Enhancing My Happiness

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Miami Dade College, Miami *

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Sociology

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Feb 20, 2024

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Viera 1 Anthony Viera Dr. José Sebastián Terneus ENC 1102 18 March 2023 Enhancing My Happiness In today's fast-paced and increasingly complex world, happiness is a precious commodity that many people strive for but few seem to achieve. So, the question remains: which two behaviors can I adopt to enhance my happiness? Drawing upon Dr. Laurie Santos' lecture "My Life is Awesome, So Why Can't I Enjoy It?" and Dr. Robert Waldinger's TED Talk "The Secret to a Happy Life -- Lessons from Eight Decades of Research," we can gain valuable insights into the behaviors that can enhance happiness. The first things I can enact to enhance my happiness are practicing gratitude every morning for a month and second to prioritize spending quality time with a loved one for at least 30 minutes each day for two weeks. In her lecture, Dr. Santos emphasizes the importance of gratitude as a key factor in happiness. By focusing on what we are grateful for, we shift our attention away from negative thoughts and emotions and cultivate a more positive outlook on life. One simply needs to “just need to pay attention to the blessings in your life and one of the easy techniques for doing that is to simply take time to explicitly notice what you're grateful for” (Santos 22:39-22:47). Mainly, the first step I will take to enhance my happiness is to practice gratitude every morning for a month. Each day, I will take a few minutes to reflect on the things I am thankful for. Dr. Santos' lecture emphasizes the power of perspective and the ability to reframe negative thoughts as a means to enhance happiness, which can complement the practice of gratitude by helping me maintain a positive mindset. However, one potential drawback of focusing solely on positive

Viera 2 thinking is the risk of suppressing or ignoring negative emotions, which can lead to further distress in the long term if left unaddressed. Dr. Waldinger's research on happiness over the course of eight decades highlights the significance of social connections in our lives. By prioritizing quality relationships with loved ones, we can experience greater levels of happiness and fulfillment. This can be accomplished by “[being] proactive, to take the initiative. So to reach out to a friend and ask her to take a walk instead of spending two more hours on your laptop this weekend on Saturday afternoon.”(Waldinger's 8:46-9:01). To further enhance my happiness, I will prioritize spending quality time with loved ones for at least 30 minutes each day for two weeks. This could include engaging in meaningful conversations, participating in shared activities, or simply enjoying each other's company. Furthermore, Dr. Waldinger's presentation provides valuable insights into the importance of cultivating meaningful relationships and prioritizing time with loved ones, highlighting the significant impact this can have on my overall happiness and well-being. While Dr. Waldinger emphasizes the importance of spending quality time with loved ones, he does not provide specific guidelines on how much time I should devote to this practice, leaving it up to experimentation. Both experts elevate happiness by emphasizing the significance of social connections, particularly spending quality time with loved ones. Dr. Waldinger's research spanning over eight decades demonstrates that strong and supportive relationships with friends and family are one of the most important factors in leading a happy life. Similarly, Dr. Santos highlights the importance of social connections in her lecture, emphasizing that spending time with loved ones not only enhances happiness but also has a range of positive effects on physical and mental health. Additionally, both experts also agree on the importance of self-awareness and

Viera 3 mindfulness in enhancing happiness. Dr. Santos emphasizes the significance of being present and fully engaged in the moment, while Dr. Waldinger's research highlights the benefits of self- reflection and understanding one's own emotions and motivations. While both experts agree on the importance of spending time with loved ones, they diverge on other aspects of happiness. Dr. Santos focuses on the role of gratitude in cultivating happiness and well-being, encouraging individuals to actively practice gratitude as a means of shifting their focus away from negative thoughts and emotions. Dr. Waldinger, on the other hand, emphasizes the significance of meaningful relationships and social connections, “That in fact, our friendships, our relationships don't just take care of themselves, that even good relationships need tending to, they need attention. They need returning to them over and over again” (8:25-8:40). These differing perspectives prompt us to reflect on whether we want to prioritize cultivating meaningful relationships or focusing on our mental fortitude in the pursuit of happiness. The focus of incorporating strategies from both professors’ insights was to identify and implement behaviors that can contribute to increasing my overall happiness and well-being. After carefully considering the insights shared by Dr. Santos and Dr. Waldinger in their videos, I will implement two of their strategies into my daily life to enhance my overall happiness. First, I will practice gratitude every morning for a month to enhance my happiness. This involves setting aside time each morning to reflect on and appreciate the positive aspects of my life, such as my health, relationships, and accomplishments. By consciously focusing on gratitude and incorporating it into my daily routine, I can cultivate a positive mindset and increase my overall happiness levels. Secondly, I plan to prioritize spending quality time with loved ones for at least 30 minutes each day for two weeks. This may involve setting aside dedicated time for activities such as having meaningful conversations, going for walks, or engaging in shared hobbies with

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Viera 4 family and friends. By incorporating Dr. Santos' strategy of practicing gratitude and Dr. Waldinger's strategy of emphasis on the importance of meaningful relationships, I believe that I can increase my chances of happiness and learn a new positive outlook on my behavior and relationships.

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