There is one core pursuit humans will never be able to give up – happiness. Humans are social beings by nature, and along with a sense of community, we need happiness to thrive and not just survive in this fast-paced world.
Even if we amass wealth and gain external validation, nothing can replace happiness. Whatever avenues we may pursue to gain happiness, it is undeniable that true happiness is within ourselves.
What if there was a way to harness it? By acknowledging that you are the source of your happiness, we can move towards cracking the code of how we can achieve it.
The pursuit of happiness can be traced across generations and geographically. The desire for happiness is something everyone feels.
What is Positive Psychology, and Why is it Significant?
The most agreed definition of positive psychology is that
“Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living.”
(Peterson, 2008)
Going beyond this description, positive psychology is the scientific approach to the study of human emotions, well-being, life satisfaction, dreams, ambitions, and behavior.
This thinking focuses on the good, like strengths and values, rather than the bad. Positive psychology focuses only on good events and influences.
The focus lies on experiences such as joy, happiness, love, and so on. Some qualities and traits could also influence your chances of attaining happiness, such as gratitude, compassion, understanding, and more.
According to positive psychology, these traits could help an individual flourish instead of floundering in the pursuit of happiness. Researchers such as Martin Seligman, in the 1990s with others, set out on the search to answer the question: What makes life worth living?
In the 1960s and 1970s, Seligman worked on establishing the concept of “learned helplessness.” This theory explains that over decades, humans and animals have adapted to feeling helpless and lost as if they have no sense of control over their lives.
According to him, this helpless feeling could be due to the presence of depression. He went on to provide strategies and ways to lessen the effects of such melancholy.
The Parts of Happiness
According to research, happiness isn’t a concept that stands alone. There are other components and parts that contribute to it. Components such as:
- Positive thoughts: Happiness comprises many emotions, such as joy, gratitude, love, etc. These emotions don’t just provide a reprieve but also have a lasting impact on our well-being and life satisfaction.
- Engagement: Engagement refers to the “flow” of work or engrossing yourself in your actions. If we’re passionate about the work we’re doing, then we are bound to feel fulfilled and content.
- Relationships: Human beings are social creatures by nature. Research has shown that we thrive better in communities.
Our relationships with the people surrounding us are the backbone of our feelings of contentment. Having a support system not only provides us with happiness but also ensures we have someone looking out for us in times of need.
- Purpose: Our purpose and aims drive us to get out of bed and face the world each day. Whether it is personal development, a cause that affects everyone, or something meaningful to you, having an aim provides us with a sense of fulfillment and life satisfaction.
- Appreciating Wins: Achievements and what we have accomplished in life are factors of joy that bring us happiness. Appreciating the wins, no matter how big or small they might be, provides us with a sense of confidence. Apart from that, setting and fulfilling personal goals, tasks, and so on boosts our self-esteem.
Growing Happiness: Ways to Achieve Joy
Happiness does not focus on external factors. It comes from within, and we can harness it. As mentioned above, research has led to the creation of some strategies we can implement to feel joy, ensure our well-being, and focus on our well-being through these practices and habits.
By combining research with biology, psychology, and more, these practices will help us live more fulfilled and content lives.
- Practicing Gratitude: This is a well-known method of cultivating happiness. By appreciating whatever you have in life, you cultivate gratitude, which leads to life satisfaction.
You can start keeping a journal and noting the things you’re grateful for, or take a moment and take a step back from your hectic life to appreciate all you have. Regularly appreciating all that you have will help you build a sense of gratitude and joy.
- Mindfulness Meditation: Meditation is a time-old practice that helps you become more aware of your present and slow down so that feelings like being overwhelmed don’t take over.
Taking a moment to yourself by being mindful and meditation will help ensure your well-being. Regular mindfulness breathing shows that it lowers the stress hormone, clears your mind, and increases happiness by helping regulate emotions.
- Physical Activity: Exercise has proven to be an excellent way to reduce symptoms of melancholy, reduce the pressure of stress on our bodies, and enhance our moods.
This is all beneficial for our well-being. Whether it is a low-impact activity like walking or a high-impact one like running or weight-lifting, there are numerous activities to find that suit your capabilities and needs.
The Pursuit of Happiness
Despite our fast-paced lives and focus on amassing wealth rather than happiness, research has made it clear that happiness and life satisfaction don’t stem from material possessions. It stems from within us. We have the option to find our joy and ensure our well-being.
By embracing strategies like mindfulness, gratitude, and positive thoughts, we can cultivate happiness and go down the path of self-discovery and awareness. Happiness is part of the journey we call life, not the destination.
