In The Pursuit of Happiness

Do you feel like you are dragging through the day? What is your pursuit of happiness lately? How do you define your "happiness"?

Living the good life, flourishing, self-actualization, joy, and purpose are words that come to mind with happiness. Is it possible to experience any of these in the middle of a chaotic world and negative circumstances? Can we learn to grow or find skills that lead to this “good life?”

What are the aspects of wellbeing?

Positive Emotion

Hope, interest, joy, love, compassion, pride, amusement, and gratitude, the act of "flourishing"

Engagement

The flow mindset, the loss of self-consciousness and complete absorption in an activity. In other words, it is living in the present moment and focusing entirely on the task at hand.

Relationships

Positive feelings of support, love, and value by others.

Meaning

The search for meaning and the need to have a sense of value and worth. Belonging and/or serving something greater than ourselves. Having a purpose in life helps individuals focus on what is really important in the face of significant challenge or adversity.

Accomplishments

The result of working toward and reaching goals, mastering an endeavor, and having self-motivation to finish what you set out to do.

Proactively working on finding personal meaning in these different components will help enhance physical health, vitality, job satisfaction, life satisfaction, and commitment within organizations.

These aspects not only increase aspects of wellbeing, but also decreases psychological distress.

- Reflect on things you are grateful for and what is going well in your life

- Do hobbies and creative activities that you enjoy

- Practice living in the moment, even during daily activities or mundane tasks

- Spend time in nature, watching, listening, and observing what happens around you

- Identify and learn about your character strengths, and do things that you excel at

- Get in touch with people you have not spoken to or connected with in a while.

- Join a class or group that interests you.

- Try new, creative activities to find things you connect with.

- Create friendships with people you are acquainted with.

- Think about how you can use your passions to help others.

- Spend quality time with people you care about.

- Set goals that are SMART – specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time bound.

- Reflect on past successes.

- Look for creative ways to celebrate your achievements.

References

Madson, M. Seligman’s PERMA+ Model Explained: A Theory of Wellbeing. Positive Psychology. 2017. Retrieved from: https://positivepsychology.com/perma-model/