Listen | The Science of Happiness

The Science of Happiness

Transcript is here. Please read it only after you listen.

Comprehension Quiz

Expand Your Vocabulary

  1. Subjective Well-Being
    This term refers to a person’s evaluation of their own life, including emotional reactions and cognitive judgments of life satisfaction. In everyday English, you might hear people discussing subjective well-being when talking about how happy or content they feel with their lives. For example, “My subjective well-being improved after I started practicing gratitude daily.”
  2. Fleeting Pleasure
    This expression means a temporary feeling of happiness or satisfaction. It’s often used in contrast to long-term contentment. You might say, “Buying new clothes gives me fleeting pleasure, but spending time with friends brings lasting happiness.”
  3. Threshold
    A threshold is a point at which something begins or changes. In the article, it refers to the limit where money no longer significantly increases happiness. In everyday English, you might hear, “Once I reached a certain threshold of success, I started focusing more on work-life balance.”
  4. Meaningful Connections
    This phrase refers to relationships that are deep, fulfilling, and emotionally significant. It’s commonly used to talk about personal relationships in daily life, such as “Having meaningful connections with friends makes me feel more grounded and happy.”
  5. Gratitude
    Gratitude means being thankful and appreciative. In the context of happiness, it refers to focusing on what you have rather than what you lack. In daily conversations, you might say, “Practicing gratitude helps me appreciate the small joys in life.”
  6. Mood Lifters
    These are things that improve your mood, making you feel happier or more positive. Exercise, music, or spending time outdoors can all be mood lifters. For example, “Listening to my favorite songs is always a mood lifter when I’m feeling down.”
  7. Endorphins
    Endorphins are chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers and mood boosters. Exercise releases these chemicals. You might hear someone say, “I felt great after my workout—those endorphins really kicked in!”
  8. Flow
    Flow is a state of being deeply involved in an activity where time seems to fade away. It’s often mentioned in the context of hobbies or work tasks that require full concentration. For example, “I get into a state of flow when I’m painting, and hours pass without me noticing.”
  9. Helper’s High
    This is the feeling of happiness or satisfaction that comes from helping others. It’s a term often used in psychology to describe the positive effects of kindness. In everyday use, you might say, “Volunteering at the shelter gave me such a helper’s high—I felt really good after helping out.”
  10. Cultivate
    To cultivate means to actively work on improving or developing something over time. In the context of happiness, it means actively working to create happiness in your life. You might hear, “I’m trying to cultivate a positive mindset by focusing on gratitude and mindfulness.”

Vocabulary Quiz

Let’s Talk

  1. What do you think is more important for happiness—having a lot of money or having meaningful relationships? Why?
  2. How do you practice gratitude in your daily life, and do you think it has a positive effect on your mood?
  3. Have you ever experienced the “helper’s high” after doing something kind for someone else? How did it make you feel?
  4. Do you agree that focusing on experiences rather than material possessions can bring more happiness? Why or why not?
  5. How do you enter a state of flow in your daily life? What activities make you lose track of time?
  6. In what ways do you think happiness is something you can control versus something that happens to you?
  7. What small changes could you make in your routine to cultivate more happiness, like practicing mindfulness or exercising more regularly?
  8. How important do you think physical activity is for mental health, based on your own experiences?
  9. Do you think kindness and helping others is an overlooked aspect of happiness? Why might it be important to practice more often?
  10. In what ways could focusing more on relationships and gratitude change the way you view your life overall?

Take a moment to reflect on these questions or discuss them with your friends or family—it might give you a new perspective on the pursuit of happiness!

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