Contrary to what you might think, it's not career achievement, money, exercise, or a healthy diet. The most consistent finding we've learned through 85 years of study is: Positive relationships keep us happier, healthier, and help us live longer. Period.
The Three Keys to Happiness
Scientists have found that the three things that make people most happy are PLEASURE (doing things you enjoy), ENGAGEMENT (feeling interested in your activities and connected to others), and MEANING (feeling like what you do matters).
Study director Dr. Waldinger says positive relationships keep us happier, healthier and help us live longer. It boils down to something researchers call social fitness, being close to others is what keeps people happy throughout their lives. And they say it's never too late to find that happiness.
Among 31 potential sources of happiness, people across the world are most likely to say they derive “the greatest happiness” from: My physical health and well-being (cited by 54%) My mental health and well-being (cited by 53%)
The Four P's of happiness: Purpose, Perspective, People and Play – Read here as to how you can develop a process to move toward a sense of purpose and positivity in work and life.
And those four S's of social, structure, stimulation and story bring us great joy and deep happiness.
The Five Thieves of Happiness (sometimes referred to as the 5 C's) are control, conceit, comparison (or coveting), consumption, and comfort.
According to my teacher's teachings and my own experience in life, a vision of life should consist of 6 pillars: health, career, relationships, leisure, lifestyle and spirituality.
The theory suggests that happiness can be described as three distinct elements chosen for their own sakes: positive emotion, engagement, and meaning. These three elements are believed to be more measurable and definitive than happiness.
The most familiar version of the Golden Rule says, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Moral philosophy has barely taken notice of the golden rule in its own terms despite the rule's prominence in commonsense ethics.
The 5x5 rule states that if you come across an issue take a moment to think whether or not it will matter in 5 years. If it won't, don't spend more than 5 minutes stressing out about it.
Happy people are warm, considerate, respectful, helpful, and pleasant to be around. They do not indulge in envy, jealousy, or gossip, nor do they waste time complaining. Use positive rather than negative language. Happy people focus on what has, is, and can work, rather than on what is problematic.
According to prolific novelist and playwright Weldon, women's sources of happiness are sex, food, friends, family, shopping and chocolate—in that order.
Sometimes we lack accountability for our own happiness and can blame our unhappiness on external circumstances when tough times arise. You may not always be able to control what happens to you, but you can control how you react to it. Sometimes we can be too hard on ourselves.
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.
The happiest moments in life are the birth of a first child, your wedding day and the birth of grandchildren according to new research out today.