation, but I personally don’t mind at all when people say that to me. In fact, I try to say it every day to myself, because, yeah, I’m lucky. I’m  really  lucky. Like other full-time travellers and travel bloggers, I worked hard to get where I am, but a lot of people on this planet work very, very hard and barely get any holiday time, if at all. And even with that holiday time, a lot of people cannot afford to travel to far-flung destinations. I’m well aware how amazing and enriched my life has been because of travel, and I am thankful every day for it. There are very few people who get to choose what they want to do with their lives, and I’m one of them. I’d say that makes me pretty damn lucky. It also makes me happy.

Silvia, Colombia

…because it reminds me, at the end of the day, that we’re all in this together. The one thing I’ve learned from all of my travels and from all of the experiences I’ve had with others around the world is that we’re all alike. We all dream and love and laugh. We all take pleasure in the small things: meals with friends, a sunny day, an unexpected moment of happiness with a stranger. Travelling has made me aware of how inconsequential so many things are, be they material items or moments of frustration or sadness. It has helped me to let go of the small things that used to bother me so much, and instead introduced me to the idea of embracing each day with a smile and an open mind. Essentially, travelling makes me happy because it has taught me to be happy*.

Tayrona Park, Colombia

Why does travelling make you happy?

* If this post seems particularly hippie-dippy/cheesy/has-she-been-smoking-the-good-stuff, I apologise. I’m puppy-sitting today, and I’m in a freaking fantastic mood. 

Brenna Holeman

Brenna Holeman has travelled to over 100 countries in the past 17 years, many of them on her own. She's now a solo mom living in Winnipeg, Canada. She's also a big fan of whisky and window seats.

Around the World: Beer

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This is such a wonderful post! I’ve only recently started traveling, and there countless reasons why it makes me so happy, but overall I think it has to do with the simple fact that I’m leaving my everyday, routine life in search of new sights, smells, memories, feelings, etc. I feel like that sounds super cheesy / cliche as well, but the best comparison I can think of is that traveling makes me feel like a kid in a candy store, and the world is that candy store.

About a month ago I visited Berlin for the first time, and I just remember walking around with a cheek to cheek smile on my face, amazed by everything from the currywurst, to the history, to the people, to the sights, the museums, the beer (oh, the beer!), the nightlife… I mean, it was one hell of a candy store and I definitely helped myself to all the candy I could get my hands on.

There’s something about traveling that reminds you how big the world really is, yet how it still connects us all together… I think that thought alone makes me the happiest 🙂

Thank you so much for your comment, Emma! I love your last line, I totally agree with it. I’m so excited that you’re starting to travel a lot more… Berlin is just the beginning! 😉

I love this post and totally agree with all of the reasons you said, especially about travelling making you someone you like who has an open mind. I think that is the number one reason I love travel.

Aw, thank you so much Jodie!

I completely agree with everything you’ve said in this post! You have perfectly summed up why I travel, and all the incredibly positive things it brings.

I can never understand why some people just don’t like to travel. Of course, I understand why its not always possible, and of course security has its benefits too, but travel just brings so much to my life. I feel like i’ve learnt so much from travelling. I think back to the person I was 5 years ago and I’ve changed so much, and I know a huge proportion of that is down to travel!

A really enjoyable read, than you!

Sometimes I understand why people don’t like to travel – it can be overwhelming, and getting stuck in an airport is enough to make even the calmest person lose their cool. However, I know that I will always love to travel, and I’ll continue to do it for the rest of my life. I’ve also changed so much… who knows how I’ll change over the next decade!

Thanks a lot for your comment, Jennie, I’m so glad you enjoyed the post.

I love this post, and was smiling and nodding in agreement as I read it! I agree with every reason you stated, especially how travel never ceases to amaze and how it makes you hyper-aware. I love the sense of freedom I feel when travelling and I love how each day is different and exciting- regardless of what you are doing.

Aw, thank you so much, Ashley! I love that sense of freedom, too.

I resonate with all of your reasons, Brenna. I also think travel makes me happy because every day is different – you don’t know who or what you will encounter and that is what excites me.

Totally – I love that. Thanks for your comment, Hayley!

This was a beautiful post; and I really loved what you had to say about how travel makes you recognize that your life is special, and that you are, indeed, lucky to get to do what you do. I hope no one ever takes for granted how hard you have worked to form the kind of life that you have, but it’s also true that not everyone is in the position to shape the kind of life that they want. I try to remember that all of the time (but often it is so hard! That’s why I loved your words so much).

I traveled a lot years ago when I was in college, and then it took me 10 years to get back at it again. But now that I’ve had a few eye-opening and incredible experiences, I want to do it all!! I think someone already commented on this, but I love the openness of travel, the feeling of freedom- whether it be from a trail in the mountains or on a street in a crowded city. I feel so much possibility when I travel: that anything can happen. That I can meet anyone. That I can see anything.

Thank you for this post!

Thank you so much for your comment, Nadine. I think it’s perfectly natural to take a break from travelling – I’m doing it at the moment, at least for a couple of months – but I love that I know with certainty that it will always make me happy. I want to do it all, too! I totally agree with your last lines; the possibilities that travel brings us are amazing.

I love your blog posts and your facebook updates, as well as shared articles. I agree with a lot of what you said. I am also very lucky that I am in a profession, teacher, that gives me so much vacation time. I wouldn’t have it any other way! I travel often by myself and I value the lessons and experiences. I am off to Nicaragua in a week on a solo trip for two weeks. It couldn’t come at a better time. Traveling alone is an opportunity for me to reconnect with myself, to appreciate and love myself, to remind myself that I am strong and brave. Life is beautiful and full of amazing opportunities! Thank you for your post. Great comments too!

Thank you so much for your comment Beatrice, and for all of your support! I totally agree with what you said about solo travel. It’s such an important part of my life and I’m so glad for all that it has taught me. Have an amazing time in Nicaragua!

So, I live vicariously through your posts at the moment and it makes me happy just hearing how happy travel has made you. Because of certain things happening in my life at the moment I cant travel long term but I know one day it will be possible. I read your blog to show myself that my dream of travel isn’t unrealistic and that anything we really want in life is possible with patience, sacrifice and hard work. It is through your blog that I found my true purpose in life and I want to thank you so much for that. So keep doing what you’re doing. Keep inspiring people! 🙂

Oh wow, thank you so much Melanie. This just totally made my day! We all have to take breaks from travelling or put it off sometimes… I’m doing it at the moment (for a few months, anyway) because I have other commitments like my degree. I know that I’ll do more long-term travel again soon, though, and it’s so great to hear that you have the same plans. It makes me so happy that I’ve had some small part in inspiring you. 🙂

Once again, thank you so much for this comment… it really encourages me to keep blogging and writing and trying my best to inspire others to get out and see this big old world.

Aw, all of your happiness made me feel so great, like there’s hope in life!! I’m going to send you an email too but I wanted to post here as well.

PS Love that picture of you in Seoul!

Thank you so much, Jacquie! I owe you a long email… 🙂

Love, love, love this post, Brenna! I just got back from my first solo trip across the U.S. to visit my best friend and my cousin’s family in Seattle. Even though I stayed within my country and had loved ones waiting to host me on the west coast, the rush I felt when my plane took off from Boston was so amazing. In a way, the trip was the first time I’ve given myself a week of “me time” in awhile, to plan my days in an exciting new place and allow myself to forget about work and school and just “experience” for awhile. Maybe it sounds silly, but for anxious, obsessive planner me, the trip was a huge step! I love the vulnerabilitly of it all, of feeling open to experience. Probably a very tame trip by the standards of most true adventurers, but the knowledge that I can get on a plane and just “go” is so freeing to me! Only problem is, now my feet are itching like never before! Haha.

It doesn’t sound silly at all! It sounds amazing. 🙂 That’s so great that you had such a good time and felt that you learned a lot. There’s no such thing as a tame trip, ha ha… you can have adventure anywhere!

Thanks a lot for your comment!

some awesome words and inspiringly fun photos! love your work – as always 🙂

Thank you so much, Rebecca!

I loved this post! I think I would have to agree that one of the main reasons that travelling makes me happy is all of the amazing people that you meet on the road. It seems to make all of the wonders that you get to see all the more wonderful and it is great learning about new people and where they come from 🙂

I totally agree, Zalie! I travel for the people. 🙂

Hi there, I really enjoyed reading your past updates and most recent post 🙂 I have just started on WordPress since I am just beginning my travels – not only to keep my own recording of the journey, but also to read other people’s recommendations and insights. I am 23 and my first post lists the places I will be visiting. Thank you for your post!

Reading this made me smile a big, bright, genuine, full tooth smile. I am so happy for you that you are living your dream. It proves to me that living a life of travel and writing truly is possible. I won’t take that final leap while my mom is still around as my dream currently is to spend as much time with her as possible.

That being said, mom and I do a great deal of travelling together. In the last year we have been to Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama and Aruba. In addition, we have spent time in San Francisco, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Florida. We are currently planning trips to Catalina, Astoria, Vancouver, Victoria and a cruise through the Mediterranean!

Travel allows me to live a life of adventure. I love new sights, foods and especially the people I meet. I have made many wonderful friends all over the globe and look forward to seeing them again someday!

…because it has made me realise that no matter what, I’m going to be okay.

Because it makes me realize how truly little I need to be happy. Food, shelter, and a million things to discover. The best parts of travel are the immaterial, or at least the (paid for) experiences versus the paid-for material items.

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• Sudur Pashchim

This is Me. I am Unique. I am Good because...

I am a hardworking person even though I am not talented or very intelligent. Among all my friends in class, I used to be the last one in understanding and memorising the texts. It took me a long time to understand the lessons, whereas others needed just one or two times to figure out the part when the teacher explained the lesson. However, I always stood first in class. I also won ‘Best Student of the Year’ title. Besides my studies, I was very frank with everyone. I used to respect my elders and seniors and love junior students. As a result, I have become a good teacher. In addition, everyone respects me because of my humble attitude. Finally, I want to say that no matter how mentally and physically poor or weak we are, we should never lose hope. Rather, we have to make efforts to make our dreams come true. We should accept our weakness but shouldn’t think it as weakness.

— Anonymous

I do not think I look beautiful — people speak bad about my appearance and I believe them. It hurts a lot when they compare me with my sister and compliments only my sister. If any party is organised, they invite only my sister and not me. Sometimes I envy her. I tried to change my get-up, hairstyle and everything about my looks, but I failed to impress them. But I have realised that it is of no use to waste time in such things. So, I stay focused on my studies — I am hardworking, creative, balanced and optimistic girl. It has helped me get good grades and at least I have been able to impress my teachers. I cannot do everything but there’s something I can do and I will definitely do what I can do. If people cannot accept me the way I am, it is not my problem. Instead, I want to acquire knowledge and higher educational qualifications. I have a dream to become special and useful to others which is unique about me. I am happy and I respect who I am.

— Subhamitta

I had never thought about my good qualities, other than my flaws. I used to be desperate to inculcate good qualities in me. Through counselling and personal reflection, I averted from my wrong decisions and headed on the path of success. I’m still doing it right now. I have a desire to become an ideal politician, but to stammer in front of crowds is total insanity. But I am practising and delivering speeches in public. Thanks to  one of my teachers that I have become a good public speaker now. My other stronger point is that I am good in writing Nepali articles. I write with full interest that even my friends get impressed. For me, my career is important and I want to make my parents proud. And these distinct qualities set me apart from others.

— Sarthak Giri, Balkumari

What I believe is that no one in the world is perfect in everything. One has their shortcomings. But it is the strong determination to overcome those shortcomings to move ahead for accomplishing goals is what matters. As far as I know myself, I’m a very emotional person who extremely values emotions and sentiments. Being emotional has been both my weakness as well as strength. Besides, I’m appreciative, capable enough to show appreciation and gratitude to others. This has been one of my biggest strengths which sets me apart and has helped me accomplish beautiful things in life which have turned into achievements. Inconsiderate people often displease me. I find them very offensive as they don’t care for others’ feelings and thoughts. I believe that every thought should be respected. So, I feel I am considerate who cares for others and their thoughts. This quality has brought people closer in my life. Also kindness is one of finest attributes. Moreover, I am outspoken, extrovert and sociable. All these attributes have immensely contributed me in developing and maintaining public relations which I regard as my plus point.

— Sandhya Dangol, Bhainsepati, Lalitpur

Everyone has their pros and cons, and so do I. If anyone analyses me, then I might not be perfect. However, there are some good attributes which sets me apart. From what I was, I have become buoyant, conducive and benevolent. I’m proud to say that I have a handful of friends. Today I’m working in an organisation where I have set myself apart from the crowd. Being supportive of others has helped me gain the trust of my colleagues, and my confidence has helped me to move forward. I believe this brighter side of my life are the richest assets in my life and shall take me further.

— Suvekchhya Upadhaya

Being optimistic, living in the present without worrying about the future, being honest to myself are some of the good aspects in me. Honesty is the best policy and this is the principle I live by. Leading my life with honesty has led me to success. I’m also a kind person by nature with a sensitive heart. So I can’t stand the suffering and pain of people. Even though I’ve less access to help them fully, I opt to contribute a certain amount of my earnings to help them. The immense satisfaction and happiness that I get from helping them cannot be compared to anything else.

— Subha Dangol, Bhainsepati

I have never been satisfied with what I have been given. I work harder to bring more satisfactory result. ‘Never be satisfied, work for more’ is my mantra. Setting least expectations has helped me to adapt to reality. I always expect very less from life so that when I overcome my expectations, I feel overwhelmed by joy. I like to stay alone in my own world where I talk to myself and where the outside world does not influence me whatever the condition. These attributes make me different from others.

Lots of changes have taken place in me. In the way I was five years ago and the way I am today, there is a drastic change. Anger is my weak point. I get mad at people easily but I calm down quickly as well. Time heals everything. I am hardworking, determined and confident. When we meet people they talk about money, status, what they are upto and all those stuff. People are so busy in their life that they fail to see the real things of life. People are obsessed with money these days. But the way I see things and understand is something that set me apart from others. I left so many people on my way and so many people have left me, maybe due to career choices or other stuff. But life still goes on. The maturity to understand life and working with full dedication to achieve my goals set me apart from other people.

— Nikita Shrestha, Udayapur

As every person has learnt and overcome their defects before reaching their destination, I started identifying, accepting and learning from my flaws like hesitating, not listening carefully, not facing failure, dreading future, et cetera. In spite of various stages like family struggle and entry into the military job to overcome family issues, I developed positive perspective and good attributes like learning attitude, risk taking capacity, faithfulness to parents and educational growth which have convinced me to carry on in life with hope. Now I am preparing for final examination of my Chartered Accountancy Course, which I started six years ago after resigning from a permanent job that I had held for five years.

— Sunil Prasad Silwal, Ghattekulo, Kathmandu

It is a fact that every human in this world is different from one another and I’m not an exception. What sets me apart from others in the world is the way I am — I love to give advice, support and help others especially those who behave well with me. I feel that I am just doing the task which I am supposed to do. It’s also a way of making sure that we can develop a healthy relation with people whom we advise, support and help whenever they are in need. I am guided by a famous English proverb ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed’ which has really made an impact in my life.

— Pratik Shrestha, Buddhanagar, Baneshwor

I am where I am because I am kind to others. I am helpful. I was a hardworking girl at my school in Inaruwa that I was chosen to study at Rato Bangala School in Kathmandu. After this, I will be a good doctor and treat people that come to my hospital. My father and my mother also told me that I should be a doctor. I wish to make a big hospital where I will have some nurses and treat people.

 — Isha Mehta, Grade II student

I am a respectful girl. I also work very hard. I do all my homework and I also help my friends and my sisters. I also help teachers in our school and our hostel. In the future I want to become an important person — I will become a nice and helpful doctor and treat sick people in the hospital.

— Anshu Uranw, Grade III student

I have many good qualities. I am good in jogging even though I am not good in running. I study hard and I have lots of knowledge. I am very fast at working. I love dancing and doing the splits. I am good in Nepali language because I understand what the teacher says to me. I am proud of my skill in gymnastics because I can do somersaults nicely. I would like to do ballet but I don’t know how to. I think I will learn how to do ballet and be an expert ballerina.

— Rebecca Rai, Grade II student

Different people have different kinds of attitudes, and attributes which set them apart from each other. As a person I have always seen myself as a sweet, caring, friendly, open minded and understanding girl. But on the other hand I do possess some flaws as well. For instance, whenever I get angry, I just can’t handle it and lose my temper easily which I regret a lot later on. I also have the bad habit of trusting people easily. I believe if I am good to others, then the other person will also be good to me. I see others as how I am to them. I have always believed in doing good in life. I don’t believe in being greedy and egoistic. I just try to do every possible thing selflessly for others. I believe in spreading happiness, love and peace around me. Also, if I am disturbed with something or someone, I just try to let go of the situation and move on. I believe in forgiving because it is not that I want to prove myself a great person but I feel God is above all and He will do the needful for us. Due to these qualities and positivity in me, I have always been admired and loved by people with whose help I have become who I am and where I am today.

— Tejaswi Pahari, Jawalakhel, Lalitpur

Every dark side has one small bright side as well. Similarly, I believe that I have some in me. The way I cooperate with people and the way I socialise with them has helped me achieve a lot in life. Making friends and knowing people have been a great source of information in many fields. Being able to maintain good relations is one of my qualities which I myself really adore, because from their love and support I have overcome many things in life. Sometimes misunderstanding breaks people apart because people find a big deal to apologise. I have never broken up with people because of misunderstanding because I don’t feel small to go in front of a person and apologise. In fact, it makes me feel better to patch up with the person again after learning from my mistake. These are the only things that have made me who I am today.

— Sujina Dutraj

Everyone is incomplete. No one is totally good or bad. Everybody has both qualities. I too have both good and bad qualities but there are some distinct qualities which separate me from others and give me different identity. Hard work is the best quality that helps me achieve my goal easily. I perform my tasks in available time. I have good communication skills. I can convince people easily. I like to help people in need — whatever the situation and matter I always support the needy people. I am a good social worker in my society. I participate in every social programme and activity. I like to study a lot and this interest helps me to gain my educational qualifications. Good habits and good qualities have always helped me to challenge difficult circumstances of life. These qualities and habits have also encouraged me to achieve better future and build my career.

— Sunita Khatri

The quality I find good in me is taken as flaw by others. I communicate less and communicating less doesn’t buy me a good social image. Some have even given me the tag of egoistic and a person with attitude. People tell my mum that I am gloomy and arrogant. But that is not the case. I’m not egoistic, I don’t have an attitude problem nor am I arrogant. I just communicate less — it’s radical but not wrong. I’m a listener more than a narrator, a writer than more a speaker. And that’s me. Besides, I adore attention to details — going after the smallest of things, noticing them and keeping them in mind. I enjoy acknowledging and understanding things, observing them rather than just seeing. And that’s me.

— Araksa Prajapati

Waking up early in the morning, reading national and international news with the help of Internet, good relationship with my friends who have always supported me, optimism, and lastly hard work are my mantras to my successful life.

— Saroj Wagle, Dumarwana, Bara

I deal people with a smile and politeness which generate positivity in the environment and I get the same kind of positivity from others too. In today’s context, people have a hunger for true appreciation, which motivates and energises them. I appreciate people for their goodness and I have got an overwhelming responses from them for my goodness too. I am a good listener. I love to reflect on things before reaching any conclusion. So people love to share their experiences and problems with me which has made me the best among my colleagues.

— Bishnu Subedi, Kalopul, Kathmandu

Success doesn’t mean the absence of failure; it means the attainment of ultimate objectives. It means winning the war, not every battle. A very few people may have succeeded by accident, but most of us suffer through a lifetime of frustration and unhappiness. If you think you are strong, strong you will be. If you think of yourself as weak, weak you will be. Both strength and weakness are a state of human mind. So, teach yourself to be strong. All good and divine qualities are strength and bad qualities are weakness. We should always keep in mind that some of the qualities in us are our strengths while others are our weakness. Ability is strength, while inability is weakness, courage is strength, cowardice is weakness, dignity is strength while disgrace is weakness, efficiency is strength and inefficiency is weakness, faith is strength while doubt is weakness, intelligence is strength and foolishness is weakness and the likes.

— Surendra Poudel

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

If you have noticed, many go out of their way, some even aggressively, publicising their work on social media for recognition and appreciation. Be it their charity work or photographs or write-ups, you come across such publicity a lot. And there are people who refuse to talk about their work, which could be Oscar-worthy. They want their work to speak for itself. Do you think in today’s day and age, if one wants attention for one’s work, one must absolutely blow one’s trumpet, or that genuine work/talent will be recognised regardless?

Send your replies in not more than 200 words by Friday, September 23 by 2:00 pm to Features, The Himalayan Times, e-mail: [email protected]

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• Writing Tips

Other Ways of Saying ‘Because’

2-minute read

• 16th December 2015

If English is not your first language , you may not know that there are lots of words that you can use instead of ‘because’. This is important, since using ‘because’ too often in your written work can make it seem stilted or repetitive.

By comparison, varying word choice can make your work easier to read and more engaging. Today, we’re going to share several synonyms for ‘because’ that will make your work look more academic .

Synonyms for ‘Because’

Let’s start with an example sentence:

Marjorie was angry because the moles kept digging up her garden.

Here , we could use several words and phrases instead of ‘ because ‘:

Marjorie was angry due to the moles that kept digging up her garden.

Marjorie was angry on account of the moles that were digging up her garden.

Notice that you need to adjust the sentence slightly to suit the alternative words used.

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Other Options

Another way to get round the use of ‘because’ is to rearrange the sentence:

The way the moles kept digging up Marjorie’s garden made her very angry.

Here, we have reversed the elements of the sentence and used the word ‘made’ to indicate the relationship between Marjorie’s anger and the moles in her garden. This can be a good way of varying your sentence structure.

You could also try the following variations:

The moles dug up Marjorie’s garden, making her very angry.

The moles dug up Marjorie’s garden and made her very angry.

The moles dug up Marjorie’s garden, which made her very angry.

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Essay on I Am Special Because

Students are often asked to write an essay on I Am Special Because in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on I Am Special Because

My unique talents.

I am special because of my unique talents. Everyone has something they are good at, and for me, it’s drawing. When I pick up a pencil, I can create pictures that tell stories without using words. This is my way of sharing my thoughts and dreams with the world.

My Kind Heart

Another reason I am special is my kind heart. I always try to help others and make them smile. Whether I am sharing my lunch or giving a friend a hug when they are sad, I know my actions make a difference.

My Curiosity

Lastly, my curiosity makes me special. I love to learn new things and ask lots of questions. This helps me understand the world better and teaches me every day. My love for learning is a gift that keeps on giving.

250 Words Essay on I Am Special Because

I am special because I have my own set of skills that nobody else has. Just like a snowflake, I am one of a kind. I can draw pictures that tell stories without using words. When I pick up my pencils and colors, my imagination turns into beautiful art on paper. This talent makes me stand out in my class and brings joy to my friends and family.

Another reason I am special is my kind heart. I always try to help others and make them smile. If a friend is sad, I am there to cheer them up. I share my snacks and sometimes, I give away my favorite toys to those who need them more. This kindness makes me a good friend and a person people can trust and love.

I am also special because I am very curious. I ask lots of questions about the world around me. Why is the sky blue? How do birds fly? This curiosity helps me learn new things every day. It’s like my mind is on a treasure hunt, always searching for new knowledge and adventures.

My Unique Personality

Lastly, my personality is a mix of funny, serious, shy, and brave. Sometimes I tell jokes that make everyone laugh, and other times I am the quiet one listening carefully. I am special because this mix is mine alone, and it shapes how I see the world and how the world sees me.

In all these ways, I am special. Just like everyone has their own story, I have mine, and that’s what makes me unique.

500 Words Essay on I Am Special Because

Everyone in the world is special in their own way, and I am no exception. I am special because of the unique talents I have. Just like a snowflake, no two people are exactly the same. I can draw pictures that tell stories without using any words. When I pick up my crayons and let my imagination run wild on paper, I create worlds that never existed before. These drawings make my friends and family smile, and that makes me feel like I have a superpower.

Another reason I am special is because of my kind heart. I believe being kind makes the world a better place. I like to help others whenever I can, whether it’s sharing my lunch with a friend who forgot theirs or helping a younger student with their homework. The happiness I see in their eyes when I help is priceless. It’s like a warm light that fills up the room, and it makes me special because not everyone takes the time to spread kindness.

My Love for Learning

I am special because I love to learn new things. Every day is an adventure when you’re curious. I ask a lot of questions because I want to know about everything. From the tiny ants on the ground to the big, bright stars in the sky, there’s so much to learn about. My teachers say that my thirst for knowledge is a gift, and I think it’s one of the things that makes me stand out.

My Family and Friends

The people around me also make me special. My family and friends have taught me so many things that have shaped who I am. They tell me stories, teach me games, and show me right from wrong. Their love and support give me the strength to be the best version of myself. It’s like having a team that’s always there to cheer you on in the game of life.

My Ability to Overcome Challenges

Life is not always easy, but I am special because I can overcome challenges. When something is hard, I don’t give up. Instead, I try harder. It’s like climbing a mountain. The climb might be tough, but the view from the top is worth it. This ability to keep going, even when things are tough, is something that makes me really proud of myself.

My Imagination

Lastly, my imagination is a big part of what makes me special. I can create stories and games using nothing but my thoughts. When I close my eyes, I can go on adventures to far-off lands and meet interesting characters. My imagination is a playground where anything is possible, and it’s a place where I can always be myself.

In conclusion, I am special for many reasons. My unique talents, kind heart, love for learning, the support of my family and friends, my ability to face challenges, and my boundless imagination all make me who I am. Just like everyone else, I have my own set of qualities that make me different, and that’s what makes the world such an interesting place. We are all special in our own ways, and that’s what makes each of us important and valuable.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on I Choose This School Because
• Essay on Iceland
• Essay on If I Could Be Anyone For A Day

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

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Watch CBS News

Why is looking at a solar eclipse dangerous without special glasses? Eye doctors explain.

By Sara Moniuszko

Edited By Allison Elyse Gualtieri

Updated on: April 8, 2024 / 8:54 AM EDT / CBS News

The solar eclipse will be visible for millions of Americans on April 8, 2024, making many excited to see it — but how you watch it matters, since it can be dangerous for your eyes. 

A  solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, blocking the sun's light . When the moon blocks some of the sun, it's a partial solar eclipse, but when moon lines up with the sun, blocking all of its light, a total solar eclipse occurs,  NASA explains . Either way, you need eye protection when viewing.

"The solar eclipse will be beautiful, so I hope that everyone experiences it — but they need to experience it in the right way," said Dr. Jason P. Brinton, an ophthalmologist and medical director at Brinton Vision in St. Louis.

Here's what to know to stay safe.

Why is looking at a solar eclipse dangerous?

Looking at the sun — even when it's partially covered like during an eclipse — can cause eye damage.

There is no safe dose of solar ultraviolet rays or infrared radiation, said  Dr. Yehia Hashad , an ophthalmologist, retinal specialist and the chief medical officer at eye health company Bausch + Lomb.

"A very small dose could cause harm to some people," he said. "That's why we say the partial eclipse could also be damaging. And that's why we protect our eyes with the partial as well as with the full sun."

Some say that during a total eclipse, it's safe to view the brief period time when the moon completely blocks the sun without eye protection. But experts warn against it. 

"Totality of the eclipse lasts only about 1 to 3 minutes based on geographic location, and bright sunlight suddenly can appear as the moon continues to move," notes an eclipse viewing guide published in JAMA , adding, "even a few seconds of viewing the sun during an eclipse" can temporarily or permanently damage your vision. 

Do I need special glasses for eclipse viewing?

Yes.  Eclipse glasses are needed to protect your eyes if you want to look at the eclipse.

Regular sunglasses aren't protective enough for eclipse viewing — even if you stack more than one. 

"There's no amount of sunglasses that people can put on that will make up for the filtering that the ISO standard filters and the eclipse glasses provide," Brinton said.

You also shouldn't look at the eclipse through a camera lens, phone, binoculars or telescope, according to NASA, even while wearing eclipse glasses. The solar rays can burn through the lens and cause serious eye injury.

Eclipse glasses must comply with the  ISO 12312-2 international safety standard , according to NASA, and should have an "ISO" label printed on them to show they comply. The American Astronomical Society  has a list  of approved solar viewers.

Can't find these, or they're sold out near you? You can also  make homemade viewers ,   which allow you to observe the eclipse indirectly — just don't accidentally look at the sun while using one.

How to keep kids safe during the solar eclipse

Since this eclipse is expected to occur around the time of dismissal for many schools across the country, it may be tempting for students to view it without the proper safety precautions while getting to and from their buses. That's why some school districts are  canceling classes early so kids can enjoy the event safely with their families.

Dr. Avnish Deobhakta, vitreoretinal surgeon at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary at Mount Sinai, said parents should also be careful because it can be difficult for children to listen or keep solar eclipse glasses on. 

"You want to actually, in my opinion, kind of avoid them even looking at the eclipse, if possible," he said. "Never look directly at the sun, always wear the right eclipse sunglasses if you are going to look at the sun and make sure that those are coming from a reliable source."

Brinton recommends everyone starts their eclipse "viewing" early, by looking at professional photos and videos of an eclipse online or visiting a local planetarium. 

That way, you "have an idea of what to expect," he said. 

He also recommends the foundation  Prevent Blindness , which has resources for families about eclipse safety.

What happens if you look at a solar eclipse without eclipse glasses?

While your eyes likely won't hurt in the moment if you look at the eclipse without protection, due to lowered brightness and where damage occurs in the eye, beware: The rays can still cause damage .

The harm may not be apparent immediately. Sometimes trouble starts to appear one to a few days following the event. It could affect just one or both eyes.

And while some will regain normal visual function, sometimes the damage is permanent. 

"Often there will be some recovery of the vision in the first few months after it, but sometimes there is no recovery and sometimes there's a degree to which it is permanent," Brinton said. 

How long do you have to look at the eclipse to damage your eyes?

Any amount of time looking at the eclipse without protection is too long, experts say. 

"If someone briefly looks at the eclipse, if it's extremely brief, in some cases there won't be damage. But damage can happen even within a fraction of a second in some cases," Brinton said. He said he's had patients who have suffered from solar retinopathy, the official name for the condition.

Deobhakta treated a patient who watched the 2017 solar eclipse for 20 seconds without proper eye protection. She now has permanent damage in the shape of a crescent that interferes with her vision. 

"The crescent that is burned into the retina, the patient sees as black in her visual field," he said. "The visual deficit that she has will never go away."

How to know if you've damaged your eyes from looking at the eclipse

Signs and symptoms of eye damage following an eclipse viewing include headaches, blurred vision, dark spots, changes to how you see color, lines and shapes. 

Unfortunately, there isn't a treatment for solar retinopathy.

"Seeing an eye care professional to solidify the diagnosis and for education I think is reasonable," Brinton said, but added, "right now there is nothing that we do for this. Just wait and give it time and the body does tend to heal up a measure of it."

Sara Moniuszko is a health and lifestyle reporter at CBSNews.com. Previously, she wrote for USA Today, where she was selected to help launch the newspaper's wellness vertical. She now covers breaking and trending news for CBS News' HealthWatch.

More from CBS News

Look at the solar eclipse too long? Doctors explain signs of eye damage

Is it safe to take pictures of the solar eclipse with your phone?

How to make pinhole cameras to watch the 2024 solar eclipse safely

How often do total solar eclipses happen?

I looked at the eclipse and now my eyes hurt. What are the symptoms of eclipse blindness?

Eclipse enthusiasts flocked to Austin and other cities Monday to see the total solar eclipse and, hopefully, brought the proper eye protection with them.

Looking at the sun during an eclipse without safe viewing glasses can cause permanent eye damage, called eclipse blindness. If after witnessing Monday's phenomenon you experience blurry or distorted vision , you may have suffered eye damage.

Here's what to know about eclipse blindness and what symptoms to look for.

Looking at the sun during an eclipse without protection can permanently damage your eyes

Even a short glance at the sun without proper protection can cause temporary or permanent damage to your eyes. Sunglasses aren't enough, you need ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses , which block about 1,000 times more sunlight.

How do I know if I damaged my eyes during the April eclipse? What are the symptoms of eclipse blindness?

The retinas of your eyes have no nerve endings so even if they are damaged, you may not feel any pain. But according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology , if you experience any of these symptoms a few hours or even days after the eclipse, you should go see your ophthalmologist.

• Blurry vision
• Headache and/or eye pain
• Vision loss or a black spot at the center of a patient’s sight in one or both eyes
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Distorted vision (a straight line may look bent or curvy)
• Changes in the way you see color, known as "dyschromatopsia"

How long can I look at the sun if I'm using eclipse glasses?

According to the American Astronomical Society (AAS), while some glasses and viewers include warnings about looking through them at the sun for more than 3 minutes at a time, as long as your glasses are compliant with the ISO 12312-2 safety standard and are undamaged, "you may look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun through them for as long as you wish."

What does looking at the sun do to your eyes?

Ever started a fire by using a magnifying glass to focus sunlight onto a point?

The lens of your eye does essentially the same thing when it focuses the light you see onto the retinas at the back of your eye, the  American Academy of Ophthalmology  explained. The retina is the light-detecting part of your eye that transmits those signals to the brain. Direct, intense light can burn a hole in them or destroy retinal cells almost immediately.

Normally it hurts to look at the sun and humans naturally squint or look away. Even a few seconds can be too much. But during an eclipse, the visible sunlight is reduced and it becomes possible to look directly at it without discomfort for longer periods of time. You may not even know you've damaged your eyes until the next day.

The result is solar retinopathy or retinal burns. It can happen from looking at the sun or at too-bright reflections of sunlight off snow or water. The most common cause of solar retinopathy is viewing a solar eclipse, also called eclipse blindness.

It's rare, but it can be permanent. The  2017 eclipse , which passed from Oregon to South Carolina, is thought to have caused about 100 cases, according to the  American Astronomical Society , out of the estimated 150 million people who witnessed it. But since solar retinopathy doesn't cause complete blindness, many people with minor cases may have never reported it or even known they had it.

How long will damage from looking at an eclipse last?

Researchers have found that some patients "may see symptoms ease over time," according to David Hutton for Ophthalmology Times. The cones in the retina are resilient and resist damage, experts say.

In a 1976 study, some patients saw their symptoms clear over time and researchers found that some cases saw an "excellent recovery" in the first three months.

However, others have suffered permanent damage resulting in impaired vision in the form of a small blind spot in one or both eyes and distortion.

Is damage from looking at a solar eclipse treatable?

No. There is no treatment.

You should have an ophthalmologist scan your eyes to see how much damage has been done and they can monitor them over the next few months to chart any recovery, but the only thing you can do is wait and hope for it to go away.

And avoid looking at the sun.

After the eclipse, we'll have posters and framed prints from Statesman photojournalists available at  usatodaystore.com.