"Happiness is only one among
many values in human life,"
(Laura King)
Most of us think we know what will make us happy, but we often are disappointed
by the choices we make. We buy a house or take a job or decide to retire, only
to realize that it makes us far less happy than we imagined.
Happiness is stubborn and hard to find. Circumstances under our control
(employment, education, money) account for only about 10 to 15 percent of our
"subjective well-being," the technical term for how good we judge life to be. If
we're determined to optimize that 10-15 percent that’s in your control, our
happiness fact list offers a few clues to step forward a blissful and contented
life.
The broader definition of good living blends deep satisfaction and a profound
connection to others through empathy. It is dominated by happy feelings.
Compassion, wisdom, insight, creativity—sometimes only the trials of adversity
can foster these qualities, because sometimes only drastic situations can force
us to take on the painful process of change. To live a full human life, a
tranquil, carefree existence is not enough. We also need to grow—and sometimes
growing hurts.
People who have grown from adversity often feel much less fear, despite the
frightening things they've been through. They are surprised by their own
strength; confident that they can handle whatever else life throws at them.
Notably, the people who find value in adversity aren't the toughest or the most
rational. Instead, they tend to be ordinary, neither the best nor the
worst-adjusted. What makes them different is that they are able to incorporate
what is happening in their own life. Maybe one of the key is the capacity to
admit that you've been changed by experience and admitting that there would not
have been good things about your life if you hadn't had to go through negative
events.
But still a number of people don't know how to cope up with misfortunes and
harsh conditions. How to fight with adversity and acquire happiness??? It is the
most common question which every person eager to know. The interesting thing is
that answer lies in the modification on their own lives. First of all they
should know their strengths. Generally, people with top five strengths,
curiosity, zest, gratitude, hope, and the capacity to love and be loved, score
higher on surveys of life satisfaction than the rest of us. The next step is to
schedule enjoyable events. If your top priorities are love of learning and
curiosity, your day might include a trip to a favorite museum or a few hours
with a book that you’ve been meaning to read. The most important and the easiest
way to approach a happy life is to count our blessings. People have hard times
looking at the glass as half empty and this thought lead them to dwell on
misfortune so its better to cultivate gratitude for it can increase life
satisfaction. Most of all, a person should have the attribute of disputing
negative thoughts and feelings of helpless pessimism when misfortune strikes.
Just argue with yourself, you will feel energized and ready to take on the
problem. Viewing situations logically can help you build a case against your
pessimistic self.
Whatever is our conclusion about "power of happiness", we should not forget one
thing here: each blue day has a negative impact on health and life contentment
in all of us. We must have the capacity to enhance our well-being by finding
things that will make our lives more satisfying. It is fact that enjoying the
little things; being pleased frequently has more influence on well-being than
being intensely happy once in a while.
So how are you doing? Do your lives exhibit a balanced approach to happiness
that involves pleasure, peace, and a passion for doing something worthwhile?