WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY?

Happiness is like a butterfly.

The more you chase it, the more it will elude you

But if you turn your attention to other things,

it comes and softly sits on your shoulder

- L. Richard Lessor

Imagine that your life may be thought of as analogous to a shuttle launch. You are given a free ticket (birth) with a destination unknown (death) with a limited time (life.) At some destination the shuttle lands, and as the ride ends, various questions come to mind.

"Did you enjoy your trip?" Did you do everything that you wanted to do?" "Were you totally satisfied with the trip?" If you listened to other passengers, you may have done what they wanted to do. In short: you would have taken their journey. Whose journey are you on?

1) "What makes me happy? What activities, what possessions, what daily actions-however small- fill me with delight, make me feel energized and optimistic? What actions make me feel as if I count in my own eyes?"

2) "What memories fill me with joy? What important goals have I always wanted to achieve, but which I haven't made time for? What have I done in the past to bring myself optimism, good feelings, or positive reactions?"

3) "Which of my traits  or characteristics, when expressed make me glad to be me? What kind of person am I at my best? "

4." What "top" five values do I strive to live by and/or do I admire in others?" [1]

 To receive full credit for your assignments  type email  in complete standard English sentences. Provide operational definitions of words,  illustrate by  example, cite sources used in your answers, and provide reasoning when giving your own opinion that supports it with your own experience and examples. Do not copy articles without permission and please summarize in your own words and indicate what you have learned.

Indicate the assumptions  that you are making, if you intend the opinion to represent anyone, or anything, other than yourself, or your own experience. Indicate any supporting data that you have in making your assumptions and what experimentation would be necessary in order to strengthen the argument or your claim. 

 If you present information as fact, please indicate the source and the method used to establish the fact. If you are using a theoretical hypothesis, please state it and the method used for the examination or proof of  it.

If you are stating an apriori assumption, or  affirming a commonly  held   "belief system", please limit your discussion  to your own experience and indicate how you apply it successfully to yourself. Please include an opposing argument to your affirmed " belief system" and indicate with  your reasoning as to how it is not as applicable to you as is your own belief system. .

 

     1. Marsha Sinetar, Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow, New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.,1987, pp.77-78

Email: rbrehm@msn.com  .
Copyright © 1998  [Robert Brehm]. All rights reserved.