Pursuit of Happiness

1. Pursuit of Happiness By: Tanveer

2. Persisting • I use persisting very frequently. For example, math may not be one of my best subjects and no matter how many times I have gotten a test in front of me and have no idea what to do I persist. I do everything I do know and then come back to the ones I don’t know, I take it easy and attack my problem one step at a time. • Chris Gardner, from the Pursuit of Happyness, used persisting in many situations. Everyday he would wake up to the struggle with selling his bone density scanners, even though he would visit hospital after hospital and get rejected he showed an amazing example of persisting and never giving up.

3. Finding Humor • This is another aspect that Chris Gardner would demonstrate very often. He had a very important interview for an internship to become a stock broker but had gotten arrested the night before for unpaid parking tickets and had to be kept the night. After getting released he went straight to his interview in his dirty and unprofessional looking clothes. When he walked in to the interview instead of lying or coming up with a fake story he told the truth and cracked a few jokes as well. Which later ended him up with the job. This just shows that if you can find a bit of humor in a difficult situation it cant always be bad. “What would you say if a guy walked into a interview without a shirt on, and I hired him?”“He must have had on some really nice pants.” -Chris Gardner

4. Thinking about thinking • In the movie Chris showed this habit while he was playing basketball with Christopher. He told Christopher that he didn’t want him playing basketball because he would not be able to make a career out of it. • Not to long after Chris started thinking and realised what he had told his son and later said to him not to let anyone tell him what he can and can’t do and if he wants something all he has to do is put his mind to it and it will happen. • I use this habit being aware of my surroundings. I always think about things before I say them and if I feel like it will hurt someone I don’t say it, or I put it into a nicer way.

5. Thinking Flexibility • Chris showed this aspect when he had gotten hired for his job internship. He became aware that there would be no salary for 6 months and even then the job was not guaranteed. He put himself into his son’s shoes. He thought of his son and what would happen to him if there was no salary and started to rethink this whole thing. He also started thinking of other options. • I used this aspect a lot especially into my mom’s shoes. She is so busy everyday and on top of that she has too clean and cook, so I put myself into her shoes and think how would I feel if I was her. So I will clean around the house and maybe even cook something for dinner.

6. Striving for Accuracy • Chris would strive for accuracy a lot during his internship and would always be looking for ways to do his best. • He would not drink water during his job so that he did not have to go to the washroom and would have more time to do his work. • I strive for accuracy when it comes to my marks. I always aim for an A and nothing lower. If I do fail to receive this I still receive a B which is not as good but not bad either.

7. Managing Impulsivity • Chris demonstrated this when he was trying to get the attention of the head stock broker. He didn’t have to go to the same place as him but he lied so he can spend time with him. • He also knew he never had enough money to pay for the taxi but remained calm and ran. • I use this at home a lot around my family. No matter how mad they make me I stay calm and try not to act out to much because I know he consequences can be severe.

8. Applying past knowledge to new situations • Since Chris is trying to sell his bone density scanners he is used to talking to people and not being nervous, he knows how you should act around people to make them happy. • Chris applied this to his internship by being able to talk openly and find humor during serious situationslike his interview. • I apply my past knowledge to my situations like from the time I went to Cuba. I saw a lot of poverty and learned many new things from they so I use that to new things like when I deal with situations like donating to food drives and charities.

9. Ups and Downs of Life

10. If you do not deal with the lows of your life properly you can end up in depression. • Depression is acondition of mental disturbance, typically with lack of energy and difficulty in maintaining concentration or interest in life. • The first time you deal with a down in life its usually the worst. There are many small things you can do at home like meditation, physical exercise, proper nutrition, a helping hand and a listening ear from friends and families.

11. “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” ~ John Wooden “The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can change his life by changing his attitude of mind.” ~ William James “Many of life's failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” ~ Thomas Edison