Happiness

Vocabulary

1. Financial (adj)
/fɪˈnænʃəl/: related to finance (the way in which money is used or handled)
Ex: He's only interested in financial success

2. Decent (adj)
/ˈdiːsənt/: good enough, sufficient; appropriate
Ex: Donating blood is a very decent thing to do

3. Ingredient (n)
/ɪnˈgriːdiːənt/: one of the things that are used to make food, a product, etc.
Ex: Flour and yeast are the main ingredients in bread

4. Appreciation (n)
/əˌpriːʃiːˈeɪʃən/: recognition of the good qualities of something or someone
Ex: A visit to a museum increases one's appreciation of art.

Reading

The main purpose in life is to achieve and sustain happiness. Most of our decisions are driven by the desire to be happy. We interact with people around us because they make us feel happy. We celebrate special occasions because we want to feel happy. But, what does happiness really mean?

There are a lot of words that are related to happiness, such as fortune, love and wealth. However, what does a person really need to be happy? Is it possible to be happy without any money? Do people need a lot of friends to be happy? We all have a variety of definitions of the word happiness. Some people say that having a good job, a nice house, a beautiful family, no financial problems, and great power would make them really happy. This ideal isn't always achievable though. Some people feel happy simply because they have a healthy family and a decent regular income.

But are there really any "ingredients" for happiness? Some people think the key to happiness can be summed up in one word: Appreciation. If you appreciate everything you have, you will be happy. No matter the amount of money you have, as long as you appreciate it, you will be happy. It can be difficult to learn how to appreciate every little thing around us. But if you live a life of appreciation, then surely, happiness will follow. Material things eventually disappear, and so will your happiness if these are what make you happy.


1. What is the main purpose of life, according to the article?

2. What words are used to describe happiness?

3. What does the article say about "material things"?

Discussion

1. Do you think money can make you happy? Explain your answer.

2. Do you think appreciation is the best "ingredient" for happiness? Why? Why not?

3. Do you think material things can make people really happy? Why or why not?

4. What is your own definition of happiness?