Happiness versus Contentment

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Tina Burleigh Professor Nickles English 151: Writing and Rhetoric – Paper #1 30 July 2012 Happiness vs. Contentment We are told that the pursuit of happiness is our fundamental right, but wouldn’t we be happier if we strived for contentment? People experience happiness when they are content with all the different areas in their lives. The well known American novelist Walter Mosley talks about, “people’s right to pursue happiness as one of the primary privileges of our citizens and the responsibility of our government” (Mosley 87). Realistically that is just not feasible. Our government does have the responsibility of allowing us to pursue happiness, but whether or not we attain happiness is ultimately up to every individual. For some happiness is innate and for others it is situational. Mosley goes on to define happiness as “a state of mind cultivated under a sophisticated understanding of a rapidly changing world” (Mosley 88). The world we live in today moves at a much faster pace than it did when our forefathers penned the Declaration of Independence. I would agree with Mosley that happiness is a state of mind, but isn't being content with all aspects of our lives what truly brings us happiness? There is no better time to become content with what we have. We are richly blessed! Most of us are in a position that we don't even have to concern ourselves with the basic necessities of life. There are many who struggle every day just to survive. We need to remind ourselves of this more often. Money can't buy happiness. We often drive ourselves crazy pursuing something more than we already have. In fact, constantly wanting more is what has pushed America into a recession. Greed, envy and an obsession for more has taken its toll on our happiness. Perhaps now is the time for us to pursue contentment! Happiness is linked with satisfaction. When we achieve
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