Social Discourse on Happiness

Prompt: Social Discourse on Happiness

Social Discourse on Happiness
 

I. Outline of a Social Discourse on Happiness (Standard)

1. Introduction

Introducing the issue for discussion: Human happiness.

2. Body of the Article

a. Individual Concept of Happiness:
- It is a psychological phenomenon occurring daily within the brain, within the soul of each individual. When we satisfy a certain demand, our brain immediately sends signals expressing emotions of joy, satisfaction, enthusiasm, optimism, and love for life.
- Human happiness is not simply about satisfying material needs but also about fulfilling spiritual needs.
- Whether we are happy or not lies within our own hearts. If we feel happy, then we are happy, regardless of what others may say about us being unhappy, lacking, or suffering,...(Continued)

>> See detailed Outline of the Social Discourse on Happiness here.

II. Sample Article on Social Discourse about Happiness

1. Social Discourse on Happiness, Model #1 (Standard):

Some people spend their entire youth, their entire lives searching for the answer to happiness, but in the end, when their pillows are worn out, their backs are bent, looking back at the path they've taken, they don't feel they've gone in the right direction. There are also those who live simply, just living and enjoying life. They are not overly selective or strict about the concept of happiness, so when their hair turns gray, their skin bears the marks of time, they smile contentedly. That makes us always wonder what happiness is, how to be happy, or whether we are happy yet... That's always an unresolved issue, much like when people ask about love. But perhaps happiness is simply how we perceive issues and life - Happiness comes from the soul of each individual.

Today, I received a wedding invitation from a close sister, her face full of joy, radiance, and happiness shining in her eyes. I know that is the expression of happiness. The other day, my father bought my mother a beautiful dress, although it didn't fit perfectly, but I saw my mother truly happy, her eyes sparkling, I know that is also happiness. Many years ago, my mother gave me a pair of earrings on my birthday, I was ecstatic, showing off to all my friends, cherishing and treasuring them, although the memories are old, I know that is also happiness. Thus, it can be seen that happiness is not such an abstract concept, but a psychological phenomenon that occurs daily within the brain, within the soul of each individual. When we satisfy a certain demand, our brain immediately sends signals expressing emotions of joy, satisfaction, enthusiasm, optimism, and love for life. However, human happiness is not simply about satisfying material needs but also about fulfilling spiritual needs. That is, a person will only be happy when they like the gift they receive, they like the person giving the gift, and the gift reflects the sentiment of the giver. This is similar to how some people feel happy when they earn a lot of money, but along with having a lot of money comes the need for satisfaction with work, with life, and money can provide them with essential spiritual needs. It can be concluded that whether we are happy or not lies within our own hearts. If we feel happy, then we are happy, regardless of what others may say about us being unhappy, lacking, or suffering,...

We shouldn't place too many expectations on some grandiose happiness, while we ourselves are unsure what that grandiose happiness entails, whether it's saving the world, blessing humanity, or something that sounds very humane, very noble. What's crucial is for us to live our lives well, not hoping to find happiness, but focusing on recognizing happiness in the nooks and crannies of life. When searching for something, we tend to look from left to right easily and quickly, often overlooking valuable things. So, to be more effective, try the opposite by glancing from right to left, even though it may be challenging and slower, but you'll discover many interesting things and recognize what you've forgotten. I say this to advise you to slow down and perceive things differently because life is multidimensional, multifaceted, and one cannot fully grasp the essence of a matter by looking at just one side. Happiness is similar; you may go with the flow in life and find your life dull, your circumstances ordinary, your studies and work just average. But do you know in reality you have a lot? You have a complete family, healthy parents who still call you every day to inquire about you, occasionally even send you a delicious roasted chicken. You also have a job with a salary enough to support yourself, you have a life that's not too hectic, with three square meals provided since childhood. Yet still not enough happiness? You fail to see because you live and look at others too much, forgetting to reassess your own assets, failing to recognize the happiness you already have, and just chasing after what you think is other people's happiness. It's like a cat chasing its tail, forgetting the yarn and the ball it already owns. If you've read 'The Boat Beyond the Far Shore' by Nguyen Minh Chau, perhaps you've also noticed that the woman in the fishing village, although poorly educated, living in an unhappy family, still has simple views on happiness that each of us should learn from. She doesn't look at other people's lives to envy or dream; on the contrary, she looks at her own life and determines that as long as her children are well-fed, as long as the family has some harmonious moments eating together, then she is happy, satisfied. That fishing village woman has found a little happiness from her hard life. What about us? Does anyone among us have such deeply understanding and perceptive views?

One more thing I want to tell you is that if you want to be happy, stop dreaming of some glamorous happiness. You see someone with money, driving luxury cars, wearing designer clothes, living in a mansion, and you think that is happiness. Some of you even complain to me that you wish to live a rustic life, planting vegetables, raising chickens and fish every day, leaving behind the hectic, stressful life, then that would be true happiness. But my dear friends, everything has its price; you have to make sacrifices. Do you know that to have a mansion, luxury cars, and designer items, people have had to try and work hard for so much? They worked tens of hours a day, no weekends off, rain or shine, even drinking with clients until they passed out, hospitalized due to gastric bleeding, and countless other difficulties just to have the life they have today. And for those of you dreaming of an idyllic, peaceful, refined life, I have to tell you that it's not a life that everyone can accept. Instead of being able to sleep until seven in the morning, you will have to wake up at five to cook rice, feed the chickens and ducks, water the vegetables, then go to the fields, working tirelessly until nightfall. At night, while others are warm, playing with friends, studying with books, you will continue to feed the poultry, water the vegetables, then close the door and go to bed because you are too tired after a long day's work. Not to mention the worries of farm work, crop failure, drought, harvest, irrigation, fertilization,... I'm sure that by now you understand that the idyllic countryside life you see on TV is just a tiny corner, looking romantic and leisurely, isn't it? Although a bit harsh, that is the extravagant happiness you often dream of and its reality. So, as people in life, learn to be satisfied with what you have, feel happy because at least you can live and breathe comfortably. Learn from Xuân Diệu, happiness and the beauty of life do not lie in some eternal paradise, but happiness is right next to each of us, in the most ordinary lives, and in the heart of every person.

Another thing for happiness is not to pay too much attention to how others perceive you, live your own way, live kindly, live beautifully, and feel happy yourself, without affecting the community. Because we live in a community, there are bound to be many clashes, and people's selfish nature will make them say things that are not very pleasant, like jealousy, gossiping, or admiration, none of which are too important. We cannot love someone just because someone says they look pretty but choose to love someone who may be poor and ugly but treats you sincerely, always for you. Or we cannot throw away a dress we once loved just because someone says the new dress we bought looks outdated. Or we cannot straighten our curly hair just because someone says we don't suit curly hair. I say everyone has an opinion, as long as you feel okay, you don't need to pay attention to them because being too concerned about public opinion will suffocate your happiness. What's worse than living your whole life according to someone else's thoughts? So don't let others shatter your happiness with their words, with their selfish personal views.

So happiness isn't something grand; there are people sitting at a typewriter all day, earning a few pennies at the end of the month, barely enough for a comfortable life, yet they are very cheerful, very happy, and dedicated to their work because they understand the value of themselves, of the work they are doing, that it is beautiful and meaningful. Each of us is the same; you were born into this world as a kind of happiness, a miracle, you brought warmth and happiness to your parents, and you should also live happily in your own way. Our journey is long, but remember that every pebble, every flower has value to make us happy, never just overlook them to find a soap bubble of happiness, beautiful from a distance but burst when touched, and we can't feel anything.

Sample Essay: Discourse on Happiness on Mytour

2. Social discourse on happiness, sample 2:

In the colorful and diverse life of human beings, what everyone desires and strives for is happiness. And they all have one thing in common: whether poor or wealthy, educated or uneducated, worldly or spiritual, before turning to dust, humans hope to fulfill their own happiness.

'Happiness' is a concept that we cannot define or conceptualize accurately because each individual has different joys, different purposes. Happiness depends on personal feelings, emotions, and also depends on the goals of each individual. But no matter how understood, happiness is still a mental or emotional state of joy, comfort when achieving desires, goals, ideals of oneself.

Happiness in human life includes many rich and diverse expressions. It can be created from material values, or it can be shaped by spiritual life. Some people will take money, material wealth as a measure of happiness, because for them, having money means having everything. But there are also those who believe that money cannot buy happiness, and joy for them lies in spiritual values, such as doing what they love, living with peaceful family harmony,.... And happiness can be grand, but at the same time, it can be extremely simple, tiny like waking up every morning to enjoy the fresh air, listening to the simple sounds of life like bird chirping,... Therefore, happiness can be 'giving', it can be 'receiving' depending on the beliefs, purposes of each individual.

However understood, happiness is also one of the indispensable spiritual values in human life. Because only when there is joy, comfort, will people have the motivation to overcome sorrows, obstacles on the path to success. The definition of happiness varies for each person, the way people steer the boat of life to reach happiness is also very personal, but in the end, happiness only smiles at those who deserve it. If too ambitious or using malicious, selfish means, even if achieving goals, people cannot enjoy the feeling of joy, comfort in the soul. True happiness is created from the good journeys and actions of human beings.