<p>Prompt: Which do you think contributes more to personal happiness: what happens to you or the way you respond to what happens?</p>
<p>Problems arise naturally. However, for one to achieve happiness, it depends on how one solve or treat problems. The nature of problems does not necessarily determine one’s happiness for when one has sufficient wisdom and determination, one can easily break the chain of problems. Throughout history and literature, there are many examples that prove my thesis true.</p>
<p>In Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes the consulting detective is able to solve enigmatic cases that stupefy both Scotland Yard and his clients. The nature of the cases seem unsolvable and abstruse which daunt police or clients to solve. Thus, they are in distress. On the other hand, Sherlock Holmes uses his great wisdom and logical deduction to solve cases easily. He receives pleasure after solving these crimes. From this story, one can see that the way one responds to problems, rather than the problems themselves, contributes to one’s happiness.</p>
<p>Aside from literature, Confucius is a great example of history. When he was young, he lived with his family in abject poverty. Even so, Confucius showed great fortitude and decided to work diligently in order to improve his living conditions. He also studied hard to gain wisdom. After they years of endurance and determination, finally he was able to live a quality life. He became one of the greatest Chinese philosophers. Through Confucius’s life, one can see that they way one responds to problems truly affects one’s happiness.</p>
<p>From history and literature, it can apparently shown that the way one treats problems, rather than the nature of them, contributes more to personal happiness. Just as Holmes uses his wisdom to solve seemingly unsolvable crimes and receives great pleasure, so did Confucius work and study diligently and finally lived a quality life. An old Thai saying goes, “Wherever there are efforts and determination, there shall be successes.” </p>
<p>Thank you :)</p>