Yesterday night, over a dinner with my elder brother’s family, a topic of happiness came up. My wife, Marla, a psychologist, was sharing Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of “flow” with us. Marla explained that according to the research on flow, people are happiest when they are absorbed in a task that is just challenging enough for them to experience a sense of mastery.
A few moments later my brother, Yuri, offered the following opinions: “The first and only, necessary and sufficient factor for happiness is to stop associating happiness with pleasure. The two—happiness and pleasure—have nothing to do with each other. ”
This morning, with my cup of coffee, I searched through a pile of books on my bedside table and at the bottom found a book by Bertrand Russell, I started reading but didn’t finish. In it, I found the following thought:
“The human animal, like others, is adapted to a certain amount of struggle for life, and when he is satisfied with his whims without effort, the mere absence of effort from his life removes an essential ingredient of happiness.”
The conversation came full circle: people are happiest when they are in a state of flow (Csikszentmihalyi’s language), which is the effortful devotion in a moment, which has nothing to do with pleasure.
Indeed, as Yuri insisted: happiness-as-pleasure is a myth; the association between happiness and pleasure is nothing but a semantic habit; psychologically, the two—happiness and pleasure—are arguably different; and breaking up this association between pleasure and happiness might, in fact, be a powerfully first step in pursuit of happiness.
As I look back on the exchange, I recall that there was an effort, a struggle to find a common understanding about this seemingly difficult idea—a struggle that made me happy.
1. What is the purpose of writing this passage?
A.To tell readers how to be happiest. | B.To advise readers to read Bertrand Russell. |
C.To look back on the happy night. | D.To show different opinions on family gathering. |
2. According to Marla, people feel happiest when they ________.
A.get what they want without effort | B.involve themselves in a challenging task |
C.master the happiest around them | D.experience things that can bring pleasure |
3. What writing style is used by the author to explain happiness?
A.Giving examples. | B.Offering arguments. |
C.Making comparisons. | D.Using quotes. |