Pursuing Happiness [introduction]

     "Happiness is a warm puppy," a famous quote in a book by Peanuts creator, Charles Shultz, that exemplifies the fact that, for each of us, happiness is something different. The one thing that can be agreed upon, however, is that it's something we'd all like to achieve. As 19th century philosopher John Stuart Mills claims, "Happiness is desirable, and the only thing desirable as an end; all other things being only desirable as a means to that end." Basically stating that our ultimate goal is to be happy, and everything else we want are things that will help to achieve that happiness.
     Happier people, or people who are more optimistic about life and their future, are likely to make more money, have better job performance, are better suited to find opportunities for growth in their career, and have more stable relationships. Happiness also leads to a longer and healthier life. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs provides us with a step by step approach to happiness that will make the process of achieving it appear much easier.
     I first learned about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs during my junior year of high school as a theory that explained how to become self-fulfilled. It was reintroduced to me my senior year when learning about interior design and how certain design aspects can help one achieve that ultimate step of self-actualization. That was where I learned that this theory could be applied in almost any setting. However, it wasn't until this year that I was taught the connection between "self-actualization" and "happiness" and that when one has realized their full potential, that's when their happiness is at its peak. After this was brought to my attention I did some refined research on Maslow's hierarchy of needs and how it relates in the pursuit of happiness.
     Meeting your needs will establish happiness in your life and can bring positive changes to your health, relationships, and career.
     Today we will cover unhappiness and how it can cause problems within our bodies and our lives, the steps we can take to achieve happiness based on the theory of Abraham Maslow, and the benefits of living a happy life along with the consequences being unhappy can bring.
     I'm reintroducing Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to you today to help solve some growing problems within ourselves and our world.