#happiness

#happiness

Many stressed-out people are attracted to eastern meditation, believing that it will give them relief from their "monkey mind" and lower their anxiety about life. Unfortunately, the monkey usually wins because people find the mental focus required for meditation devilishly hard. On a trip last year to India, I asked a Buddhist teacher why Westerners struggle so much with the practice. "You won't get the benefit from meditation," he said, "as long as you are meditating to get the benefit."

Two millennia ago, Aristotle distinguished between a life lived in pursuit of pleasure, which brings temporary satisfaction, and a life lived according to reason, virtue, and the pursuit of goals, which leads to true happiness. Therapeutic approaches of today tend to agree with Aristotle that fleeting pleasures aren't enough to make us happy and that a subjective sense of well-being stems largely from the way we live our lives.

At some point in our lives, most of us have been told to "put on a happy face" or "fake it 'til you make it." But it may be detrimental to pretend to be happy when you're not. The more people value happiness, the more unhappy they are A 2024 study by Zerwas, et al. surveyed 1,800 people about their level of happiness and their desire to be happy.

When faced with a difficult problem - and how to spend money in a way that will improve your life certainly is - it can help to work backward, reducing and excluding what doesn't work until what's left over is a decent approximation of favorable traits. Evolution works in similar ways, so thoroughly destroying what doesn't work that what's left over tends to work quite well.

I've often written on this blog about the complicated connection between money, purpose, and happiness. Some studies suggest that income relates to happiness up to a point, but the most enduring research tells a different story. The Harvard Adult Development Study, which has tracked participants for over 80 years, concludes that personal connections-not money-are the true key to fulfillment. Still, the question remains: Can we spend our way to happiness?

Humans are social animals, and psychological studies repeatedly show that people are, on average, happier when they engage in a shared activity with another person compared to doing it alone. However, most of these studies focused on only one or a few activities. Thus, it is unclear whether all daily activities are better when conducted with another person or whether there might be specific activities that people enjoy more when being alone than when being with another person.

You're happy, but do you feel that your life has purpose? Or, do you feel you know where you're headed in life, but just aren't that happy? These two questions sum up the gist of the debate in the positive psychology field about whether, and how much, happiness and sense of purpose in life relate to each other. There's more than academic interest in this question.

There may not be a recipe for happiness, but there is definitely a meal plan. The 2025 World Happiness Report shares a special ingredient for happiness that transcends age, gender, country, culture, and location. The secret? Sharing a meal with another person. Sharing meals is a universal social ritual practiced daily by millions of people. It is uniquely comparable across countries and cultures, between individuals, and over time.

Happiness is really all about the business of life. Your life is like a startup business, and you should manage it as such. You're the founder, and you need to be able to take risks and know what the currency is of the fortune you're trying to accumulate. The Happiness Files shows how to become more successful in getting what you truly want by seeing your life in this way.

Becoming rich also seems to be quite easy, but not quite as achievable as being happy. One has to be very gullible to really believe it possible to earn lots of money by working from home a couple of hours a day, as some promise, or even become a millionaire by simply ridding oneself of the constraints of self-doubt, as others claim.

Choosing kindness is a practical strategy for building self-worth and creating a genuinely happier life.

During the pandemic, when we were both working from home, my husband and I started having a daily 'tea-and-toast break' when our schedules accommodated. It provides a few minutes each day when we talk, laugh, sit in the garden, or otherwise relax and enjoy each other's company.

Arthur Brooks, known for his diverse career and friendships with prominent figures, faces personal happiness challenges which inspire his studies on the topic.

Friluftsliv, meaning 'open-air life,' is a Norwegian concept that emphasizes joy and meaning found in nature, leading to happiness among Norwegians.

Gretchen Rubin's newsletters, including "5 Things Making Me Happy," "5 Things To Try This Month," and "5 Things Not To Miss," have attracted over 1.3 million subscribers, providing insights and practical tips.

These days I have completed one of the most beautiful works of my life.

Just five minutes a day performing 'micro-acts of joy' that foster positive emotions is enough to banish stress, boost health and improve sleep quality, psychologists discovered.

Sydney’s doubts reflect a deeper issue of recognition and value within the culinary world, particularly for those in supportive yet often overlooked roles, like her own.

Too many women live in a joy deficit because we've been taught that happiness is something we'll earn later. True joy comes from relationships.

The couple prefers nothing more than a quiet night in, showcasing that the simple things bring them joy, contrasting with their glamorous public persona.

Happiness in simplicity can be achieved with a flexible mindset and nine hours sleep each night.

Making friends is like learning to play a piano—the more hours you put in, the better you get. This analogy illustrates the necessary investment in time and effort to cultivate meaningful connections.

"I mean, you gotta bust it. I think that goes without saying, especially, you're trying to set the tone for the team. You're considered a team leader when you're making that kind of money and you're that kind of player."

The individual in this state is confused and, even worse, terrified. Whereas joy once felt within reach, anhedonia diminishes one's sense of agency.

Money can't buy happiness, but strong relationships can. And having those ties can bring better health.

Experiencing and processing difficult emotions significantly increases life satisfaction, indicating that resilience plays a crucial role in our capacity for joy.

In a recent study, many Americans feel they require an unrealistically high income for financial security, yet true satisfaction comes from deeper, non-material pursuits.

Life is never perfect, but it sure is a lot more enjoyable and fun when we love, enjoy, and fully experience the present moments.

"Happiness is a subjective term; universal truths that spark bliss include access to healthcare, education, green spaces and a supportive community, with varying impacts across cities."