There is common saying often applied to sports-it is not whether you win or not, but it is how you play the game. However, it could also be applied to our lives: source of happiness is not the events that occur in our lives but the way we react to these events has more influence in our happiness. Thus I believe that the way you respond to what happened has more contribution in seeking happiness.
To begin with, my father who has been smoked for a long time was pronounced to be terminal lung cancer patients, and the time left was no longer than a month. Despite his fear toward death, he refused to be hospitalized but went on trips to Caribbean Sea to take rest and swim with dolphins. Obviously, he faced death during trip yet, my family could say that he died peacefully. The circumstance upon my family is enough to drive my home to state of panic. However, we managed to look at things in positive way and find happiness even though we were sad.
On the other hand, Hamlet, protagonist in Shakespeare’s play, reacted to his father’s death by despairing on what happens and dreaming of revenge to his uncle. He was too depressed to confront with his uncle directly and sank deeper into sorrow. Allowing himself to be greatly influence by surroundings, he could not handle a situation and eventually died. Hamlet has left his happiness to be controlled by outside forces rather than choosing how to react to events.
In conclusion, many people just let themselves to be influence by what happens to them, as hamlet did, but they may struggle with finding happiness. Hence, I firmly believe that our reaction to such events instead the events themselves is crucial factor of happiness. People who likely react to events with positive approach will be able to taste of happiness disregarding what happens. |