Positive Brain Research

Brain research like this generally requires a live subject whether it is to be an animal or a human. Any experimental medical testing is always an ethical issue because of the potential risks that it poses such as pain, discomfort, death, or altercations to the subjects current state. There are many risks with brain research involving what might happen in the present and what could happen in the future.

This quote is significant because it serves as an opening that we need to keep in mind throughout the text. As the article progresses, one can see that it strengthens the central idea that most people are not happy and are approaching happiness in the wrong way. This was established to give an example to the reader showing how the idea of happiness can be shared.

As human beings we are naturally wired to seek happiness wherever we can find it. When we don’t, we may enter a stage of anger, anxiety, or distress. That’s why it is our personal goal to look for happiness and preserve it once we acquire it. Many have explored ways to find what triggers this feeling of “happiness” and what we can do to keep it; nonetheless, the evidence found is hardly sufficient to make a public statement on how to find happiness. For this reason, most of the time we speculate what might provoke this feeling of contentment. “Happiness is a glass half empty,” an essay written by Oliver Burkeman, highlights the importance of happiness and discloses how we can find delight through unorthodox methods. The prime objective of this piece of writing is to inform the audience about the effect of happiness on their lives and how their usual attempts of becoming happier can sabotage achieving this feeling. Furthermore, he wants to promote the benefits of pessimism and describe how it can help us in the long run. The author utilizes pronouns, logos, and pathos in order to prove his point and draw the audience into his essay, in an attempt of making them reconsider the way they live their lives and adopt this new pessimistic way that would greatly boost their level of happiness.

“Happiness is in the enjoyment of man’s chief good. Two conditions of the chief good: 1st, Nothing is better than it; 2nd, it cannot be lost against the will” (Augustine 264-267). As human

Mankind must by this time have acquired positive beliefs as to the effects of some actions on their happiness; and the beliefs which have thus come down are the rules of morality for the multitude, and for the philosopher until he has succeeded in finding better. That philosophers might easily do this, even now, on many subjects; that the received code of ethics is by no means of divine right; and that mankind have still much to learn as to the effects of actions on general happiness, I admit or rather earnestly maintain.

As human beings we are naturally wired to seek happiness wherever we can find it. When we don’t, we may enter a stage of anger, anxiety, or distress. That’s why it is our personal goal to look for happiness and preserve it once we acquire it. Many have explored ways to find what triggers this feeling of “happiness” and what we can do to keep it; nonetheless, the evidence found is hardly sufficient to make a public statement on how to find happiness. For this reason, most of the time we speculate what might provoke this feeling of contentment. “Happiness is a glass half empty,” an essay written by Oliver Burkeman, highlights the importance of happiness and discloses how we can find delight through unorthodox methods. The prime objective of this piece of writing is to inform the audience about the effect of happiness on their lives and how their usual attempts of becoming happier can sabotage achieving this feeling. Furthermore, he wants to promote the benefits of pessimism and describe how it can help us in the long run. The author utilizes pronouns, logos, and pathos in order to prove his point and draw the audience into his essay, in an attempt of making them reconsider the way they live their lives and adopt this new pessimistic way that would greatly boost their level of happiness.

An individual’s Pursuit of Happiness can be achieved in many ways. Throughout the year we have read a good amount of literature that contains either characters pursuing happiness or the authors themselves showing their own ways of pursuing their dreams. There are always ups and downs, but the end result is people will follow what they believe will make them happy. Whether it is Gatsby following Daisy, becoming rich for her and following her to New York, or it is George trying to find a better life for him and Lennie, the end goal is the same. Even in The Crucible, John Proctor is searching for happiness when he tries to save his family from being accused of witchcraft, even if it ultimately fails. All of these pieces of literature are similar

In American Literature, the story’s protagonists seek one objective: happiness. However, most quests for happiness are distinct. The way they attempt to achieve this and their end goal vary immensely. From The Great Gatsby, Of Mice and Men, and The Red Badge of Courage, all characters face difficulties in searching for happiness. From The Great Gatsby, “He had waited five years and bought a mansion where he dispensed starlight to casual moths--so that he could come over some afternoon to a stranger’s garden” (4).

Many of Lewis’s writing shines new light on what happiness really means to the human spirit. In “We Have No ‘Right to Happiness’”, C.S. Lewis challenges the superficial view of happiness that we can do whatever it takes to be happy, regardless of others. Lewis observes how we reach happiness in relationships, pointing out that too many people only want happiness for themselves, which in turn deprives others of the same joy. He bases his augment on society’s view points, using his neighbor as a relatable example. Lewis provides educated insight to what some people are willing to do for happiness simply because they believe society allows it without consequence.

The conveyance of distinctive visuals within texts draw profound significance to the various aspects of life poised within their stories. Performed with the aim of elevating the audience’s understanding, this can suggestively nurture the common response amongst them of the significant aspects of life, thus, referencing a deep awareness of the composer’s concerns. This is clearly evident within John Misto’s play ‘The Shoe-Horn Sonata’ in accompaniment to the listening stimulus of John Misto’s Interview and Peter Skrzynecki’s poem ‘Crossing The Red Sea’ through the exploration of delicate notions such as the journey through times of hardship and suffering as well as the hope of survival and sacrifices.

Throughout history people have been looking for something that made life special, spectacular, or one of a kind. Today, this search is known to the world as the “pursuit of happiness”. The phrase use was heightened during the enlightenment period and lingered for long after. This impact of its use did not only impact the way life was looked at but also impacted the arts during that time and for the future. Two pieces that show this evidence is the novel Candide by Voltaire and the song “Pursuit of Happiness” by Kid Cudi. Both of these works, even though they were published more than two centuries apart, carry the theme of the pursuit of happiness. These pieces are evidence of the unchanging pursuit that mankind goes through.

In the article titled, Positive Brains Are Smarter Brains by Donna Wilson the article provides us clear and specific instructions on how we can guide students toward taking control of their attitude. According to Wilson, (2015) when we apply metacognition to both the emotional and cognitive aspects of learning we can support students to develop their knowledge and skills. For instance, we can teach students to employ control over “significant influences on their emotional outlook being able to accomplish this will improve their focus on positive outcomes” (Wilson, 2015). As we teach and explain to students that we are the ones that can increase our positive feelings by taking charge of our thoughts and behaviors.

The world seems to be a dark and unforgiving place, but happiness is hidden within. It is found in a beautiful view, an uplifting song, or a compliment from a friend. According to the Ted Talk video, The Habits of Happiness, Matthieu Ricard claims that everyone “has a deep, profound desire for well-being or happiness”(Ricard 2:39). Ricard uses the three techniques of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos to captivate and move his audience. With the use of metaphors, personal experiences, and even graphs Matthieu explained to his audience the full force and perception of the bendable word that is happiness. This Ted Talk dove into philosophical meaning on just how to achieve well-being, without having everything in the world.

Having a positive brain is important when it comes to being successful in many ways. One benefit of having a positive brain is that it always helps someone see the silver lining of any situation, no matter how miserable the situation might be. Another benefit of having a positive brain is that the brain performs significantly better in a positive state of mind instead of a negative state of mind. Achor also mentions in his TED Talk, a positive brain means that “your intelligence rises, your creativity rises and your energy levels rise”. Finally by having a positive brain, one can more successful in their careers by having a positive state of mind rather than a negative state of mind. I would definitely incorporate Achor’s entire positive brain

According to Seligman, the final form of happiness, “pleasant life” happiness, is considered a short cut to happiness, and not as significant as “engaged life” or “meaningful life” happiness. “Pleasant life” happiness is defined as simplistic events that bring pleasure to oneself. Contrary to Seligman’s belief, it is my notion that “pleasant life” happiness is equivalent to both “engaged life” and “meaningful life” happiness. For example, every summer my family and I go blackberry picking at a nearby field. The day starts off with the four of us biking on a winding trail to reach the field of blackberries. It is pure bliss to feel the warm wind rush through my hair as I speed down a sloping hill on my bicycle. After about an hour of relaxing bike riding, my family and I finally reach our destination. Laughing, I race my sister to the nearest blackberry bush. Trying hard to avoid the stinging pain of the blackberry’s many thorns,