What is happiness?
This may seem like a strange question to begin with but happiness can be difficult to define and mean different things to different people. Happiness is generally understood to be a feeling of contentment and satisfaction with life. However, it can also refer to feelings of pleasure, excitement, glee and triumph. Some people may feel generally happy much of the time unless they experience a trigger for another emotion, while other people may only describe their most joyful moments as happy. Equally, it is often talked about that it is the pursuit of happiness that is our human right – not happiness itself – implying that permanent happiness is unattainable but that we each have the right to strive for the situations that make us feel happy.
The key to finding happiness
The key to finding happiness is always a unique and personal experience and no one model will fit everyone. However, if you struggle to experience happiness and want to increase how frequently you feel happy, try the following strategies:
- Be with nature. Happiness can often be found when in nature. As modern humans we spend more time inside than our ancient ancestors and there is abundant research relating to the link between experiencing nature and positive mental wellbeing outcomes, for both adults and children. If you are struggling with your happiness levels try walking outside daily and being mindful of your surroundings.
- Practice appreciation. It may feel artificial at first, however, actively being appreciative of your life, your relationships and your experiences can help you to notice the positives in your life.
- Make decisions and behave in ways that actively support your values. Knowing who you are means knowing what is important to you. By clearly defining your personal values, for example, ‘I value being a great dad’ or ‘I value perusing creative opportunities’, you can begin to notice when your behaviours match or mismatch your values and take steps to change these when needed.
- Embrace a growth mindset. A growth mindset encourages happiness as well as growth. To read more about growth mindsets visit our previous blog.
- Be compassionate. Compassion towards yourself and others, as well as experiencing compassion from other people, are key components of happiness.
- Engage in meaningful activities. As a society we spend a lot of time on routine tasks, for example, work, household tasks, driving. While these are often necessary, they can sometimes take up so much of our headspace and physical energy that there is little room left for meaningful activities. Spend time getting to know the activities that mean something to you and ensure you spend time on them daily. Such activities usually focus on people and experiences, as opposed to finances and material goods.
If you are struggling with low mood and achieving happiness in your day-to-day life you may benefit from some professional support. To discuss your emotional wellbeing or this article further, then call Dr Julie Hannan now on 07530 854530.