Happiness and High School Sophomores

Last May, at the end of the semester, I asked my sophomores to simply write a sentence or two on an index card about how they would define happiness. I did this so that this fall, when I have them back as juniors, we could use this as a starting place in our discussion about happiness.

I love these definitions, and find the range they came up with rather fascinating. The next step I’ll be taking with this is to have them work in small groups to sort these definitions into categories—to begin to get a handle on this range of definitions.

Meanwhile, here’s a sampling of what a group of high sophomores wrote on index cards when asked to define happiness:

(You could, if you like, turn this into a writing prompt. Which ones resonate? Which ones don’t? Why do you think that is? How do you think you would have defined happiness when you were a high school sophomore? How has the definition changed over time?)

• Having fun and accepting yourself and accepting others’ personalities.
• A feeling of joy and excitement and very little, if any, worry.
• Having a smile on your face.
• Feeling included.
• Smiling and feeling joy or delight. Expressing gratitude. At peace with yourself.
• A good feeling.
• When your smile lights up for some reason.
• Being yourself without worrying what others will think. Not judging yourself.
• Being loved by others.
• Satisfaction with your life and the life around you, regardless of the ups and downs that occur.
• Happiness doesn’t have a definition. It all depends on the person.
• Joy or enlightenment gained from someone or something.
• Experiencing pleasure.
• Being at peace with yourself.
• The loss of memory of negative thoughts; the state of pleasant thoughts.
• Something that makes you feel fulfilled.
• Anything that makes me feel happy.
• Doing things you love with people you love.
• Finding your partner in crime.
• Money.
• Being able to wake up in the morning and feel like you can do anything.
• When we experience that feeling inside us that makes us feel content or bubbly inside.
• A warm puppy. A good book. Food. A day off. Love. Xbox. A good tv show.
• Delight, where nothing can get in your way. Joyful peace of mind.
• Having peace of mind with pure sanity.
• Joyfulness. Being content. Being hilarious. Being thankful even if you have only something small. Being grateful.
• The warm feeling you get inside from when things go your way or if you are simply do something you love. This feeling can only be described as sunshine.
• Children and animals. Innocent things in life. Things that comfort us and make us feel good inside.
• Realizing that you’re loved.
• The moment of warmth on your skin before you realize you’re flying too close to the sun.
• When you forget all the bad things and you feel content, weightless and ready.
• A feeling inside, warm and light, from doing something you like or being with someone you like.
• Laughter. Joy.  Being content with what is happening around you and being in a good mood. It’s wanting to be kind to others.
• Feelings of joy and pleasure and other positive emotions.
• Satisfaction with your current situation and acceptance of the way you are.
• A state of being in joy, no matter what it is makes you joyful.
• Being able to accept yourself, others and situations well, and being okay with life and the things that happen within it.
• Not worrying about problems of the world or in your life.
• Realizing your purpose on earth.