美文賞析:The secrets to happiness 通往幸福的祕密
The secrets to happiness
通往幸福的祕密
We all know that money can’t buy happiness … but many times we act as if we
’d be happier with a bit more money. We are conditioned to want to be rich
(when we know the rich aren’t happy either); we are trained to want the
latest gadget or style that television tells us to want; we want to earn more
money because then we’ll have the good life.
我們都知道金錢買不來幸福，但我們都表現出如果我們的錢再多點就會更幸福的樣子
。我們習慣於想要變的更有錢(當我們知道富人也並不快樂);在電視看到些最新的玩意兒
或是最潮的風格，我們也想要賺更多的錢因爲那樣我們將會擁有更好的生活。
But none of that will bring us happiness. No matter how much we earn, no
matter how much we have in the bank, no matter how nice our clothing or cars
or toys, none of it will make us happier. And the sad thing is that it could
take us decades of pursuing wealth and luxury items before we realize this.
但那些都不會帶給我們幸福。不管我們掙多少錢，不管我們在銀行擁有多少存款，不管
我們的衣服汽車玩具有多好，它們都不會讓我們更快樂。令人難過的是在我們明白這一點
之前，它會讓我們一直追求財富和奢侈品。
So what will bring us happiness? Luckily, it’s three things that don’t
cost a thing. These three things have been proven by research — surveys of
hundreds of thousands of people about what they have, what their lives are
like, and how happy they are.
那麼，究竟什麼能帶給我們幸福呢?幸運的是，有三樣東西，它們不需要花費其他任何。
這三樣是被研究證明的——這項研究調查了數以十萬的人們，包括他們擁有什麼，他們的
生活怎麼樣以及他們有多快樂。
Here they are, the Three Secrets to Happiness:
那麼，下面就是幸福的三個祕密：
1. Good relationships. We have a human need to be close, to be intimate,
with other human beings. Having good, supportive friendships, a strong
marriage or close and loving relationships with our family members will make
us much more likely to be happy.
Action steps: Take time, today, to spend time with your loved ones, to tell
them what they mean to you, to listen to them, and develop your relationship
with them.
1、良好的關係。我們同他人的親近、親密是人類的需求。擁有良好的、支持性的友誼
、牢固的婚姻或是同家庭成員緊密有愛的關係會使我們更可能快樂。
動作步驟：今天就花時間同你愛的人在一起，告訴他們他們之於你的意義，傾聽他們所
說的，進一步發展同他們的關係。
2. positive thinking. I’m obviously a big proponent of positive thinking as
the best way to achieve your goals, but it turns out that it can lead to
happiness too. Optimism and self-esteem are some of the best indicators of
people who lead happy lives. Happy people feel empowered, in control of their
lives, and have a positive outlook on life.
Action steps: Make positive thinking a habit. In fact, this should be one of
the first habits you develop. Get into the habit of squashing all negative
thoughts and replacing them with positive ones. Instead of “I can’t” think
“I can”. It may sound corny, but it has worked for me, every time.
2、積極的思考。積極思考是達成你目標的最佳方式，我很顯然是這一想法的強烈支持者
，但同時它也能指引你走向幸福。樂觀和自尊是快樂生活的人們的最佳寫照。快樂的人們
感到充滿活力，能夠控制他們的生活，同時積極看待生活。
動作步驟：把積極思考培養成習慣。事實上，這應該是你首先培養的習慣之一。養成
粉碎你的負面想法並用積極的想法替代它們的習慣。用“我能”的想法替代“我不能”。
儘管聽起來毫無新意，但對我來說每次都很奏效。
3. Flow. This is a popular concept on the Internet these days — the state we
enter when we are completely focused on the work or task before us. We are so
immersed in our task that we lose track of time. Having work and leisure that
gets you in this state of flow will almost undoubtedly lead to happiness.
People find greatest enjoyment not when they’re passively mindless, but when
they’re absorbed in a mindful challenge.
Action steps: Find work that you’re passionate about. Seriously — this is
an extremely important step. Find hobbies that you’re passionate about. Turn
off the TV — this is the opposite of flow — and get outside and do something
that truly engages you.
3、流動。這是最近網絡上一個流行的概念——當我們全神貫注於眼前的工作和任務
時我們進入的狀態。我們太過沉浸於我們的任務以至於沒了時間觀念。擁有工作和休閒會
讓你出於流動的狀態，這幾乎毫無疑問會讓你幸福。當人們被動地沒有意識時不會找尋到
巨大地愉悅感，這種感覺只有當他們專注於挑戰時才能獲得。
動作步驟：找一份你熱愛地工作。這是至關重要地一步。在找一個你有興趣地愛好。關掉
電視機(這是流動的反面)，走到戶外，進行些你能夠真正參與進去的活動。
You’ve been given the Three Secrets to Happiness. Don’t waste them!
你已經獲得了通往幸福的三個祕密，請不要浪費它們！
