It is a hot summer day， and you feel thirsty. A friend gives you a glass of cold lemonade. How do you feel when you see the glass? Will you describe your feeling as happiness or as pleasure? I believe you will say it is a feeling of pleasure. There is a connection between these two kinds of feelings，and sometimes one causes the other， but they are not the same. Pleasure is more dependent on the five senses while happiness is independent of them.

When you are happy，unpleasant events usually do not disturb you. When you are unhappy，you feel as if everything is against you. You may compensate for it by eating chocolate and sweets because this gives you pleasure，yet you still stay unhappy. A person may smoke cigarettes because it gives him pleasure，yet this does not make him happier，especially if he knows the fact that it is not good for his health.

The physical world is always in a changing state. At each moment a new thing is being created，changed， transformed and then destroyed. This is the normal state of things and no one can change it. If we stay still in a certain state， we are sure to experience unhappiness sooner or later. On the other hand，if we adapt to the environment，nothing can influence our moods. Then outer events have nothing to do with our inner joy of mind.

The room of the mind is filled with worry or fear. If you are free of thinking about them，the room will be empty，and then you will see what is happening and experience it. When your mind stays quiet，you will see that happiness comes from the inside.

Controlling Anger

Becoming angry is something beyond the control of people.【小题1】 Becoming angry can do a lot of damage，both mental and physical. However，there are methods for discovering how to control anger and not to suffer later.

·【小题2】 The moment you feel there are chances for you to become angry，get away from those circumstances（环境）.In fact，there can be no better judge than you，for discovering what it is or who it is that makes you become angry，and then at that moment choosing to think about something else that can lighten your feelings.

·Keep a check on your breathing.【小题3】 By controlling the process of breathing，you can actually slow down your anger greatly. You can count till three as you breathe in，hold it for 3 seconds and again count till three while breathing out. You have to concentrate on the count as you do this and repeat this for as many times as required.

·【小题4】 For example, if you’re experiencing road rage while driving，you can choose to tell yourself that the person who overtook you by a vehicle was in a hurry as a result of some emergency and appreciate the fact that nothing major happened to your car. Repeat this form of self-talk to yourself every time you are in the middle of such an angry situation.

·Look for the support of other people.【小题5】 It needs to be clear right at the beginning as to why you are discussing your concerns with that individual. Let the other individual know what you want from him or her. After you’re done with your part of discussing about the circumstances，chances are that you’ll feel much better than before.

   Ask most people anywhere in the world what they want out of life and the reply will probably be“to be happy”. Ed Deiner，an American psychology professor，has spent his whole life studying what makes people happy，comparing levels of happiness between cultures and trying to find out exactly why we enjoy ourselves.

Many people would say that this question does not need an answer. But Professor Deiner has one anyway. “If you’re a cheerful，happy person，your marriage is more likely to last，and you’re more likely to make money and be successful in your job. On average，happy people have stronger immune systems（免疫系统），and there is some evidence that they live longer. ”

So who are the world’s happiest people？It depends on how the word is defined. There is individual（个人的）happiness，the sense of joy we get when we do something we like. But there is also the feeling of satisfaction we get when we know that others respect us and approve of how we behave. According to Professor Deiner，the Western world pursues individual happiness while Asia prefers mutual satisfaction.

“In the West，the individualistic culture means that your mood matters much more than it does in the East. People ask themselves if they are doing what is fun or interesting. They become unhappy when they can’t do any of these things. If you ask people from Japan or China whether they are happy，they tend to look at what has gone wrong in their lives. If not much has gone wrong，then they are satisfied. ”

“People from Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries have the happiest culture，”Professor Deiner found. “The biggest cultural difference is to do with pride and shame. Hispanic cultures report much more pride and much less shame than others. ”

Income（收入）also makes a big difference to people’s happiness，but only at the lowest levels. Average income earners in the US are much happier than people in poverty. But millionaires are only a little bit happier than people on average incomes. It seems that money makes us happy when we have enough to feel safe.

   Cellphones, tablets, and computers are keeping children and teenagers awake at night-even when they' re not in use, according to new research. A study published on Monday in JAMA Pediatrics says that media devices are causing kids to sleep less and reducing the quality of sleep that they get. This leads to trouble of staying awake the next day.

Researchers analyzed hundreds of studies of children and teens aged 6-19. The scientists found a strong and consistent association between the use of technology at bedtime and poor sleeping. The reason is not just that kids are staying up too late with their devices. Using a computer can overstimulate the mind and emotions, the researchers say. A smartphone or tablet also gives off a light that affects the body's natural timing. These factors contribute to poor quality sleep. And many kids could be at risk. According to the study,72% of all children and 89% of adolescents have at least one device in their sleep environment. Most of these devices are used near bedtime.

"The harmful association between screen-based devices and kids' sleep is a major public health concern," the study concludes. In their conclusion, the researchers urge parents to understand the damaging influence of device use before sleep.

Amazing Benefits of Listening to Music

If you love listening to music, you’re good company. 【小题1】

★Music makes you happier.

When you listen to music, your brain produces a special matter. It biologically (生物学上) causes listeners to feel emotions like happiness, excitement, and joy. So next time you need an emotional increase, listen to your favorite tunes for 15 minutes.

★【小题2】

Listening to music you enjoy reduces levels of the stress in your body. This is an important finding since stress causes many illnesses. To stay calm and healthy during a stressful day, turn on the radio.

★Music helps you sleep better.

A study showed that students listening to classical music for 45 minutes slept better than students who did nothing. If you’re having trouble sleeping, try listening to a little Bach or Mozart before bedtime.

★Music helps you eat less.

【小题3】If you’re looking for ways to reduce your appetite (食欲), try dimming the lights and listening to soft music next time you sit down for a meal.

★Music strengthens learning and memory.

Researchers discovered that music can help you learn and recall information better. 【小题4】 Memorize these results. You now have a strategy to study more effectively for your next test.

★Music raises IQ and school performance.

Research shows that taking music lessons predicts higher school performance and IQ in young children. 【小题5】