Finding out if I’m really happy turned out to be trickier than I thought. Am I genuinely happy, or is it something else? To explore this, I decided to dig deep into what happiness really means. What makes me truly happy? Can I do more of those things? These were some of the simple questions I asked myself. But as I looked into the science of happiness, I realized there’s more to it than I first thought. Positive psychology showed me a bigger picture, saying happiness is about more than just quick moments of joy. So, let’s break it down together and uncover the secrets of the happiness formula.
Exploring the Ingredients of Happiness
Let’s start with the basics: pleasure and meaning. Ancient Greek philosophers divided happiness into two components—hedonic wellbeing (pleasure) and eudaimonic wellbeing (effort + meaning). It’s about personal growth and fulfillment. We flourish when we have a sense of purpose, experience “flow,” and leverage our strengths. On the other hand, hedonic wellbeing involves simple pleasures like enjoying a cup of tea or going on vacation. Striking a balance between these dimensions is crucial for maximizing happiness. Too much focus on pleasure can lead to apathy, while fixating solely on achievement can result in stress.
Calculating Your Happiness Score
In the world of positive psychology, subjective wellbeing is the name of the game. It’s like a happiness scorecard, assessing both life satisfaction and emotional wellbeing. One part of the equation measures overall life satisfaction, while the other examines the balance between positive and negative emotions. Armed with this knowledge, you can focus on amplifying positive emotions and boosting overall satisfaction. Check out my e-book for tips on finding your emotional balance and enhancing your happiness formula.
SUBJECTIVE WELLBEING = SATISFACTION WITH LIFE + (POSITIVE AFFECT – NEGATIVE AFFECT)
Unlocking Authentic Happiness
Martin Seligman, a big thinker in positive psychology, came up with a cool formula for real happiness. It’s like breaking it into three parts: first, there’s the stuff you’re born with, like your genes (50%). Then, there are your life circumstances, which can change but don’t really affect your happiness (10%). Lastly, there’s the stuff you do on purpose, like your mindset and habits (40%)—that’s where the magic happens! Seligman also talks about six ways to find true happiness—PERMAH: feeling good, getting into the zone, having good relationships, finding purpose, achieving goals, and taking care of your health. Bringing these things into your life can really amp up your happiness levels.
Happiness = Set Range + Circumstances + Voluntary
The Magic of Compassion
No discussion on happiness would be complete without mentioning the wisdom of the Dalai Lama. His insight into compassion as the source of happiness is profound. “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” Buddhism teaches us that true happiness comes from cultivating contentment and inner peace. It’s about letting go of desires and finding joy within ourselves.
Putting It Into Practice
Now that we understand the ingredients of happiness, it’s time to put them into action. What resonates with you? What motivates you to live a happier life? My Resource Library features an e-book filled with prompts to help you identify the elements that should form the foundation of your happiness formula. It will guide you in creating an action plan and setting intentions. Remember, your happiness formula can evolve over time. Life is a journey, so keep exploring and adapting to find what works best for you.
PS: A big thank you to Miriam Akhtar MAPP and her “Little Book Of Happiness” for inspiring this post!
Everyone Has Their Own Happiness Formula. Which Can Change At Any Time.
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