Happiness Is a Stimulus

Many have sought a variety of sources for their feeling of happiness．Some have put their heart and efforts into their work．Too many turned to drugs and alcohol．Untold numbers have looked for it in the possession of expensive cars，exotic vacation homes，and other popular“toys”．Most of their efforts have a root in one common fact，people are looking for a lasting source of happiness．

Unfortunately，I believe that happiness evades many because they misunderstand the process and journey of finding it．

Today，some people think that an expensive car is a stimulus ；happiness is a response．A great paying job is a stimulus；happiness is a response．A loving relationship is a stimulus；happiness is a response．This belief leaves us thinking and feeling ，“I'll be happy when…”

It has been my finding that actually the opposite is true．I believe that happiness is a stimulus and response is what life brings to those who are truly happy．When we are happy，we tend to have more success in our work．When we are happy，people want to be around us and enjoy loving relationships．When we are happy，we more naturally take better care of our bodies and enjoy good health．Happiness is not a response—rather ，it is a stimulus．

Happiness is a conscious choice we make every day of our lives．For unknown reasons to me，many choose to be miserable ，frustrated and angry most of the time．Happiness is not something that happens to us after we get something we want—we usually get things we want after we choose to be happy．

Words and Expressions

put ones' heart into全神贯注于……之中

- exotic adj．外国的，外来的；奇异的

- evade vt．逃避，回避，躲开

- stimulus n．刺激，刺激物；促进因素

leave sb．doing让某人保持一种状态，让某人做某事

- rather adv．更确切地说，更准确地说；相反，反而

- miserable adj．痛苦的；不幸的；凄惨的；悲哀的

- frustrated adj．挫败的；失意的；泄气的

Read and recite the following part（pay attention to the sentence structure）：

Today，some people think that an expensive car is a stimulus；happiness is a response．A great paying job is a stimulus；happiness is a response．A loving relationship is a stimulus；happiness is a response．This belief leaves us thinking and feeling，“I'll be happy when…”

Now try and finish the part with the missing information：

Today，some people think __________ is a stimulus；__________ is a response．__________ is a stimulus；__________ is a response．__________ is a stimulus；__________ is a response．This belief leaves us __________ and feeling，“I'll __________…”

参考译文

快乐是一种刺激

许多人已经找到了各种各样让他们觉得快乐的源泉。一些人全心全意投入工作；太多人求助于毒品和酒精；还有无数人从拥有名贵的汽车、有异国情调的度假屋和其他流行“玩具”中寻找到快乐。他们的努力大多根源于一个共同的事实：人们在寻找持久的快乐源泉。

不幸的是，我认为快乐与很多人无缘，因为他们错误地理解了寻找快乐的过程和旅程。

现今有些人认为昂贵的汽车是刺激，快乐是反应；一份高薪的工作是刺激，快乐是反应；美好的爱情是一种刺激，快乐是一种反应。这种观念让我们这样想：“如果……我就会幸福。”

我发现事实上正好相反。我相信快乐是一种刺激，而反应是生活所带给那些真正快乐的人的东西。当我们快乐的时候，我们在工作上更容易取得成功；当我们快乐的时候，人们都想要围绕着我们，享受爱的温暖；当我们快乐的时候，我们自然会更爱护我们的身体，享有健康。快乐不是一种反应——相反，它是一种刺激。

快乐是我们生命中每一天要做的一种有意识的选择。因为某些我所不知道的原因，许多人绝大多数时候选择使自己痛苦、灰心丧气和生气。快乐不是我们得到自己想要的东西后才会出现的反应——通常是我们先选择使自己快乐，然后才会得到我们想要的东西。