Happiness is a feeling that most people strive for in their lives. It is a sense of contentment and joy that can bring a sense of fulfillment and purpose to one's life. While happiness is a subjective experience and can mean different things to different people, there are certain things that can contribute to a person's overall sense of happiness.
One way to increase happiness is to practice gratitude. Gratitude is the act of being thankful and appreciative for the things we have in our lives. When we focus on the things we are grateful for, we are more likely to experience positive emotions and a greater sense of happiness. We can practice gratitude by keeping a gratitude journal, expressing our thanks to others, or simply taking a moment to reflect on the things we are thankful for.
Another way to increase happiness is to engage in activities that bring us joy and fulfillment. This could be hobbies, sports, volunteering, or anything else that brings us a sense of purpose and meaning. Engaging in activities that we enjoy and that align with our values and interests can help us to feel more fulfilled and satisfied with our lives.
It is also important to cultivate positive relationships with others. Social connections and strong relationships with friends and loved ones can bring us a sense of support, belonging, and happiness. Taking the time to nurture and maintain these relationships can be an important source of joy and happiness in our lives.
In addition to these things, it is also important to take care of ourselves physically and mentally. This includes getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet. Taking care of our physical and mental health can help us to feel more energized, focused, and overall happier.
Finally, it is important to remember that happiness is not a constant state and it is normal to experience ups and downs in life. It is okay to have bad days or to feel down at times, and it is important to allow ourselves to feel and process these emotions. However, by focusing on the things that bring us joy and fulfillment, practicing gratitude, and taking care of ourselves, we can increase our overall sense of happiness and well-being.
In Flannery O'Connor's short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find," the protagonist, a grandmother, is ultimately killed by a group of criminals, leading to the realization that goodness is rare in the world. This realization is the thesis of the story.
Throughout the story, the grandmother behaves selfishly and manipulatively, trying to control the actions of her family and insisting on visiting an old plantation despite the danger of a criminal on the loose. However, the grandmother's actions are ultimately irrelevant to the outcome of the story. It is the actions of the criminals that determine the fate of the grandmother and her family. The criminals, who are depicted as evil and depraved, represent the inherent wickedness present in the world.
The theme of the rarity of goodness is further emphasized through the contrast between the grandmother's superficial understanding of goodness and the genuine goodness exhibited by the Misfit, one of the criminals. The grandmother initially sees the Misfit as a "good man," despite his criminal actions, because he is well-mannered and intelligent. However, the Misfit ultimately reveals that he does not believe in Jesus or the possibility of redemption, demonstrating that he lacks a moral compass.
In contrast, the Misfit's accomplices, who are described as "dim-witted," exhibit small acts of kindness towards the grandmother and her family before they are killed. These acts of kindness serve to highlight the rarity of genuine goodness in the world.
Ultimately, the grandmother's death serves as a commentary on the inherent wickedness present in the world and the difficulty of finding true goodness. The story's thesis, that a good man is hard to find, reflects the cynical worldview of the author and serves as a warning to readers to be mindful of the evil that exists in the world.
