Happiness

Nowadays, more and more people are searching for a means to not only pursue happiness—but to live a happy life! Below are links to articles, lesson plans and videos that explore this topic.

Please note: The views expressed in the articles, links, videos, etc. reflect the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the thinking of NLE Resources.

Articles

• Everything you need to know about whether money makes you happy, by 80,000 Hours
• American Jews Lead the Happiest Lives
  On average, Jews have higher levels of well-being than their counterparts of every other major faith in America, according to new data from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.
• Want to Be Happier? Stop Doing These 10 Things Right Now
  Happiness is a matter of subtraction, not addition. Consider what happens when you stop doing these things.
• Stress-Busting Smiles
  A Genuine Grin Can Help the Heart; Is Polite Faking Enough to See Benefits?
• Money, marriage, kids
  To attain happiness, Gilbert says, consider your mom’s recipe
• Why are Torah Jews so Happy?
  Most of what we experience as unhappiness comes from a certain emptiness inside. The cure requires filling that emptiness. But that cannot be done by either material goods or physical pleasures. A Lexus cannot be somehow amalgamated to one’s being; it cannot fill up what is lacking inside us. Even when we attain the Lexus, the inner disquiet remains. Failing to recognize why, we convince ourselves that two Lexuses will do the trick, or perhaps a Maserati.
• People who made $55,000 instead of $25,000 are just 9% more happy
  The New York Times reports that they expected to be twice as happy!
• Can You Buy Happiness?
  Lifehacker explores this age-old question.
• Humor is an essential part of the creativity that we need to solve even serious problems
  A in-depth article complete with videos from John Cleese.
• The Psychology of Laughter
  UCLA professor of cognitive neuroscience Sophie Scott explains the psychology behind laughter.
• 3 Keys to Being Happy
  Many seem to have given up the pursuit of happiness. Instead, it is worth asking ourselves: what are the true keys to happiness?
• Despite Much to Kvetch About, They’re Happy
  A new survey indicates that, over the long term, Orthodox Jews have happier marriages than the general public.
  
• Where Was G-d? Is He Really Listening?, by Rabbi Avi Stewart.

Lesson Plans

• Happy Mitzvah Lesson Plan
  This link contains a YouTube video of Jewish radio personality Denns Prager. Prager argues that acting happy is a moral obligation and asserts that one should act happy even if a person is not feeling happy! The lesson plan includes questions for a discussion on the video and could be used as a general exploration of happiness, or in connection to the Jewish commandment to “rejoice” or “be happy” on Chagim. It could also be used in connection to Purim, where happiness is particularly emphasized.
• The Nature of Humor
  This link explores the nature of humor and also asks questions to students such as, “what makes a joke funny?” It includes discussion activities, discussion questions, and a link to a video clip to explore Middos as well as investigate the every day phenomenon of laughter and humor.

Videos

Ron Gutman: The Hidden Power of Smiling!

Q&A  with Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski on Happiness