The Top 10 Ways to Achieve Happiness
Category: Life Skills (BL209)Originally Submitted on 12/27/2002.
Martin Seligman, Ph.D., the optimism guru, author of "Learned Optimism," is now studying and researching what makes us happy. Here are his suggestions from his article, "Pleasure, Meaning & Eudaimonia."
1. Don't worry about a cheerful appearance.
Seligman's research has shown "positive affectivity" to be inherited and with normal distribution, meaning half of us have that bright smile and bellowing laugh, and half of us don't, and probably never will. It doesn't equal happiness; it's inherited.
2. Aim for the Pleasant Life.
Seligman defines this as having as much pleasure as possible, and the skills to get more of it. These are basically pleasures of the flesh and since they're transitory, it doesn't lead to much happiness.
3. Aim for the Good Life.
The good life means knowing what your signature strengths are and building your life around them to achieve more "flow" in your life. "Flow" is that state where there is neither thought nor feeling -- there is deep absorption and immersion. Take the Gallup Strengths Finder Profile to get started!
4. Aim for the Meaningful Life.
This means using those strengths in the service you believe in!
5. Operate from eudaimonic motives, not hedonistic motives.
Hedonistic motives means pursuing pleasure. Eudaimonic motives, pursuing the good or meaningful life, leads to more life satisfaction. A study by Veronika Huta, McGill U. found people who are busy pursuing personal growth, developing their potential, achieving personal excellence, and contributing to the lives of others showed a significantly higher level of life satisfaction than people simply seeking pleasure.
6. You don't need to have positive emotions to have happiness and life satisfaction.
Two of the three paths to life happiness don't involve any positive emotions at all!
7. Find out what your strengths are.
The StrengthsFinder profile from Gallup is a great way to do this. You can have a Strengths assessment here.
8. Create your Personal Mission Statement.
You can do this here.
9. Develop your emotional intelligence.
Develop compentencies such as creativity, flexibility, resilience and intuition, and this will help you maximize your innate strengths to achieve the Good Life and the Meaningful Life. You can do this here.
10. Learn optimism.
Seligman's studies show that optimists live longer, enjoy better health, achieve more, and enjoy life more. Optimism is the facilitator of all the emotional intelligence competencies, and it can be learned. You can begin here.
About the Submitter
This piece was originally submitted by Susan Dunn, M.A., Creator of he EQ Grad Course, Ther EQ Coach, who can be reached at sdunn@susandunn.cc, or visited on the web. Susan Dunn wants you to know: I offer individual coaching, and a variety of ebooks and Internet courses on emotional intelligence, available for licensing. EQ coach training, with classes starting monthly. Email me for free ezine. The original source is: Research by Martin Seligman, Ph.D., and Veronika Huta.
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