Photo by Freddy Mishiki on Unsplash

Everyone wants happiness, yet many don't have it. Society tends to view happiness in terms of success, wealth, and assets, but real happiness comes from something deeper: a mixture of purpose, fulfillment, and wellness. In this blog post, we’ll cover happiness’s science, philosophy, and actionable tips, providing insights for creating a life filled with joy and fulfillment.

Understanding happiness

What is Happiness?

A state of wellness defined by feelings such as joy, fulfillment, and happiness, happiness can be in two types: 

• Hedonic Happiness: Formed through pleasure and escape from pain.

• Eudaimonic Happiness: Born out of living a life with purpose and values.

The Happiness Science

What positive psychology studies have discovered about happiness is that happiness is shaped by: 

• Genetics (50%): How happy a person tends to be, a "set point" in nature.

• Life Circumstances (10%): Outside factors such as wealth, position, or alliances.

• Intentional Action (40%): Habits, actions, and state of mind a person wills.

What that tells us is that part of happiness is out of our hands, but a lot of it is.


The Happiness Myths

Many misconceptions about happiness have kept many searching for happiness in wrong sources, with no lasting fulfillment in view. Let’s expose a couple of them: 

1. "I’ll Be Happy Once…"

Many believe that when a big-ticket item happens—acquiring a property, getting a new job, getting a companion—happiness will follow. Yet, according to studies, "arrival fallacy" brings a momentary joy, for soon enough, new environments become routine.

2. Happiness and Wealth

Although security brings less, an abundance of wealth is not yet a source of happiness with long-term payoffs. Over a certain point (researchers say $75,000 a year in most nations), wealth and happiness have a less-is-more relation.

The target and origin of happiness

3. Happiness Involves Feeling Good All of the Time

True happiness isn’t about positive thinking all of the time. Happiness is about having a full range of feelings and valuing even in tough times.


The Building Blocks of Happiness

1. Purpose and Meaning

A purposeful life is a key to happiness. That’s about living in actions with values, passions, and long-term purpose.

2. Relationships

Good, positive relationships are one of the greatest happiness predicators. Building friendships, family, and community creates security and a sense of belonging.

3. Gratitude

Being grateful shifts one’s thinking towards abundance, not scarcity, and reconditions one’s brain for positivity.

4. Mindfulness

Being present in the present reduces anxiety and deepens life’s little pleasure.

5. Health and Well-Being

Good bodily health pays dividends in terms of mental happiness. Exercise regularly, sleep, and have a balanced meal and improvement in moods and fortitude.


Practical Happiness-Building Techniques

1. Get Into Happiness Habits

• Keep a Gratitude Journal: Write down three items for which you’re grateful each morning.

• Set Baby Steps: Complating little success creates a feeling of accomplishment.

2. Live with Greater Strength

• Frame obstacles in terms of challenge and opportunity.

• Tend with yourself with care when times go wrong.

3. Nurturing Relationships

• Spent meaningful times with significant ones.

• Be a listener and an appreciator.

4. Give Back

Help through volunteerism and little service creates a feeling of purpose and contribution.

5. Live Simplicity

Clear your life—body and mind. Live in simple.


What Happiness Looks and Feels Like Around the Globe

What happiness looks and feels like can vary.

Different nations value different corners of happiness:

• Denmark (Hygge): Warm comfort through simple experiences.

• Japan (Ikigai): Feeling a purpose in ordinary activity.

• Bhutan (Gross National Happiness): Measurable, balanced whole-life happiness with a GDP-plus.

Learning about them can introduce new happiness strategies.


The Role of Mindset

Mindset for Happiness;

Faith in a capacity for development and growth brings happiness through increased use of resilience and hope.

Mindset for Abundance;

Focusing on abundance, not scarcity, diminishes envy and inspires contentedness.

Optimism;

Looking for the best even in times of challenge fortifies mental well-being and overall happiness.


The Happiness Paradox

Somehow, attempting too earnestly to be happy can have an ironic effect. In pressuring ourselves to "be happy," we can forget to enjoy living in the present.

Instead, appreciating meaningful actions, meaningful relationships, and taking care of oneself generates actual happiness.


Conclusion: Happiness as a Journey

Being happy is not a destination but a journey constructed through everyday choices, disposition, and relationships. By creating purpose, developing relationships, and practicing gratefulness, you can build a life full of fulfillment. Recall, happiness isn't perfect, but it comes in perfection of imperfection and in striving for improvement.

 ~It’s all about enjoying the journey, one thoughtful step at a time~