The pursuit of happiness has been a component of the American dream since the nation’s founding. More often than not, the path to happiness is different for everyone, but achieving it seems to be a common goal. While the definition of happiness cannot always be put into words, when moments of happiness do occur an individual is typically aware of it. Like a drug, it is when the happiness fades that the desire to obtain it increases. It is generally believed that happiness comes from earthly possessions, talents and even a feeling of superiority over others. However, Roko Belick, in his documentary Happy, proposes that the origins of happiness are surprisingly different than this common mindset. Towards the beginning of the documentary, Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky is introduced, a professor of psychology from the University of California, Riverside. She begins by sharing the principle of a set point or range of happiness. Human beings are born with this genetic range of happiness, and no matter what happens to an individual they…show more content… This encompasses where an individual lives, how much money he or she makes, and even his or her personal health. Yet, it is commonly believed that these outside sources are actually the seed of happiness, or where happiness comes from. It is interesting to see how little the common individual knows about themselves and what truly makes them happy. For example, in the documentary the term “keroshi” is introduced. It is a Japanese word for a condition that seems to be plaguing more and more Japanese people. In the pursuit of happiness that comes from work and money, the Japanese people are literally working themselves to death. As their “source” of happiness increases, the level of happiness they’re expecting continues to elude them so they thirst for it even more. It’s similar to a drug that never gets the user to the high they’re yearning
