Comments on: Our first topic for online discussion (obligatory for MG1 students) http://umfcluj.info/2010/01/positive-psychology/ Ovidiu Ursa, Lecturer in English Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:18:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Ivan Ozana http://umfcluj.info/2010/01/positive-psychology/comment-page-1/#comment-154 Ivan Ozana Sat, 01 May 2010 05:17:56 +0000 http://umfcluj.info/?p=283#comment-154 The human race is so varied. Indian people consider there are 84000 types of people, each with his own way of perceiving life. They probably even underestimated the number. We, people, are so different therefore we think different and it is normal that our concepts about happiness to be diversified. Positive psychology, this relatively new discipline, and Ronald D. Siegel try to answer the questions: Do we know anything about what actually makes people happy? Why is happiness so hard to achieve? Do people hold misconceptions about how to achieve happiness? What are the ways to achieve happiness? Starting from the ideas stated by Ronald D. Siegel I will present my opinion regarding happiness. The author says that people run after happiness and they have a great deal of difficulty finding it. He also says that men may not have evolved to be happy. But what is an evolved human being? In my opinion, it is the person who doesn’t believe in myths like money or youth bring happiness. An evolved human being understands that family life is a complicated deal, lives his life in a way which is meaningful, understands how important is to do things for others. I think this is the only way to achieve happiness. I agree with the statement that everyone has a genetic level of happiness. Also, I believe we can be happy by appreciating what we have, by using our virtues like wisdom, justice, compassion etc. I also believe that one way of reaching happiness is living by the principle: Carpe diem!, but this kind of happiness cannot satisfy us in time. Is there any long standing happiness? This is the question which is answered by each person in his own way. I believe that what is really important in life is the relationship we have with others and with ourselves. However, our conception regarding happiness is different from age to age. Old people are happy when they have the possibility to give all their love and carefulness to their grandchildren, while the young find their happiness in their friends. Some of the things that make me happy at this moment in my life are: a sunny day in the park, the cold wind from the top of a mountain, being in love and, of course all the great friends I have. The human race is so varied. Indian people consider there are 84000 types of people, each with his own way of perceiving life. They probably even underestimated the number.
We, people, are so different therefore we think different and it is normal that our concepts about happiness to be diversified.
Positive psychology, this relatively new discipline, and Ronald D. Siegel try to answer the questions: Do we know anything about what actually makes people happy? Why is happiness so hard to achieve? Do people hold misconceptions about how to achieve happiness? What are the ways to achieve happiness?
Starting from the ideas stated by Ronald D. Siegel I will present my opinion regarding happiness.
The author says that people run after happiness and they have a great deal of difficulty finding it. He also says that men may not have evolved to be happy. But what is an evolved human being? In my opinion, it is the person who doesn’t believe in myths like money or youth bring happiness. An evolved human being understands that family life is a complicated deal, lives his life in a way which is meaningful, understands how important is to do things for others. I think this is the only way to achieve happiness.
I agree with the statement that everyone has a genetic level of happiness. Also, I believe we can be happy by appreciating what we have, by using our virtues like wisdom, justice, compassion etc.
I also believe that one way of reaching happiness is living by the principle: Carpe diem!, but this kind of happiness cannot satisfy us in time.
Is there any long standing happiness? This is the question which is answered by each person in his own way. I believe that what is really important in life is the relationship we have with others and with ourselves.
However, our conception regarding happiness is different from age to age. Old people are happy when they have the possibility to give all their love and carefulness to their grandchildren, while the young find their happiness in their friends.
Some of the things that make me happy at this moment in my life are: a sunny day in the park, the cold wind from the top of a mountain, being in love and, of course all the great friends I have.

]]> By: Magdalena Istrati http://umfcluj.info/2010/01/positive-psychology/comment-page-1/#comment-127 Magdalena Istrati Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:17:06 +0000 http://umfcluj.info/?p=283#comment-127 It is important to think positive, it is helping fiding and using your inner character strengths and I sure that you experienced that felling when your’s eyes light up savoring small pleasure, but I would like to add something that I experienced in my life: all that was presented is important but I think that the most important thing in finding a blessed life is building a relationship with God and this causes happiness. Our English word "happy" is simply defined as, "Fortunate or lucky…. cheerful…contented…characterized by or indicative of pleasure…." (Random House College Dictionary). I think presentation of "happy" is more substantive. For instance, I don’t see happiness as an experience that just happens because of luck or some shallow euphoric state of mind. One, according to the Bible, can be happy while being corrected by God, suffering for the sake of righteousness. I will give some examples, those whom the Bible pronounces as happy or blessed: The Bible says that those who fear the Lord are happy, those who trust in the Lord, happy are those who keep God's laws, those who require wisdom. Wisdom and knowledge are closely akin. Wisdom, strictly distinguished, is knowledge in application. Many are unhappy because they lack wisdom. Their judgments and choices in life are wrong and lead to misery and failure. Hear the wise man: "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding" (Prov. 3: 13, see also 14-18). Wisdom is without equal . The way man acquires wisdom is by learning and doing God's teachings. As a conclusion true happiness is not shallow and based on external stimuli. True happiness is not material, is not inherited, and cannot be acquired through some recipe of human origin. Beloved, true happiness is based on a relationship with God. Happiness is a state of blessedness that derives from this relationship. Knowing our origin, purpose, and destiny is requisite to happiness. It is important to think positive, it is helping fiding and using your inner character strengths and I sure that you experienced that felling when your’s eyes light up savoring small pleasure, but I would like to add something that I experienced in my life: all that was presented is important but I think that the most important thing in finding a blessed life is building a relationship with God and this causes happiness.

Our English word "happy" is simply defined as, "Fortunate or lucky…. cheerful…contented…characterized by or indicative of pleasure…." (Random House College Dictionary). I think presentation of "happy" is more substantive. For instance, I don’t see happiness as an experience that just happens because of luck or some shallow euphoric state of mind. One, according to the Bible, can be happy while being corrected by God, suffering for the sake of righteousness.

I will give some examples, those whom the Bible pronounces as happy or blessed:
The Bible says that those who fear the Lord are happy, those who trust in the Lord, happy are those who keep God's laws, those who require wisdom.
Wisdom and knowledge are closely akin. Wisdom, strictly distinguished, is knowledge in application. Many are unhappy because they lack wisdom. Their judgments and choices in life are wrong and lead to misery and failure. Hear the wise man: "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding" (Prov. 3: 13, see also 14-18).
Wisdom is without equal . The way man acquires wisdom is by learning and doing God's teachings.

As a conclusion true happiness is not shallow and based on external stimuli. True happiness is not material, is not inherited, and cannot be acquired through some recipe of human origin. Beloved, true happiness is based on a relationship with God. Happiness is a state of blessedness that derives from this relationship. Knowing our origin, purpose, and destiny is requisite to happiness.

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