快不快乐是自己的选择｜Happiness is a Stimulus

Monday

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 hoes, and other popular 'toys'. Most of their efforts have a root in one common fact that people are looking for a lasting source of happiness.

很多人都找到了令自己快乐的各种源泉——有些人全身心投入工作，很多人吸毒和酗酒。还有数不清的人从拥有名贵汽车，异国情调的度假小屋和其他一些流行“玩具”中寻找到了快乐。他们的努力大多基于一个共同的事实：人们在寻找永恒的快乐源泉。

Unfortunately, I believe that happiness evades many because they misunderstand the process and journey of finding it.
但很不幸的是，我发现很多人与快乐无缘，因为他们误解了追求快乐的过程。

Today, some people think that an expensive car is stimulus. Happiness is a response. A great paying job is a stimulus. Happiness is a response. A loving relationship is stimulus. Happiness is a response. This belief leaves us thinking and feeling: 'I'll be happy when ...'
现在，有些人认为名贵汽车，高薪工作和爱情都是刺激物，而快乐就是刺激的结果。这种想法让我们觉得：“当我。。。的时候，我就会开心了。”

It has been my finding that actually the opposite is true. I believe that happiness is a stimulus and response is what life bring 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.
但其实，恰好相反。我相信快乐也是一种刺激物，而它作为刺激的结果，是生活给那些真正快乐的人的馈赠。我们快乐时，就会在工作上取得更多的成功；我们快乐时，就会有融洽的人际关系，也会得到爱情的垂青；我们快乐时，很自然地就会善待自己，关注自身健康。快乐并不是刺激的结果－－而是一种刺激物。

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.
快乐是我们每天在生活中所做出的有意识的选择。不知为何，许多人多数时候都选择让自己痛苦、沮丧和恼怒。快乐并不是得到自己想要的东西之后的感觉－－我们往往是在选择快乐后才会得到自己想要的东西。

NOTES注释

alcohol

n.酒；酒精
e.g. Do you drink alcohol on Monday night?

untold

adj. 数不清的；未说过的
e.g. There a lot of stories untold by people living in the tribes in Africa.

stimulus

n. 刺激物
e.g. Coffee is one stimulus in my everyday life.

frustrated

adj. 失败的；落空的
e.g. If I failed to pass the exam, I would feel frustrated and depressing (沮丧的)。

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★ 作者：Belle

语言爱好者，喜欢游泳，有空就去下书店看下展览，偶像是黄子华和John Green。做人比较随性。

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【英语共读11月新进度正式开始】