Happiness is the ultimate end for most people, yet it remains elusive to many. The search for happiness often leads people to question the nature of their lives and to seek significant improvements in their relationships, careers, health, and mental wellbeing in order to live the most fulfilled life. It is a journey that is as profoundly human as it is universal. Our understanding of happiness has evolved substantially in the last few decades, with new psychological and neuroscience research yielding an array of insights on the subject that promise to shed light on how humans can live in line with professional, personal, and spiritual goals.
It is time to explore this new body of research and uncover the keys to authentic happiness.
Meaning Matters
Many people mistakenly believe that happiness is purely about pleasure. For most, though, pleasure will only ever be one part of the recipe for a fulfilling life. Meaningfulness is a key ingredient for long-lasting joy, and research shows that personal connection and meaningful activities are associated with higher levels of life satisfaction and overall happiness. This underscores the importance of making time for relationships, personal development, spirituality, and volunteer work.
Without giving meaning to your daily habits, you may find a gnawing sense of emptiness emerge—despite the fact that you may have most of your needs met. Consumers are often advised that material goods will bring happiness, but research shows that people who seek meaning will be happier than those who seek pleasure. Your unique sense of purpose in life can guide your decisions and goals–keeping you on track to a life well-lived.
Embracing Your Emotions
Your ability to regulate your emotions is strongly linked to your ability to stay happy. People with better control of their emotions enjoy more satisfactory relationships and communication styles with others. Research has shown that positive emotions are linked to improved health, relationships, and more effective problem-solving.
All too often, though, people are too focused on pursuing the idea of the perfect life rather than appreciating their current circumstances. It is important to not deny or suppress uncomfortable emotions; to embrace those negative emotions and let them fade, acknowledging these emotions as merely part of the human experience.
Practice Gratitude
In many parts of the world, it is no longer considered an old-fashioned courtesy to express gratitude—rather, it is a scientific prescription for contentment. Gratitude has been linked to increased happy emotions, improved physical health, and greater resilience when faced with challenge. Research shows that keeping a daily gratitude journal, for example, can strengthen memory and increase happiness.
Practicing gratitude also requires that you notice the good in your life—from enjoying the simple things in life, to finding reasons to be grateful for enduring struggles. Practicing gratitude can be a challenge when you are stressed or preoccupied, so taking a proactive approach is key to overcoming negatives and encouraging positive thinking.
Engage a Growth Mindset
A growth mindset is a belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work and practice, rather than being inherited. Researchers have discovered that people who don’t doom themselves to a certain level of intelligence based on genetics, but rather believe that it is something that can be nurtured and cultivated over time, have greater success in reaching their goals and living satisfying lives.
Holding onto this mindset means that encountering mistakes and challenges is viewed as an opportunity rather than a defeat. Learning helps people to adapt to new situations, martial their emotions, build resilience and stay open to new experiences. This growth mindset can help you to not be so hard on yourself, encourage deeper reflection on assumptions, and work to correct your false beliefs and negativities.
In Conclusion
Happiness is a journey worth taking. It involves pursuing meaningful interactions, development of life-purpose, resilience in challenging times, and expressing gratitude for both the big and little positive aspects of life. A few mindset shifts can make a world of difference in your overall happiness—as well as getting you closer to living a truly fulfilling life. Why not start today?