What is Happiness?
Like all emotions, happiness comes and goes. You may notice it as pleasure, gratification, joy, transcendence, contentment.
Happiness is not
We know anxiety and fear are emotions our body produces when it senses danger. Happiness and other positive emotions act as motivators that increase our chance of survival. For example, if we find pleasure in exercise (ie feel better after exercise) we will exercise more. If we find pleasure in certain foods we will eat them more. If we find pleasure in talking to people we will seek them out, we will interact, develop community and thus create more resources in our life.
Positive emotions are a powerful source of growth and change. One of the things they do is make it easier to think flexibly and problem solve. Greater and more permanent happiness is linked with living a meaningful life, and living a longer, healthier life. Happy people develop resources for living well. Happiness moves us beyond actions that just maintain survival and immediate well-being.
Happiness is not
- Feeling great all the time.
- Replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts.
We know anxiety and fear are emotions our body produces when it senses danger. Happiness and other positive emotions act as motivators that increase our chance of survival. For example, if we find pleasure in exercise (ie feel better after exercise) we will exercise more. If we find pleasure in certain foods we will eat them more. If we find pleasure in talking to people we will seek them out, we will interact, develop community and thus create more resources in our life.
Positive emotions are a powerful source of growth and change. One of the things they do is make it easier to think flexibly and problem solve. Greater and more permanent happiness is linked with living a meaningful life, and living a longer, healthier life. Happy people develop resources for living well. Happiness moves us beyond actions that just maintain survival and immediate well-being.
- To keep from adapting to your new happiness state, you need to choose activities that contribute to happiness, time and time again.
Can I learn to be happy?
You can learn happiness habits. I cannot promise you that you will be happier once you have completed a workshop, but I can tell you that you will learn strategies that if you apply them, have been shown to relate to increased happiness. So basically I can't guarantee outcomes, no psychologist can.
It is generally accepted that 35-50% of whether you are happy is related to genetics, but this varies considerably between individuals. Researchers such as Sonya Lyubomirsky (http://drsonja.net/about-sonja/) have shown that when we look at the remaining 50%, life circumstances tend to account for around 10%, while volitional activities (i.e., how we choose to spend our time when we’re not working) account for 40%.
It is generally accepted that 35-50% of whether you are happy is related to genetics, but this varies considerably between individuals. Researchers such as Sonya Lyubomirsky (http://drsonja.net/about-sonja/) have shown that when we look at the remaining 50%, life circumstances tend to account for around 10%, while volitional activities (i.e., how we choose to spend our time when we’re not working) account for 40%.
DISCLAIMER
***The below list and this information provided, does in no way purport to be therapy or treatment. If you are suffering a mental health condition such as anxiety and depression I recommend you speak to your psychologist before requesting this list. If you do not currently have a psychologist or trained mental health professional, you are welcome to contact Positive Young Minds for a consultation.***.
***The below list and this information provided, does in no way purport to be therapy or treatment. If you are suffering a mental health condition such as anxiety and depression I recommend you speak to your psychologist before requesting this list. If you do not currently have a psychologist or trained mental health professional, you are welcome to contact Positive Young Minds for a consultation.***.
