When people talk about being happy, I hear them talk about moments. Happiness may be experienced in these moments, but the core of happiness goes beyond them. In this post, I want you to do a piece of research about increasing happiness in your life.
Background
When exploring happiness, I instantly think about research on positive psychology. While psychology dates back generations, positive psychology is a newer addition to the field. Positive psychology tends to focus on how to increase lasting positive emotions (instead of momentary joys), normalizing the human experience, and the importance of following a purpose. This branch started with the father of modern positive psychology, Dr. Martin Seligman.
Happiness
Research shows the significance of fulfilling a mission being tied to lasting happiness. People will report higher levels of happiness when their behaviors match their mission. The purpose you choose in life should be tied to your values; however, outside of that, your mission is what you make it. The mission is more about how connected you are to it rather than what someone else would think about it.
Benefits of sustainable happiness through purpose include:
- On an everyday level: Increased levels of happiness and optimism.
- On a connection level: Increased ability for forgiveness, courage, and love.
- On a community level: Increased levels of altruism, social responsibility, and strengthened social bonds.
The Hard Days
It is a myth that living an easy life adds significantly to happiness. Challenges are an important piece of your purpose. Without needing to push through the hard days, the “work” you put in has less value. The dedicated, driven work you do to fulfill your mission adds to the value of your mission and the value of your work.
Does a valuable mission have the same feel if it is easy to achieve? The challenges you experience are critical for achieving your purpose for this reason!
If you are having a hard day today, think about how this actually may be valuable. What lessons can be learned from today?
Recommendations for Increasing Happiness
- Create a mission statement: Think about the following prompts when creating an individual or family mission statement: What accomplishments are you most proud of? What do those accomplishments say about you? What is something you wish you could change about your community? How can you make that change on an individual level? What traits do you want your children to have? How can you start showing these traits today? Then make a mission statement. It can be as short or as long as needed. You may want to start with, “I pledge to” or “we will…”.
- Intentionally create a challenging day: Perhaps you have been putting off a job because you know it’s going to be a pain in the ass. Well, the time has come – now get to it! This is immensely important for our happiness because our behaviors will be tied to our values.
- Using imagery: Think about what your mission will look like once you start making some progress. I recommend starting with a three-year vision. Remember, this is about when you’ll see a good amount of progress, not solely about completion. Spend time thinking about your accomplishments. Picture what your everyday life will look like when you are working toward this important goal.
- Connection through goals: Discuss your mission or purpose with your partner! Not only can this confirm a shared value between you, but it can help paint a picture of where you’d like to see the relationship go in the next 3-5 years. Even if you do not share the same vision at this moment, it can still be a way to see the world through one another’s eyes. This can help strengthen your commitment and increase your intimacy with one another.
- Communicate gratitude: Do this on as many levels as possible – show gratitude on a worldwide scale, on a community level, to your family, with your partner, and alone with yourself. Even if this feels unnatural, research shows gratitude and happiness can grow when we are intentional about these feelings. On a relational level, communicating fondness and admiration is a foundational tool – so it’s a win-win!
Final Thoughts
The field of positive psychology has created a roadmap for increasing happiness in your life and it is significantly tied to your behaviors. When your hard work matters and starts paying off, you’ll feel it. It won’t be a short, fleeting version of happiness, but a fuller, sustainable version of happiness. Instead of searching for joy day-to-day, implement behavior changes to feel happiness and purpose for a lifetime!
To Learn More
My research for this post came from two books, both of which are great reads. If you are interested in reading further, there is some overlap in their research making one book sufficient.
1. Seligman, Martin E. P. Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment.
- I’d recommend this book to people who want to hear about positive psychology from Dr. Seligman’s perspective. I believe this would be beneficial for business owners or team leaders who are looking to increase happiness on many levels of their lives as it covers positive psychology on an individual and systemic level.
2. Ben-Shahar, Tal. Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment.
- I’d recommend this book for people who want to focus on happiness in their lives as it has a stronger focus on an individual level.
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Stay Tuned for Insightful Revelations on Achieving Happiness Through Purpose!
Do you sometimes struggle to find lasting happiness in your life? I’m excited to share with you a journey that has transformed my understanding of true joy: the concept of “Happiness Through Purpose.” I am deeply passionate about exploring and sharing insights that can elevate your life’s happiness by aligning it with a deeper purpose.
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Your Experiences are a Treasure
Have you ever tried integrating purpose into your pursuit of happiness? I’d love to hear about your experiences and the impact it has had on your life. Your stories and feedback are essential in shaping the content I share, ensuring it resonates with your real-life experiences. Please feel free to share your journey in the comments – your insights are a source of inspiration for me.
Explore More on My Blog
For a deeper dive into the principles of “Happiness Through Purpose”, don’t miss out on my blogs. You’ll find comprehensive articles offering strategies and insights on how to weave purpose into every aspect of your life. Each moment presents an opportunity to reinforce our happiness through purposeful living, and I am here to guide you on this fulfilling path.
Remember, the quest for happiness is a personal and evolving journey. I am dedicated to helping you discover and utilize insightful approaches, like the concept of Happiness Through Purpose, to foster a life filled with joy, meaning, and fulfillment. Let’s seize each day as a chance to grow, learn, and enhance our happiness through purposeful living!