Quick question for my work

[snowbunny]

If you saw the words:

"Our happiness is often down to our circumstances"

What would you understand that to mean? Do you feel it is clear? Even if your understanding is different to someone else's, are you clear what it means to you?

Thank you!

 

[SwampDonkey]

I am clear what it means to me

 

[Candy]

To me it sounds as if it means that happiness is a passive thing and beyond our control, dependent entirely on what is happening to us at the time.
I would have to strongly disagree!

 

[kateincornwall]

To me it sounds as if it means that happiness is a passive thing and beyond our control, dependent entirely on what is happening to us at the time.
I would have to strongly disagree!

This x

 

[FayRose]

Seems vague, so no, I don't feel it is clear. 'Circumstances' could mean anything, ie. Do you have a job where you are fulfilled? Do you have a home you are content in? All different circumstances, some of which you may be happy with, others not.

 

[HAH]

Considering it in isolation I think it's a bit nonspecific, and I'd say open to interpretation - what is meant by happiness or circumstances can be subjective, and as @Candy says it feels to me like it's saying external factors often are responsible for our state of happiness (which is a bit ). It also feels a bit passive, focused on an external locus of control - which again may not resonate with many people. I could well be over-thinking it though!

 

[M.F.]

If it’s meant to be read as what it means to me, then I’d prefer to see My rather than Our.

 

[MellowYellow]

Is this on a questionnaire, with a response along the lines of 'Strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree'? If so, then yes it makes sense to me.

 

[snowbunny]

Is this on a questionnaire, with a response along the lines of 'Strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree'? If so, then yes it makes sense to me.

Nope, it's an introduction to something.

 

[HAH]

I meant to say - if it read as “our happiness can often be strongly influenced by our circumstances” this would be absolutely fine for me - I’d understand, mentally nod and move on to the rest of the text (such an academic ).

 

[snowbunny]

Thank you, lovely people. I won and got my version of the words

 

[Candy]

Thank you, lovely people. I won and got my version of the words

What was your version? Just out of curiosity.

 

[snowbunny]

"Our happiness and wellbeing are often linked to our financial circumstances".

It's the first "screen" of several explaining why our app is important - making people aware of their biases and how they affect decision making, which impacts their overall happiness and wellbeing. The words aren't final yet, but I thought that "circumstances" alone was too vague.

 

[Candy]

"Our happiness and wellbeing are often linked to our financial circumstances".

It's the first "screen" of several explaining why our app is important - making people aware of their biases and how they affect decision making, which impacts their overall happiness and wellbeing. The words aren't final yet, but I thought that "circumstances" alone was too vague.

Yes, yours is much clearer!

 

[Oberon]

I read the original version as meaning both ‘immediate external events’ and ‘socioeconomic status’. Can also mean our health. The more specific version is better.

 

[Lab_adore]

I read the original version as meaning both ‘immediate external events’ and ‘socioeconomic status’. Can also mean our health. The more specific version is better.

This

 

[M.F.]

Good on you for being specific. People think better to be vague to cover all bases. I strongly disagree. Confusion is worse.

 

[Emily]

I'm too late to the conversation so just wanted to add a

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

I'm too late to the conversation so just wanted to add a

Yep, me too. Your version is much clearer, @snowbunny .