Happiness: The Most Sought-After Treasure
In this complex and different-for-everyone life, there’s one thread that binds us all: Our pursuit of happiness. It is a goal that we desire, a destination we want to reach, and an emotion that makes the world a brighter place. Despite coming from different origins, different jobs, and different circumstances, happiness is the timeless treasure that captures all our hearts and fuels our distinct dreams.
The search for happiness is the one thing that has echoed the corridors of human history, from ancient philosophers to modern scientists. Happiness is a journey that is undeniably significant and deeply personal. Our lives are a complex web of moments of joy, moments of challenge, and moments of sadness; but it is the pursuit of happiness that keeps us moving and filled with hope.
But the bigger question is: Why does happiness matter? From the surface, it seems like a simple emotion, like all the others. But on diving deep, we get to see the broader picture that defines happiness as a compass that guides us toward a more rewarding and meaningful existence. Let us rediscover happiness once again through the eyes of science and psychology and discover how it defines our day-to-day acts. Join us on the quest to unearth the scientific reasons that can give us humans happiness.
Set and Achieve Short-term Goals
Happiness is a long-term elusive treasure that often appears as a fat-fetched idea. We aim for it and appear to be within reach, but it is almost always out of our reach. A large majority of us connect happiness with achieving long-term goals. We believe that achieving these distant dreams will give us contentment. However, for a reality check, happiness does not lie in the distance; it lies here and now in our short-term experiences.
Tony Robbins, a renowned life coach clearly states the significance of making a “dream bucket”. This dream bucket will be a container where we store our short-term dreams. These dreams need not be extravagant or life-changing. Instead, they need to be small achievable dreams that we can achieve easily. These dreams should add some value to our lives today, not in the future. It is a smart decision to invest in these short-term dreams since they will enrich your current life and provide immediate satisfaction. We’ve all heard the famous line, “live in the moment”. A better line that states the same with much clarity is, “Do not postpone happiness to a distant future.”
Pursuing small short-term dreams fills us with joy and momentum. This gives a feeling of wealth and liveliness, believes Tony Robbins.
Make your dream bucket and start striking off things on that list. Long-term goals can remain in place but stating and achieving short-term goals is the key to immediate happiness, or simply happiness.
The Psychology of Engagement
A book by the title, “Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement With Everyday Life”, emphasizes the importance of continuous engagement with life rather than being passive observers. A line from the book reads, “Life without goals is like sailing without a destination, leaving us adrift in a sea of uncertainty. ”
Life is meant to be fueled with meaningful goals. This gives a profound boost to our mental, and physical well-being. This can only be achieved by actively engaging with life; setting up small insignificant objectives for the long run, but crucial for daily life and help in reducing anxiety thereby promoting happiness. We often confuse the significance of such small engagements with the size of our goals. In reality, these small interactions with daily life have a personal significance as they give meaning and direction to our lives.
The writer, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s research on this subject reveals that if life is devoid of short-term engagements, it results in reduced motivation, reduced concentration, and increased anxiety. A goalless life tells the mind to wander and get into fixating on things that don’t even require any attention. This exacerbates stress.
It is important to engage with life on a daily basis. Making daily or hourly goals will drive you to achieve them. Achieving them will provide fulfillment and that in turn will give you happiness.
Stop Overlooking Your Physical Health
There is extensive research on the importance of regular exercise and its impact on our mental well-being. Physical health is not just about building a fit body; it is in fact the gateway to a happier life. There are no coincidences in science and therefore the reason why we feel elated after a good workout is – Science.
Several studies prove and emphasize the role of regular exercise in our mental health. It reduces traces of depression and anxiety and increases overall well-being by fostering a sense of accomplishment and happiness. While it is not the cure for all our mental health problems, the benefits that regular exercise can give, are undeniable.
When we exercise, our “feel-good” hormones- endorphins are released. These endorphins then interact with our brain receptors and reduce the perception of pain. The brain then triggers a positive feeling throughout the body. The natural high after exercise significantly improves our mood and outlook on life.
Regular exercise isn’t just a magical solution, but it is a game-changer. Introduce regular exercise to your life and uncover its secret of being a mood booster, an anxiety reducer, and a well-being enhancer. Let endorphins work their magic and change our perception of pain.
There’s Something In The Energy: Surround Yourself with Positivity
Our social circle is one of the most powerful influencers when it comes to our happiness. A very famous quote from motivational Jim Rohn states, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” There’s scientific research that supports this notion.
Studies have shown that the people in our immediate circle can have a significant impact on our lives and our happiness. Frequent interactions with pessimistic, grumpy, unmotivated, or lazy individuals are doomed to impact your mood and your outlook on life. On the flip side, interacting with cheerful, positive, intelligent, and optimistic people will uplift your spirits and show you a brighter side of life.
A study conducted over 20 years on 4,739 participants has revealed that happiness is contagious. Happiness tends to cluster within social circles, and a portion of your happiness is directly influenced by the people you connect with. If you find that you are constantly in the company of unhappy individuals, it becomes essential that you find time to spend with those who radiate positive and optimistic energy.
It is important to sort the people around you. Not everyone is suitable for you and not everyone will drive your desire to be happy. Begin by looking at your innermost circle and evaluate if they are affecting your life in a positive or negative way. It is important that you shift the balance towards positivity if it is more negative.
Embrace The Power of Meditation
Practically anything that is associated with taking time out for yourself can be linked to happiness. This includes prayer, meditation, or a simple time off. Research has time and again proven that meditation has a wide range of benefits that elevate not only the mental state but also the physical health.
Regular meditation is proven to reduce stress levels and alleviate symptoms of depression. It is also found that meditation leads to a more satisfactory life; it’s a transformative journey towards happiness.
You will see a significant increase in daily positive emotions once you begin regular meditation. These positive emotions, in turn, develop several personal resources like mindfulness, purpose in life, and elevated social support. This will become a stair of improvements that will cause great improvements in life. It will improve satisfaction, and eliminate traces of depressive symptoms.
Begin practicing meditation since it will not only keep you away from depression and anxiety but will also make you capable of focusing more and in turn, achieving more. It is one of the most beneficial ways to attain happiness.
Bonus Section: The Secret To Happiness
Since we’ve already discussed five science-backed ways to find happiness, here’s an additional secret that can maintain this happiness: the never-ending pursuit of knowledge. The article has delved into multiple ways of finding happiness, the journey to happiness isn’t so short. The pursuit of knowledge is an ongoing process and leads to continuous happiness.
Happiness is not something bought and then kept; it’s such a rare commodity that it needs to be earned each subsequent day. Seeking and expanding your knowledge about subjects that keep you happy, will keep you engaged in an enriching and fulfilling pursuit. Take, for instance, happiness. If your subject of interest is happiness, learning about it in detail will enhance your ability to apply these principles effectively.
So, why ever stop at only five science-backed ways to happiness when there’s a world of knowledge and discovery that awaits you? This article is just a starting point. Make your eagerness and curiosity become the catalyst for a happier and more fulfilling life.
Seeking knowledge will not only keep you aware and informed but also keep you on a continuous path toward sustained happiness. Start acquiring new insights about subjects of interest and this will bring happiness and satisfaction in return.
Conclusion
In our search for happiness, we’ve uncovered a hidden treasure of science-backed ways of enhancing our well-being. From establishing short-term goals to embracing life’s challenges, exercising, meditation, and surrounding ourselves with positivity, all these insights are a roadmap for a more fulfilling life.
Our merit is that happiness is attainable. It is not just an elusive dream. Implementing these strategies and keeping the eagerness to learn will lead to a brighter and much more joyful life. Each new day is an opportunity to take steps towards a happier life. It is important that we cherish it and make happiness our constant companion.
Remember, happiness can not be achieved from DNA. It is something that must be earned daily.
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