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The presented movie revolves around the most important aspects of the life of any person, which is happiness. The central idea is to investigate this phenomenon and determine what factors make a person happy. To achieve this goal, the author initiates the long journey towards an improved understanding of this idea and starts it with Manoj Singh, a rickshaw driver who lives in a poor part of Calcutta, or at the bottom of the socio-economic structure ( Happy 2011 ).
However, regardless of the complexity of his situation and no signs of improvement during the next several years, he looks happy and satisfied with his life. Manoj appreciates some tiny moments of happiness that can be found in his life, such as his childs voice when he comes home or the belief in a better future. It is surprising that regardless of poverty, dirt, bad living conditions, and a problematic environment, the man still remains happy and is sure that his family will live better in several years. This belief becomes one of the most notable features of Manoj.
One of the factors that might explain why people feel happy with no reason is the so-called genetic set point or inborn characteristic that every person has. It impacts his/her mood, behavior, and attitudes towards various issues and, at the same time, predetermine how individuals act in their everyday life. However, the movie reveals that the genetic set point for happiness accounts only for 50%, while the remaining part is influenced by other factors ( Happy 2011 ). Jobs, income, social status, and other external circumstances or variables constitute only 10% of happiness, which means that they are not as significant as people might think ( Happy 2011 ).
At the same time, 40% of happiness depends on our personal choices and intentional activity ( Happy 2011 ). In other words, along with the inborn or genetic set point, this unique phenomenon also depends on peoples actions. Individuals can engage in activities or make choices that will precondition positive alterations in their lives and their becoming happy persons, regardless of the environment or other circumstances affecting society at the moment.
The scientific explanation of the mechanism of happiness outlines the critically important role of dopamine in the life of people. This hormone plays a critical role in the functioning of a human body as it is responsible for the feeling of happiness and activity. Unfortunately, dopamine receptors are reduced with age, and people start to suffer from decreased activity levels and depression. Additionally, in accordance with recent research, the critically low levels of dopamine can precondition the appearance and development of Parkinsons disease ( Happy 2011 ). In such a way, there is a direct correlation between the level of peoples happiness and their health.
Engaging in various activities such as running, playing, or having fun, people can boost dopamine and guarantee a positive impact on their functioning. At the same time, it does not mean that paralyzed patients cannot be happy; on the contrary, their happiness will result in the production of dopamine and help to improve the state of their health, which is vital for the enhanced quality of life and prolonged lifespan.
The movie also offers the idea that peoples happiness is a very delicate phenomenon that can be broken by multiple factors. Accidents of terrible events that damage individuals belong to this cohort. When these things happen, people lose the feeling of happiness and are not able to accept the current situation with optimism. There are many factors that precondition such reaction. Pain, both physical and physiological, depressive thoughts, regrets, and other adverse effects decrease the production of dopamine, and people are not able to control their lives. However, the optimistic approach and the belief in a better future can help to become happy again.
The movie offers the example of Melissa Moody, who was hit by a truck and injured. Her face was destroyed, and she had to experience multiple surgeries to restore it ( Happy 2011 ). At the same time, the narrator is sure that she is one of the most positive persons in the world because of her ability to accept the current state of things and move forward, looking for some good moments that can be found in her life in the future. In such a way, optimism and happiness are correlated and often are close to each other.
The film also touches upon the topic of money as it is usually associated with happiness by people. The existence of resources that can be spent on various entertainments and pleasant things is erroneously taken as one of the components of happiness. However, this assumption is not correct; on the contrary hedonic adaptation is one of the first enemies of happiness ( Happy 2011 ).
A person who is not able to achieve his/her goals or act in the ways he/she wants starts to look for some other ways to enjoy life and engages in activities that are traditionally considered pleasant ones. Unfortunately, this substitution has a negative impact on the state of individuals and their ability to succeed in the future. As far as happiness is directly linked to the health of a person and his/her achievement, the hedonic adaptation limits peoples ability to succeed. That is why money and happiness are not closely related, as there are some other factors that impact this unique phenomenon.
The degree of happiness depends on peoples ability to achieve the goals they have at the moment. There are both extrinsic and intrinsic goals. The first category can be defined as something that can be achieved outside a person himself/herself. In other words, extrinsic goals presuppose validation and approval of society. These can be money, image, and status, factors that precondition the position of a person in a certain community ( Happy 2011 ).
At the same time, there are also intrinsic goals or aims that are critically important for a person and make him/her feel happier or enjoy positive emotions associated with achievement. This category of goals is broad and might include self-development, autonomy, education, and many other factors that are important for a person because of his/her character. In terms of the idea of happiness, intrinsic goals are more important for people as they help to meet some critically important needs that are vital for a person. For this reason, their fulfillment generates the feeling of happiness, while the achievement of extrinsic goals might remain unnoticed or not as fascinating as it was expected.
Unfortunately, many people have a poor understanding of their real needs and goals and follow some aims that do not make them happier. For instance, the movie describes karoshi, the practice presupposing that employees commit suicide or experience heart failure by working too long and having no rest ( Happy 2011 ). In Japan, with its unique culture and traditions, karoshi becomes one of the serious problems that prevent people from being happy.
The movie offers a case of a man who died at work trying to support his family with all it needed. However, household members were not happy as they saw their father and husband rarely. In such a way, karoshi cannot be considered a way to happiness as it does not depend on money or financial status. Today, the U.S. culture starts to acquire some elements of karoshi because of the increased rivalry and the desire to earn additional money and acquire some status. As for me, I think that this phenomenon is the wrong way to achieve success, and I do not have the experience of it.
Continuing to explore the world and looking for examples of happy people, the author revolves around the co-housing communities. The term describes the idea of private homes clustered around a specific place, which means that people live as one big family. The given concept appeared in Denmark as a way to avoid isolation and help each other to become happier. People might have their own private space and different jobs; however, their dwelling is linked to another one to form a specific community that might consist of numerous members.
Children play together and consider themselves brothers and sisters, while adults enjoy the benefits of common households. In such a way, co-housing communities is a way to become involved in communication with other people and help each other. However, not everyone can accept this idea because of the violation of some personal space. As for me, I do not have the desire to join such communities because of the need for space and isolation.
Finally, the movie comes to the concept of meditation and its impact on people. The spread of this practice and multiple beliefs associated with it preconditioned the need for scientific research, and its results are surprising. The fact is that meditation can change the brain physically as it impacts its structure. In other words, by intention, a person can engage in the practice that can help to alter the attitude to various things on the physical level and become happier. For this reason, there is a direct link between meditation and happiness.
Altogether, the movie can be considered an important source of knowledge about happiness and the factors that impact it. Having watched the film, one can engage in activities that can help to become happier. It might presuppose the shifts in the attitude to some aspects of life from pessimistic to optimistic ones. Additionally, one should reconsider his/her goals and ensure that some unimportant ideas such as money or status, do not prevent us from becoming happy.
Finally, it is fundamental to outline the current priorities and ensure that attention is devoted to issues that are important now. In conclusion, the film promotes some positive change in the attitude and perspective on happiness as a viewer starts to consider it a factor that can be impacted by his/her own efforts. That is why it can be taken as a useful and important source that can be recommended for further analysis of the given field.
Work Cited
Happy 2011. YouTube, uploaded by what is. 2018. Web.
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