There's no single "secret" to happiness, but research points to several key factors: strong relationships, a sense of purpose, gratitude, physical/mental well-being (sleep, exercise), and focusing on experiences (like nature, helping others, learning) rather than just material things. It involves a mix of positive mindset, intentional actions, and appreciating small moments, rather than chasing constant highs or achieving a single goal.
Feeling valued, having purpose, and enjoying little moments, like good food, laughs with friends, or quiet peace, can make a big difference.
The secret of happiness lies in embracing gratitude, cultivating positive relationships, and finding purpose and meaning in one's life. It often involves appreciating the present moment and focusing on what truly matters to you.
“The true secret of happiness lies in the taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.” Words by William Morris (1834–1896).
Strong Relationships
There is one characteristics which is the most prominent in happy people – strong social ties. The happiest 10 percent of Harvard Undergraduates reported having strong social support.
Dr. Seligmen identified 5 Pillars of Happiness: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishments. What do these mean and how can we incorporate them into our everyday life?
This knowledge about happiness states that 50% of our happiness is determined by genetics, 10% by our circumstances and 40% by our internal state of mind. This rule originates from the book “The How Of Happiness” written by Sonja Lyubomirsky. A lot of people and even psychologists live by this rule.
After analyzing the results, the researchers found that there's a certain age when people are happiest: 70.
90% of our happiness is determined not by our genes or environment, but by our perception of the world.
The 4Cs - Connect, Contribute, Cope & Cook - can lead you toward lasting #happiness. It's as easy as learning the 4 Cs.
7 Keys to Happiness
Joy is a deeper emotion than happiness that comes from within — from a sense of purpose and meaning, including finding meaning in suffering — and from relationships with others. It therefore lasts longer than its counterpart.
Simple activities like watching sports with a friend, having a soak in the bath, or meeting up with friends for coffee can all improve your day. Doing something you're good at, such as cooking or dancing, is a good way to enjoy yourself and have a sense of achievement.
Relationships are Key to Health and Happiness
The insight from the Harvard study is that close relationships and social connections are crucial for our well-being as we age. Having supportive and nurturing relationships is a buffer against life's stresses and protects overall health.
The 7 keys to longevity generally focus on lifestyle factors: moving more, eating whole foods (fruits/veggies), prioritizing sleep, managing stress, building strong social connections, avoiding smoking/excess alcohol, and maintaining a positive mindset, all while actively managing chronic conditions and keeping your brain engaged for a longer, healthier life.
How to find joy
Seligman has identified five elements that are important for happiness- positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning and achievement. The acronym for these elements, PERMA, is the term that they are most often referred to.
What Is the Number One Predictor of Happiness? The Harvard study, having spanned over 80 years and multiple generations, clearly recognizes good relationships as the most significant predictor of overall happiness, life satisfaction, and wellbeing (Waldinger & Schulz, 2023).
○Essentials of happiness:
— Often called “3 A's of happiness" : Acceptance,Affection,Achievement.
The observed age pattern for daily stress was remarkably strong: stress was relatively high from age 20 through 50, followed by a precipitous decline through age 70 and beyond.
Unhappiness is hill-shaped in age and the average age where the maximum occurs is 49 with or without controls.
According to this unscientific survey, most women peak between 19.9 years and 24.0 years (sample size 22).
The golden rule of happiness is that “the more you make others happy: the happier you will be”. Try to make at least 3 people smile every day. Make sure you have a hearty laugh, and smile more.
There are three main things that make people happy: close relationships, a job or past-time that they love and helping others. On the other hand, money and material things do not have a lot to do with happiness, and people who emphasize them are less happy than those who do not.
The Big Four are friendliness, cheerfulness, compassion, and gratitude. Let's break these down. The old saying about people who have “never met a stranger” describes people who meet the world with a happy temperament and an openness to new people—regardless of who may be standing in their way that day.