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What makes me happy is laughing. Lots of laughter. Laughter is the key to happiness. Whether that means laughing with friends, family, teammates laughing is what keeps me through they day. Even if people have problems, finding some sort of laughter in the midst of them can be your escape from reality. I love listening to music one of my favorite things to do is find and share songs with my friends and its the best feeling when you find a song thats so good and you can enjoy listening to it with other people. I love the little things to, like driving in the sunset or blasting music dancing at night. Im a night life person so the dark outside makes me happy, driving at night, taking walks at night, feeling the cool breeze at night in the summer makes me so happy. I also love color so the fall time makes me happy and taking walks in forests and being on a lake gives me happiness. I love going hammocking in the middle of the woods or at my aunts lake house because its so peaceful and you can just watch nature function and be truly at peace for a couple of hours. Speaking of my aunts lake house it is one of the most peaceful places ever. When I am there i can forget about everything going bad in Naperville. I can enjoy my time with my family and my close friends and not have to worry about a single thing except for staying on the tube!

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I think one of the reasons people aren't happy is because they feel like they aren't good enough. People hate school because they don't feel like they are as good as the other kids but in reality everyone can excel in life with the right mindset. Another reason people aren't happy is because they focus too much on other people, people try too hard to fit in especially in high school and it leaves so many people to be truly unhappy and hate school.

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This materialistic way of thinking relates to the great Gatsby because Gatsby is a person who has plenty of money and throws extravagant parties every weekend but is still unhappy because he didn't have daisy for 5 years. Alot of young people think happiness comes from money, fame, living in a mansion, and nice cars but in reality if your like gatsby and feel like something is missing from your life, (Daisy), then the money and nice things will not make you truly happy. These things will make you feel good, but feeling good and being happy are completely different things.

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Many people think money will allow them happiness. I disagree because as humans, we always desire more and more and more. Saying "money" will give you true happiness doesn't make sense because how much "money" do we need before we are "happy". Nothing is ever enough for us so I don't think money brings us happiness.

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Many say being with family and friends keeps him happy. Having good reliable loyal friends can attribute to someones happiness. Bonding and socializing is a key part of life and can actually reduce depression. Family will always be there for you.

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Many people think a big house or expensive cars will give them true happiness but that is just simply not true. Being materialistic and caring about things that cost money is a good way to find yourself unhappy. Enjoying things that are free like a sunset or a hike or watching a great movie or cooking are things that give us happiness.

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Many people seem to think that buying something or working hard for a promotion or job will give them happiness forever. This idea is far from the truth. As the article states these things give people a high, and the high wears off eventually leaving them to go run off and chase another high because of natural human desire.

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What makes people happy? This question takes us to the heart of Buddhist economics-to our true self.

According to Buddhist economics, human nature is generous and altruistic, even as we also care about ourselves. Buddha taught that all people suffer from their own mental states, with feelings of discontent that come from desiring more and more. The Dalai Lama tells us that the feeling of not having enough and wanting more does not arise from the inherent desirability of the objects we are seeking, but from our own mental illusions. Buddha taught us how to end suffering by changing our states of mind, which translates into finding happiness through living a meaningful life.

In contrast to Buddhist economics, traditional economics holds that human nature is self-centered and that people care only about themselves as they push ahead to maximize their incomes and fancy lifestyles. According to this approach, buying and consuming-shopping for new shoes or playing a new video game-will make you happy. But soon you grow tired of the shoes, become disappointed with the game, and are off shopping again. In this endless cycle of desire, we are continuously left wanting more without ever finding lasting satisfaction

Traditional economics is based on hedonic happiness, or personal pleasure with the avoidance of pain, which focuses on pursuing money and buying things that make you feel good, at least in the moment. This short-lived happiness fits in well with our materialistic, goal-oriented economy. We chase our dreams of large wealth or great power or awesome sex or a major championship in the belief that they will bring us lasting happiness. Our purchase, or promotion, or love affair gives us a high. Yet that high soon wears off, and we are off chasing the next high.

Buddhist economics rests upon Aristotle's eudaimonic happiness, where happiness comes from self-realization, and living a worthy and moral life in service to others and the community. Aristotle teaches us, "He is happy who lives in accordance with complete virtue and is sufficiently equipped with external goods, not for some chance period but throughout a complete life." He also says, "The contemplative life is happiest."[i]

The Dalai Lama warned that material gain is based on an erroneous assumption that what we buy "can by itself alone, provide us with all the satisfaction we require." He teaches us that "genuine happiness is characterized by inner peace and arises in the context of our relationships with others."[ii] In Buddhist economics, people strive to act ethically, which includes not harming others, even not ruining others' experiences or happiness. For example, you cause harm when your words or actions anger others, or make them (and yourself) feel desire or attachment, hatred or aggression, delusion, pride, and envy, or other mental poisons (called kleshas in Buddhism).

Finding inner happiness is one of the goals of Buddhist economics. Buddhism holds that we attain true freedom and peace only when we quit our mental habits of reacting with cravings for stimuli ("I've got to own that!" "Win this game!") or reacting with aversion ("I can't stand that!" "Defeat it!"). Instead, Buddhism says to quiet your mind: notice the beauty as you go for a walk, enjoy your food as you eat, connect more intimately with your friends.

Economists have demonstrated that people care about fairness, and want to be part of an organization or society that they consider just and fair.[iii] When psychologists study what makes people happy, they find that being kind to others makes people happier.[iv] People only need moments of compassion to build upon, because there is a positive feedback loop: when you do a kind deed (take your mom to lunch), you become happier, which makes it more likely you will do another kind act (help your neighbor carry in groceries). Kindness makes you happier, and happier people engage in more acts of kindness.[v]

Positive psychology demonstrates how well-being comes from experiencing a life that has meaning beyond merely feeling happy, which complements Buddhist economics. For example, positive psychologist Seligman teaches exercises to promote well-being based on engagement, good relationships, accomplishment and purpose.[vi]

In Buddhist economics, we discriminate between real happiness built upon a fully developed mindful life, and temporary happiness built around money and never-ending desires. In Buddhist economics, people do not aim to maximize their own income, because we want to ensure the happiness and well-being of all people.

Buddhist economics provides guidance both for restructuring the economy to place concerns about inequality, sustainability, and the human spirit at its center, and for leading meaningful, happy lives. "Practice compassion to be happy" replaces "More is better." "Maximize your own position" becomes "Everyone's well-being is connected."

Everyone deserves to be happy. Together we can live meaningful lives in a sustainable world!

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What makes people happy? This question takes us to the heart of Buddhist economics-to our true self. According to Buddhist economics, human nature is generous and altruistic, even as we also care about ourselves. Buddha taught that all people suffer from their own mental states, with feelings of discontent that come from desiring more and more.