The 6 things that make a person the happiest
‘Happiness is a choice,’ I often read and hear. I only partially agree with it. You can also just have terrible luck in this life.
But what I do strongly believe in is your mindset. How you deal with events, no matter how heavy, you ultimately determine yourself. Sadness, pain, and misery are part of life, everyone's life. Sooner or later, we all get something on our plate. But how you deal with sadness and how you accept it, how you decide to live with it and move on, is your choice. That's why I partially agree: bad luck can happen, you can't do anything about that, but you can make the choice to make a bit of a cozy affair out of the bad luck and deep misery. Think of it as humor or self-mockery in very difficult moments: it can help lighten the day.
Anyway. In the past, scientists wanted nothing to do with it, but currently, it's hotter than ever: researching happiness in psychology. Interesting to know: that ridiculously expensive bag you're saving for won't make you much happier in the end, even if you think so now. That promotion, that you earn a few hundred euros more a month? Sorry love, not that either. Not even those extra few thousand euros a month. Or winning the lottery. Or that new job. Yes, call me crazy, but it's proven. In fact, it was explained to me by a super-smart ‘happiness’ professor at Yale University. Why you don't become happy from that bag or that job? Simple: you get used to it. And then it's no longer interesting.
Fortunately, there is hope. These are the 6 things in life that do make us truly happier:
- Beautiful experiences. You can save for that bag or save for that round trip through the States. Or for a winter sports trip. Or a long weekend in the sun with your bestie in the spring. From events, doing things, experiences, you become much happier than from things. So book a massage for yourself sooner than ordering that new sweater. Honestly, go do it.
- Helping others. Yes, really: doing something meaningful for someone in your environment makes you happier. Now you feel like you really have value and mean something.
- Health. And that also includes: taking good care of yourself with healthy eating, enough sleep, and of course (sorry) a lot of exercise. So, sports.
- Your friends, love, and family; everyone needs a social safety net. Alone, you can't do much and solo you definitely can't throw a party.
- Time: having time to do things you really enjoy. That's a luxury. Just think of people in poor countries who have to work all day in factories and have never heard of a hobby. And with that, time is worth more than extra money. Remember this in your next salary negotiation: wouldn't you rather work one day less instead of getting a higher salary? With that extra day off, you can finally draw, go to the beach, paint, play tennis, train puppies...
- Gratitude: the ability to look back on your life and cherish everything you have makes you happy. Not always thinking about what, who, how, why you don't have something.
So, that was it again, those wise lessons of life. But believe me: this is something you don't want to forget. The more you incorporate this list into your daily life, the more happiness is your own choice. Damn, it turns out I do agree with that statement after all.
Source: Happy Mom
