2nd essay - 2nd draft / Hyunmin Lee

The way to be happy. EIT 200702724 Hyunmin Lee   Everyone says that they want to be happy. Whenever I hear this, I come up with one question. "Aren't they happy now?" That's hard to understand. Because some of them have everything like money, career success which is normally considered as important factors of happiness. If those factors don't work, what are the factors that really make people happy? Actually, there are so many factors, but this time I want to let you know three of them that I think the most important elements. Those are relationship, health and positive thinking. Fortunately, these factors are changeable one up to our effort. So, if you want to be happy, try to control those factors. Here are three steps.   First step is managing your relationship. Relationship with family and friend is significant, because we spend most of time with them. If you feel uncomfortable with them, you may get lots of stress every day. Moreover, bad relationship with them reduces the chances to release stress. We usually release the stress as talking about that matter with family or friends. But if our relationship with them is not good, we will accumulate lots of stress without releasing them. In this situation, we may think we are lonely and unhappy. Therefore, to be happy, we should learn how to manage the relationship well.   Next step is keeping your body healthy. Health is a vital factor for happiness. If we are sick, we won't feel good. Surely, that makes us feel unhappy. The riches become meaningless with unhealthy condition since you can't spend. You can't enjoy your life, either. Therefore, you should keep your eye on health problem.   Final step is thinking positively. Try to thank you for everything that surrounds you. And try to be satisfied with them. Some years ago, I've read article about the ranking of the world happiness rate. Surprisingly, that research revealed that the highest happiness rate showed from Bangladeshi. Bangladesh is small and poor country. It looked that they don't have any material factors for happiness. Then what made them happy? Bangladeshi said that even though they are not rich, they are contented with what they have and what they face every day. In that answer, I could find the fact that they got happiness from their positive thinking. Like them, try to look on the bright side. Then, you must be happy.   All of us want to be happy. But we usually think that is hard. But what I think is we can surely be happy, if we focus more on controllable factors. Try to make good relationship with family and friends. Maintain your health, and be positive. These three steps worked very well for me, when I suffered from depression caused by culture shock. I'm sure that it will also work effectively to other people who are finding happiness.