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Kelly Nadeau

Professor Ditch

English 115

12 September 2018

Internal Transformative Happiness

Authentic, fulfilling, perpetual happiness is an object bounteous amounts of individuals

spend years pining after. The collection of articles, in the book Pursuing Happiness, address,

question and argue for happiness, in order to assert each author’s perspective toward the

conceptual steps that must be taken in order to feel this desired emotion. Graham Hill, David

Brooks, Sonja Lyubomirsky as well as the duo of Howard Cutler and The Dalai Lama contend

that happiness is derived from an internal space, and that to some infinitesimal degree influenced

by outside stimulus. Ultimately, all the authors prove to the reader that the reigns to transform

their personal happiness reside within themselves.

In the article “Living With Less. A Lot Less”, Graham Hill tells his personal narrative

about shifting his frame of mind from a blind consumer to keen entrepreneur, advocating for less

material possessions and more travel, real world experience. Graham Hill himself writes: “It took

15 years, a great love and a lot of trouble to get rid of all the in essential things I had collected

and live a bigger better richer life with less”(Hill 309). In other words, using his personal

testimony, Hill makes the point that having less physical possessions leads to longer fulfillment,

and what may seem essential is completely dispensable. Hill sheds light on the counterintuitive

notion that, more objects, and material stuff does not equate to more happiness. According to

Hill: “Often, material objects take a mental as well as physical space”(312). Hill points out that

material possessions may consume space in our homes, but additionally these objects have
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copious ramifications for simply existing. These objects exhaust the human mind with worry

over where a person may have accidentally misplaced the object, or the staggering price that

haunts them from enjoying the good. Hill’s narrative portrays material objects to be the root

issue as to why individuals cannot attain the satisfaction in feeling the rich emotion of happiness.

Hence, by connecting the idea of objects taking up mental space Hill leads the reader to the idea

that happiness comes from an internal space. Furthermore, the first step the reader must take in

transforming this space is to come to the realization that “The best things in life aren't

things”(Hill 311). Hill is corroborating the age-old adage that objects only provide pleasure not

lasting happiness. The latest gadgets only serve to distract from happiness, making us feel the

need to fill this void in our life with the latest and greatest disposable good; yet freedom comes

from simplicity. Hill insists that the freedom that comes with simplicity provides an individual

with the key to unlock transformational happiness.

David Brooks asserts that in the midst of the internal struggle for happiness, the concept

of suffering should be praised for the lessons it teaches us, as well as providing the gateway to

lasting bliss. According to Brooks “Often, physical or social suffering can give people an

outsider’s perspective an attuned awareness of what other outsiders are enduring”(Brooks 287).

The essence of Brooks argument is that, although we are all outsiders, experiencing a healthy

amount of suffering can turn strangers into a collective group. The trials an individual faces

when they're suffering pull them out a comfortable, happy, mindset into a survival mentality.

Brooks compliments his assertion further when he writes: “The suffering involved in their tasks

becomes a fearful gift and very different than that equal and other gift, happiness, conventionally

defined”(Brooks 287). Brook’s point is that, suffering acts as a present that allows individuals

not to be healed after going through it, but internally conscious to see a different perspective. By
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comparing suffering to a gift, Brooks alludes to suffering being a transformational award; that in

turn shifts the individual suffering into a conscious state of mind. Suffering is the vessel in which

transformation can occur, in order to reach an internal state of happiness. Brooks offers the

notion that transformation of the internal space can be achieved through experiencing the

aftermath that comes with suffering.

In her article Sonja Lyubomirsky dissolves the myths surrounding happiness by using a

combination of statistical evidence and personal testimony. The foundation of Lyubomirsky’s

argument lies within the concept that: “Happiness, more than anything is the state of mind, a way

of perceiving in approaching ourselves and the world in which we reside” (Lyubomirsky 194). In

the statement, Lyubomirsky is advocating for the concept of happiness being within every

individual; and not something that must be hunted for externally, through the outside world.

Lyubomirsky additionally writes: “In a nutshell the fountain of happiness can be found in how

you behave, what you think, and what goals you set every day in your life” (Lyubomirsky

190). In making this comment Lyubomirsky advocates for happiness being a combination of

factors in a state of internal balance that enables the individual to be at their peak happiness in

life. Lyubomirsky speaks to the science behind happiness addressing the idea of individuals are

born with a happiness “set point”(Lyubomirsky 190); thus there is a portion of an individual's

happiness level that can be attributed to genetics.

The genetic component of happiness ties into the Lyubomirsky’s claim, that happiness

can be attained within the confines of the internal space. Lyubomirsky illustrates: “There is a

powerful study that shows just what a dramatic effect one particular environmental factor can

have on whether or not people succumb to the depression gene. The environmental factor is

severe stress” (Lyubomirsky 191). Here Lyubomirsky alludes to the notion that external events
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play a small role in attaining happiness. However, external events may take place, yet it is up to

the mental strength of the individual to determine whether or not they buckle to the events;

ultimately proving happiness is exerted from an internal space. Lyubomirsky dances around the

idea that a simple change in perspective, or a small shift in behavior can transform an

individual’s depressed space, into a positive headspace.

In their essay, the Dalai Lama, and Howard Cutler advocate for the concept that

happiness comes from an internal space, and the degree to which happiness is determined by the

choices, actions, and perceptions an individual undergoes in their day-to-day life. The Dalai

Lama, and Howard Cutler support the idea that:“ Happiness is determined more by one's state of

mind than by external events” (The Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler 32). Basically, The Dalai

Lama and Cutler support the notion that external events have little bearing on an individual’s

approach to the emotion of happiness, in comparison to how they must rewire their brain to feel

the emotion. The Dalai Lama and Cutler support their theory by writing: “Researchers have

conducted a number of experiments demonstrating that simply shifting one’s perspective and

contemplating how things could be worse can enhance one’s level of life satisfaction”(The Dalai

Lama and Howard Cutler 27). In pointing out the research, Cutler argues that in order to truly

appreciate the gifts we have, we must look within to appreciate the circumstances, or mundane

issues we may face, and realize the enormity to which the situation could be far greater

exaggerated or made worse. The authors assert that transformation of the internal space occurs

once an individual reaches “inner contentment”(The Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler 25). Inner

Contentment can only be reached when an individual finds peace without the dependent urge for

material possessions, along side of the discovery that freedom occurs in relinquishing pessimistic

thoughts and emotions.

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All the authors in the book Pursuing Happiness, campaign for the belief, that happiness

can be transformed internally as opposed to being forced fixed externally. Graham Hill writes

about the value an individual can be transformed by letting go of the myriad of possessions they

own. David Brooks urges the reader to embrace suffering rather than recoil in fear from it,

because it can only serve to forever alter their approach to happiness. Sonja Lyubomirsky

contends that once the reader understands the harmonious, idyllic medley, which is behavior,

emotion, and genetics, true lasting transformation can occur. Howard Cutler and The Dalai

Lama propose the idea of inner contentment as a means toward taking a step in the direction of

everlasting, transformative happiness. Each author incorporates a combination of personal

testimony, together with logic to explain the internal shift that occurs once an individual begins

pursuing happiness in his or her life.

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Works Cited

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler, The Source of Happiness.

Pursuing Happiness, by: Matthew Parfitt and Dawn Skorczewski. Bedford/St. Martin’s,

2016.

Lyubomirsky Sonja, How Happy Are You and Why? Pursuing Happiness, by:

Matthew Parfitt and Dawn Skorczewski. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2016.

Brooks David What Suffering Does. Pursuing Happiness, by: Matthew Parfitt

and Dawn Skorczewski. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2016.

Hill Graham Living With Less. A Lot Less. Pursuing Happiness, by: Matthew

Parfitt and Dawn Skorczewski. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2016.