How Can We Find Happiness from Sports - Research Paper Example

Tackling the initial half first; sports can be defined as the competitive or cooperative activities, which are usually physical in nature and performed between either individuals or a team (Delaney & Madigan, 2009, 23). There are various kinds of sports, but two main categories are indoor and outdoor sports. Soccer, tennis and Cricket are a few of the most popular outdoor sports worldwide. Diehard fans that play such sports themselves physically or follow it by watching it on media are very passionate about these games and it is amongst the favourite hobbies of many people.

If their teams or preferred players are victorious in their fixtures they are overwhelmed with happiness, however the opposite happens if their selection is defeated. This is so because many people derive happiness from sports by deviating their minds from other worries and stress related activities. When they do so they look for an escape where they can feel positive and gain hope and inspiration from? Victory in sports for their team gets them this happiness they look for. This is further evidenced by various scholars, who regard sports to have a direct linkage with our moods, and its ability to either make us happy or upset according to its outcome (Forsyth, 2010, 80).

Here the favourable outcome is related to victory, and thus being victorious in the sport is the main aim for all the ones participating or watching it. Sports also becomes a reason for happiness when they bring about a positive improvement in one’s health, as being healthy is directly related with having a good mood according to various researches (Kahneman, 2003, 364). In order to stay abreast with the high level of competition in today’s fast- paced world, many people have the excuse that their busy schedules are the reason they cannot devote any time to exercise (Weinberg & Gould, 1995, 420).

However, by being active in sports which are physical in nature even for a short session every alternate day can be the most effective way in keeping such people fit and away from a sedentary lifestyle. Another benefit of sport is that it keeps people away from unproductive activities which they might otherwise have indulged in, if they were not playing or following sports. Sports which are physical take up a lot of energy of the person and once done, people prioritise the rest of their chores and responsibilities for the day and only carry out the ones really worth doing.

Consequently they skip those events which were unproductive from the start. This way they do not feel guilty by doing anything wrong and therefore feel content and satisfied with the way they spent their time. ‘Guilt’ is a very strong emotion which can really weigh us down if its cause is not identified and solved. It adds immensely to depression and can be the eventual catalyst towards many physical ailments as well. Thus being content with oneself is the process which keeps people happy and cheerful about themselves.

Sport also teaches us the importance of cooperation and through indulging in sports, men and women both learn the value of team work and collaboration (Delaney & Madigan, 2009, 22). They learn that more can be achieved through working with others and this keeps them away from being selfish or self-serving (Delaney & Madigan, 2009, 22). By working in cooperation and helping out others who are weak there is no gap left in the overall performance as all resources are utilized. Through working together, a better