Jocelyn Lagos

Professor Beadle

Writing 115

September 29, 2018

Happiness, Is It Internal or External ?

Happiness, is something we all strive for but something very few of us can achieve and

we all wonder the same thing, what’s the secret? How can we achieve pure and authentic

happiness? Lucky for us the authors David Brooks, Graham Hill, and Sonja Lyubomirsky all

share their perspective on this topic, each establishing a different claim regarding happiness and

the steps on achieving it. Brooks and Lyubomirsky take on a different approach from Hill,

arguing that happiness is internal, it is achieved through a change from within. Hill projects his

view on happiness as external, where happiness is interconnected with physical objects. Each

author provides their audience with suggestions in which they can transform this space to

positively influence their happiness.

To start us off, David Brooks, a successful journalist whose publications have been read

on a worldwide scale argues in his article “What Suffering Does,” that suffering and adversity

allow for change and a deeper understanding of ourselves which results in achieving our happiest

state. Brooks establishes his claim through the use of various historical examples, “ Abraham

Lincoln suffered through the pain of conducting a civil war,and he came out of that with the

Second Inaugural.”(Brooks 286). Using Abraham Lincoln to support his claim provides a

historical background and a great example on how a time of difficulty led to a greater outcome of

change. Brooks futhers his claim with more relevant historical evidence, “Think of the way
Franklin Roosevelt came back deeper and more empathetic after being struck with

polio.”(Brooks 284). Roosevelt’s conditions allowed him to reflect upon his life and he was able

to realize what changes needed to be made, ultimately bettering himself. With all the adversity

faced throughout history, Brooks allows light to shadow upon the good that always came from a

deeper and perhaps darker situation. He incorporates important, well known historical figures

which help connect with his argument and audience, suggesting that we as people must endure

pain and difficulty in order to achieve true happiness and ultimate satisfaction. Brooks writes in a

formal yet candid tone for everyone but ultimately his ideas are directed towards an audience

facing similar obstacles. Brooks gains credibility through his life achievements, and knowledge

on historical figures.

Moreover, Graham Hill, an entrepreneur with several prosperous enterprises shares his

experience with us regarding his own personal journey on achieving happiness. In his article, “

Living With Less. A Lot less,” Hill claims that true happiness doesn’t derive from endless

material objects, happiness is found within the simpler things in life. Hill supports his claim by

providing examples of his own experiences,“For me, it took 15 years, a great love and a lot of

travel to get rid of all the inessential things I had collected and live a bigger, better, richer life

with less.”(Hill 308). Hill’s experiences allow the audience to feel connected by sharing common

ground, he shares that his compulsive buying led him to his unhappiest state. The author also

shares a piece of data that allows a counterbalance between personal experiences and facts,“The

average size of a new American home in 1950 was 983 square feet; by 2011 the average new

home was 2,480 square feet.”(Hill 310). This statement ensures the reality over the obsession for

material items, stating that bigger homes allow for more space which brings temporary
happiness. Overall Hill’s article suggests we spend less time trying to fulfill a void with limitless

material objects, he states “Intuitively, we know that the best stuff in life isn’t stuff at all, and

that relationships, experiences and meaningful work are the staples of a happy life.”(Hill 311).

According to Hill happiness lies along the bonds and emotions created with people suggesting

we remove our temporary external happiness and create internal happiness with people. Hill

writes in a reflective tone engaging with those who aspire to obtain tangible objects as a source

of happiness. His uses of pathos and occasionally logos redirect his argument and sense of

accuracy.

Furthermore, Sonja Lyubomirsky, a social psychologist and university professor,

establishes a more logical and analytical claim in her article “How Happy Are You and Why?”

claiming happiness is a state of mind we create through three vital key factors, genetics,

intentional activity, and circumstances. Lyubomirsky establishes a set point, which is evident in

the pie chart provided (Lyubomirsky 184) she says, “Indeed, the present-day consensus among

researchers, based on a growing number of twin studies, is that heritability of happiness is

approximately 50 percent…”(Lyubomirsky 188). Lyubomirsky provides her audience with

reliable data asserting her credibility and claim, only fifty percent of your happiness is

hereditary, so that means that the other fifty percent is what you make of it. She provides case

studies on twins to strengthen her statement and reiterates that we aren’t just born happy or

unhappy. Adding on to her argument Lyubomirsky proceeds with the next factor, she says that

only 40 percent of our happiness is determined by the actions we choose to make.(Lyubomirsky

185). We hold the power over our actions to choose if we want to better ourselves and live a

happier life. At this point Lyubomirsky has established happiness as internal, suggesting that
with discipline and determination we determine our own happiness. To finally connect her

thoughts, Lyubomirsky states “… changes in our circumstances, no matter how positive and

stunning, actually have little bearing on our well being.”(Lyubomirsky 186). Being a

psychologist, Lyubomirsky, gathers her examples from analysis and data allowing a more logical

viewpoint on happiness, her use of pathos helps encourage that changing our state of mind will

help change our level of happiness. According to Lyubomirsky, our circumstances have little to

no effect on our state of happiness. Lyubomirsky writes in an assertive and pragmatic tone for

her intended audience, those dwelling on the idea that they will never be happy because of their

physical past or present circumstances.

To conclude, each author establishes their own separate claim regarding happiness. They

all take on different approaches when engaging their audience. David Brooks suggests that from

suffering people unravel unexplainable and never before seen versions of themselves thus,

revealing their happiest state. Graham Hill argues that money and limitless amounts of material

objects do not bring fulfillment or happiness. Lastly, Sonja Lyubomirsky claims that our state of

mind, self control, and discipline all lead to substantial happiness. Brooks and Lyubomirsky

establish happiness as an internal space, where changes can be made mentally in order to alter

our overall happiness. Whereas, Hill refers to happiness as external, where circumstantial and

physical changes need to be made in our life to obtain happiness. Each author manages to

support their argument through their ethical, logical and emotional approach, while providing

various ways in which we can transform our happiness.

 Works Cited

Brooks, David, “What Suffering Does.” Pursuing Happiness, edited by Matthew Parfitt and

Dawn Skorczewski, Bedford St Martin’s, 2016, pp. 284-287.

Hill, Graham. “Living With A Lot Less.” Pursuing Happiness, edited by Matthew Parfitt and

Dawn Skorczewski, Bedford St Martin’s 2016, pp.308-313

Lyubomirsky,Sonja.“How Happy Are You and Why?”Pursuing Happiness, edited by Matthew

Parfitt and Dawn Skorczewski, Bedford St Martin’s 2016, pp. 179-197.