Talking point: What makes you happy

This week's talking point deals with happiness. Before getting together with the members of your conversation group, go over the questions below, most of which written by KATHERINE SCHULTEN for The New York Times Learning Blog, and think about the answers. Also, try to think about any vocabulary problems you may have and try to work out your queries before the talking session starts.

• What makes you happy? Be as specific as you can in listing at least five things that make you happy. (For instance, if “home” makes you happy, say what details about it are so happy-making.)
• How could you be happier than you are now?
• How closely is money related to happiness?
• What problems may prevent people from feeling happy?
• What do you do to make others happy, whether on purpose or not?
• Have you ever made a big sacrifice for another person?
• How do other people make you happy?
• Do you think your nation should be like the Kingdom of Bhutan and have a Gross National Happiness Index? 
• If so, do you think that would measure prosperity better than income does?
• Do you agree with Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary-general, that “when we contribute to the common good, we ourselves are enriched”? 
• Have you ever had the experience of being made happy by helping someone else?
• Do you ever literally “count your blessings,” ie, focus on the good things in your life instead of the bad? If so, what’s on your list right now?

To gain further insight into the topic you can read Harvey Morris's article for The New York Times Happy International Happiness Day.

You can also watch this Matt Morris film, Mr Happy Man, that we posted on our blog in August last year.

You can  read the transcript here.