The document discusses several ways that people can increase their happiness. It suggests that avoiding stress, maintaining a positive outlook, and giving yourself options without backup plans are effective strategies. Stress can be reduced through relaxing activities, socializing with friends, and removing oneself from stressful situations when possible. Large amounts of stress can negatively impact physical health over time. While small imperfections will still occur each day, focusing on the bigger picture and reflecting on daily positives can help maintain happiness. Considering all choices fully before deciding allows people to feel confident they made the right choice. Understanding what fulfills one's own happiness is key to living a happy life.

1. Roberts 1
Brianna Roberts
Professor Jessica Anderson
English 200
17 October 2013
The Key to Happiness
Every person has a different understanding of happiness. Along with having different
thoughts about the subject, people have personal ways to fulfill being happy. Often repeating a
specific action, looking at the bigger picture with positivity, and eliminating stress are ways to
fulfill being happy.
Everyone deserves to be happy and many people are not really sure how to make
themselves happy. In “The Happiness of Pursuit,” Jeffrey Kluger says, “Part of the solution,
however, may lie not in a product or a program, but simply in a better understanding of the
particular way Americans define happiness in the first place” (Kluger 27). One simple way to
understand happiness is after discovering an action that makes one feel happy, the individual
should continue doing this action at all times. An action such as going to the mall could also be a
way to relax for some. Different activities satisfy each individuals happiness standard.
Stress can destroy any happiness one person may have. A way to avoid stress could be by
socializing. The Killer Stress documentary by John Heminway revolves mainly around studies
done by Robert Sapolsky. A portion of the documentary focuses some time on Janet Lawson, a
mother who “joins other mothers who share circumstances that produce chronic, unremitting
stress.” Every member of this group is a mother to a disabled child. No matter what is going on
that week, Lawson never misses her meeting because it is her chance to breakaway and socialize
with others she can relate to. Taking a break from everything stressful that may be going on in

2. Roberts 2
ones life is necessary at times. A good way to step back from everything is to socialize with
some friends and do something everyone enjoys.
Relaxing and maintaining organization are two distinct ways to avoiding stress. There are
always going to be events that happen throughout everyday that will stress any human being out.
One of the more popular causes of stress involves hierarchy. “When you have less dopamine,
everything around you that would normally take pleasure is less pleasurable, so the sun doesn’t
shine so bright... Your brain is functioning that way because you’re low on the social status
hierarchy” (Killer). Rankings on hierarchy is everywhere. It may be on a working staff, a sports
team, or even a social group. Any type of hierarchy can cause stress no matter the situation. If
the stress begins to build due to the scale of hierarchy, it is worth considering removing oneself
form the situation if at all possible.
Emanuel Johnson a stress patient studied in Killer Stress has been in his business for 20
years, “so over the years you know, the cholesterol, the blood pressure, the sugar came on later,
but the stress was always there, long before they came on.” The insane amounts of stress that
some people go through can easily result in affecting their personal health. Some of the health
issues resulting from large amounts of stress are headaches and less sleep to more serious matters
like heart disease. For some the effects are even as serious as stress being at fault for heart
attacks. Due to all of the negativity stress can cause, it is important to avoid as much stress as
possible. Staying organized is one way to try and avoid stress. Another important action when
stressed is to keep calm and relax. Han F. De Wit says, “Clarity allows us to be realistic in our
view of the world and ourselves” (35). This explains the importance of relaxing with intentions
to completely clear ones mind. Everyone has their own version of relaxation. Whether it may be

3. Roberts 3
by reading, writing, or sitting outside, it is rewarding to not allow stress to run your life when it
can be avoided or relieved.
Maintaining happiness can also be done by continuing to stay positive. “In our own loud
and messy way, we’ve always worked to make the most of it, and we probably always will”
(Kluger 32). There are always going to be a lot of different things that happen all day long that
would make one unhappy, but at the same time many of those actions are minor. Do not let
minor happenings affect your happiness. It is also important to take the time at the end of every
day and to look back on every positive thing that came out of that day. Even when times are
tough, it could always be worse. Just step back and look at the bigger picture of everything in
life. It will make the small imperfections mean less.
One action that is not often thought about to assist in experiencing happiness is to give
yourself options. Dan Gilbert says in his TED talk on happiness, “It turns out that freedom- the
ability to make up your mind and change your mind- is the friend of natural happiness, because it
allows you to choose among all those delicious features and find the one that you would most
enjoy.” If one considers every option equally than they will be more confident in the fact that
they made the right choice. Some may think that having a back up plan could be a good thing,
but in reality it can result in unhappiness because it always has the person thinking, ‘what if?’
Take the time to think things through and make the right decision the first time around.
All human beings need to realize the importance of happiness in life and discover what
personally fulfills their happiness so they can live their life being happy as everyone should.
Stress puts a major damper on happiness and should be handled appropriately before having to
face severe consequences such as health problems. When stress can be reduced the opportunity

4. Roberts 4
should be taken. Having a positive outlook on life, considering every decision can assist making
anyone a much happier person.

5. Roberts 5
Works Cited
De Wit, Han F. “The Case For Contemplative.” Shambhala Sun Mar 2001. 34-37. Print.
Gilbert, Dan. “The Surprising Science of Happiness.” Feb 2004. Guest Lecture.
Killer Stress: A National Geographic Special. Dir. John Heminway. National Geographic. 2008.
Web. Youtube.com
Kluger, Jeffrey. “The Happiness of Pursuit.” Time July 2013. 25-44. Print.