by Melesha Bailey, UniteNews Contributing Writer
Springfield, MO— The keys to happiness vary from person to person. Happiness is a sense of well-being, joy, or contentment. Whenever you are doing something that makes you happy, you usually want to do it more.
Some common factors contribute to a sense of overall happiness and well-being. Cultivating a positive attitude and outlook on life can significantly impact your happiness. We do this by building relationships, making meaningful connections, pursuing passions, prioritizing self-care, setting goals, and helping others contribute to happiness.
Start with gratitude, optimism, and joy, every precious moment of life increases happiness. Doing this can improve your immune system, prevent chronic disease, and help you cope with everything life sends daily. Grateful people are more optimistic, have more social support, are less stressed, and are less depressed.
Let’s explore some keys to happiness:
Building and maintaining strong healthy relationships with family and friends is one of the keys to happiness. A supportive community of people genuinely caring about each other provides a sense of belonging, love, and fulfillment. These meaningful connections and interactions drive engaging conversations, sharing experiences, and support for one another. Meaningful relationships bring happiness and a sense of purpose.
Pursuing your passions with activities and hobbies you’re passionate about brings joy and fulfillment. Find activities that bring you a sense of calm that flow as your passion ignites. Passion is “a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something, or about doing something” (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary). Find what gives you joy, and you have found your passion.
Taking care of your well-being is an essential aspect of pursuing happiness. Prioritize self-care, including physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, get good quality sleep, and practice stress-management techniques such as meditation or mindfulness for your well-being.
Set meaningful goals and move toward them. Having clear goals and working towards them provides a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Break down your goals into smaller, achievable steps and celebrate your progress. Research has shown that personal goals aligned with your interests increase your emotional well-being, leading to happiness, inspiration, and confidence.
Helping others with kindness and service creates a sense of fulfillment and joy as you go after your happiness. Look for opportunities to help, support, or contribute to the well-being of others. According to Action for Happiness.org, helping and being kind not only contributes to the happiness of others but can also allow us to feel happier ourselves. Studies have shown that doing kind things can boost our brain, activating its reward centers, which feels good.
Giving and kindness also help us feel connected to others, which is essential for our well-being and contributes to building stronger communities and a happier society.
Create a healthy work-life balance. Dedicate time to activities and relationships that bring happiness, joy, and fulfillment that is outside of your career or business. Disconnecting from work-related stressors during leisure time is vital to finding that balance.
Remember, happiness is subjective and can vary from person to person. It’s essential to find what works best for you and create a life that aligns with your values and brings you joy and contentment as you pursue happiness.
