Happiness is a complex notion, usually implying the specific inner state of a person, making them satisfied with their lives. It is typically compared to the feeling of pleasure or contentment, meaning that it should not be confused with joy, ecstasy, or other intense emotions. Happiness is not a trait of character, but a state, subjective wellbeing of a certain individual, which is different for every person. There are numerous factors, which contribute to the feeling: “individual income, labor market status, physical health, family, social relationships, moral values, the experience of positive emotions” (Ackerman, 2020, para. 48). The list should be taken into consideration in order to improve the overall happiness, as it can help in estimating the quality of the experience in each sphere. Thus, there are no unique ways for people to be happy, however, psychologists suggest certain tips, which could help to see the positive moments, and feel content with life.
There are universal tips from psychologists, which can help any individual to improve their life quality and satisfaction. The first one is the importance of being committed and keeping promises. With the help of consistent behavior, a person can make changes, which are necessary for the improvement of their character, and life in general. Commitment pushes people into achieving the set goals and becoming more successful. The second important factor is respecting the personal value system, a set of concepts, peculiar to the certain individual, which helps them feel good. Staying loyal to personal beliefs and principles, and not trampling over them helps create happiness.
People also have a huge impact on the general individual’s state of mind. First of all, it is important to carefully choose people around, so they would help stay positive. It is not healthy to be with those, who evoke negative feelings in others. However, it might be challenging in case an individual is living with such people. In that case, a family might need a therapy session, which would help bring peace to the house. In addition, in order to feel happy it is important to reach out to other people, and not lose contact with friends, who are far away. Staying in touch with good people contributes to the general state of happiness, and the level of satisfaction.
The last important group of actions is considering psychological aspects. First of all, a person needs to be grateful for all the positive moments in life. It is helpful to spend a few minutes every day thinking about themes, which contribute to the general state of joy and satisfaction. It is proven that being grateful is even good for health, as it reduces the risk of coronary artery disease. Psychologists offer a method of finding time to write down positive moments, which a person is thankful for every day. Another important tip requires an understanding of what makes a certain individual happy, as everyone has unique demands and conditions for obtaining satisfaction. It is important to think about personal desires, not look at others. Thus, personal happiness cannot be universal for everyone and depends on the needs and wishes of a concrete individual.
From personal experience, there is a good case illustrating the whole idea of happiness, and the fact that a person can do much to improve their lives, and increase the level of satisfaction. The situation happened with my colleague Claudia, who was promoted and moved to another department. First, she was extremely content with her new position, and new salary. However, later she found out that her manager was a person, extremely difficult to communicate with, who made the working conditions intolerable. Soon, Claudia felt that she was losing her powers, and she did not have any positive emotions left. After considering all the moments, she made a decision to come back to the previous job position, and felt good, even when having less money, as financial prosperity does not necessarily mean happiness.
In conclusion, every person has their own requirements, and desires for experiencing the feeling of joy, and content. Happiness is a unique notion, which is hard to explain, as it is subjective. However, there is universal advice, capable of helping an individual to obtain satisfaction. It is important to carefully estimate the wishes, and set goals, which would bring positive emotions. In addition, it is essential to remain loyal to the promises, as commitment is an aspect, increasing the respect for the person in their own eyes, and in the eyes of the society.
References
Ackerman C.E. (2020). What is happiness and why is it important? Positive Psychology. Web.
Fessenden, T. (2018). The principle of commitment and behavioral consistency. Nielsen Norman Group. Web.
Greg D., Smalley, E. (2020). Reconnected: Moving from roommates to soulmates in marriage. Web.
Michael J., Sebanz, N., Knoblich, G. (2016). The sense of commitment: A minimal approach. Frontiers in Psychology, 6. Web.
Miller, K.D. (2020). The 5 character strengths of wisdom in positive psychology. Positive Psychology. Web.