Happiness in a person's life
“I wish you happiness,” we read on greeting cards. But what is happiness? For centuries people have been trying to find the answer. The problem is studied by philosophers, theologians and psychologists. But there is no clear answer that would suit everyone. How many people there are, so many options for happiness. For one, this is material well-being, a home is a full cup, confidence in the future, for another, family, children, a loving and beloved husband/wife, for a third, the opportunity to engage in creativity, to embody their talents and abilities, for a fourth, inner peace, state of balance... Let's try to look for the answer to the eternal question in different sources. Maybe we can do it.
So, the formula for happiness
...from Socrates
The great ancient Greek philosopher believed that happiness is the highest good, the most important thing in life, what you need to strive for. However, neither health, nor wealth, nor beauty, nor pleasure are identical to happiness. They do not exist in isolation from morality. Only a moral person is happy, because happiness presupposes a prudent, virtuous existence.
...from Aristotle
The outstanding ancient thinker also did not separate happiness (bliss) and morality. He believed that the path to happiness lies through virtuous actions. And he has five components of the formula for happiness: moral and intellectual self-improvement, health, material well-being, friendship and active citizenship.
...from Epicurus
The ancient thinker Epicurus did not see the possibility of knowing happiness in love and family. In his opinion, which, by the way, he did not impose on anyone, love can interfere with the achievement of true, not illusory, happiness, and a wise person will never waste time on such an unwholesome activity as love. Achieving wisdom and friendship, detachment from society and the state, living in accordance with one’s desires and at the same time observing moral laws, peace in the soul and the absence of suffering - these are the components of the formula for happiness.
...from the Cynics
According to the teachings of the Cynics, happiness is getting rid of passions, abandoning the imaginary values of society, family and material well-being, spiritual freedom, a calm and independent life with minimal needs.
...from the Stoics
The Stoics believed that happiness is inner peace and freedom from passions. Having gotten rid of the desire for pleasure and fear, a person experiences happiness. Good leads to happiness, and evil leads to its opposite. To be happy, you need to be virtuous. And virtue is a correct understanding of the essence of things, which leads to harmony, that is, to happiness. It does not depend on external events and influences; happiness is a person’s internal state, the result of working on oneself.
...from the thinkers of the Middle Ages
If in the ancient world man was the measure of everything, and in order to know the world, one had to know oneself, then in the Middle Ages the worldview changed dramatically, including the concept of happiness. Since the goal of life became the knowledge of God, happiness was now seen in the pursuit of the Ideal, which is the Lord, in serving Him. To be happy, you need to give up ordinary earthly life, get rid of desires and passions.
...from the thinkers of the Renaissance
During the Renaissance, the question was interpreted in a new way: “is man great or insignificant?” Great, and his happiness was seen in the harmony between the physical and spiritual. To become happy, you need to improve your body and soul.
...from Lev Landau
The great physicist Lev Landau imagined happiness as a combination of three conditions: work, love, communication. As we can see, he put his favorite job and passion for his work in first place. “Love is poetry and the sun of life” - Landau was shocked by these words of Belinsky. His ideal man is a knight, a Don Juan, a conqueror of ladies' hearts, devoting a third of his life to love affairs. And, finally, communication - he fully embodied this part of the formula. Communication with colleagues, among whom were many outstanding scientists, with students, correspondence with many people - all this brought joy and a feeling of fullness of life.
...from positive psychology
Psychologists offer the following formula for happiness:
Happiness = deep satisfaction with life + maximum positive emotions + minimum negative emotions.
Interestingly, positive emotions are associated with happiness in the moment, and deep satisfaction with life is associated with happiness in the long term. Happiness is not the events that happen to us, it is our perception of ourselves and the world around us.
Know how to make a decision
Learn to make decisions and take responsibility for them. Sometimes it’s so hard to decide to take some step, for example, change jobs, start building new relationships after a previous failure, learn a new profession. But, you are an adult and capable of much, be firm, do something, but do not stand still in thought and confusion.
Two paths to happiness
Modern psychologists believe that two paths lead us to happiness: one is connected with events in the external world, the second is with our inner sense of self. When we build a house, buy a car, travel, make a career, achieve success, we follow the first path. By doing all of the above, we experience happiness, but it does not last long. After some time, achievements become habitual, and we need a new portion of pleasure. So you can spend your whole life chasing happiness, now experiencing it, now cooling down again, and in the end you understand that things are not capable of bringing true happiness.
The second path helps you find happiness in your soul. This is a very deep and complex experience that is associated with achieving inner peace, harmony and balance. This inner state gives a feeling of quiet joy from simple things, from every day, from the fact that we exist.
So, true happiness is the balance of the first and second, the balance between the external and internal world, the successful manifestation of oneself in life and the achievement of internal harmony. And this is also the joy that lives in our hearts.
Keep an eye on your appearance
A person will not feel truly happy if he stops paying attention to his appearance. Being unkempt doesn't look good on anyone. It is not known who you will meet today, when, for example, you go to throw out the garbage, but what if this turns out to be your fate? The man or woman of your dreams? Oh, will you look like a slob in their eyes? Try to review your wardrobe, think about what you can improve in your appearance, what you can adjust to look more attractive.
15 psychological tricks that work on most people
Sources of Joy
Psychologists classify them according to several criteria: unworthy, short-term, long-term external and long-term internal. Let's see where we can get handfuls of joy to feel happy.
Unworthy Sources of Joy
They are so named because they contribute to the manifestation of base human qualities and aspirations. Gossip, discuss others, slander, intrigue, spy on, deceive... Agree, these actions can bring pleasure, but you have to pay for them, and sometimes a considerable price.
Short-term sources of joy
Graduation party, entering college, defending a diploma or dissertation, winning a competition, a salary increase, New Year or birthday, buying an apartment or a car... These events make you happy, but not for long. A day or a month passes, the feeling of intense joy dulls, and you need to set new goals for yourself and wait for the next holidays.
Long-term external sources of joy
A favorite activity that constantly brings joy, good relationships with loved ones (friends, parents, spouses), sports, hobbies... These sources do not dry up if we invest strength, energy and feelings in relationships and in what we do.
Long-lasting Inner Sources of Joy
Self-esteem (approval of one’s qualities, abilities and actions). Without this we cannot be happy. Everyone needs to know why they can respect and love themselves. Sources of psychic energy. First of all, this is meditation and creative activities, which, on the one hand, feed us with mental energy, and on the other, give us a feeling of peace and balance. Feelings - love, gratitude, sympathy, devotion help to know true, lasting happiness. It is not for nothing that the inability to love is considered almost a punishment from God.
Faith
Faith in God, in goodness, in one’s own destiny is a very powerful force. When a person feels the presence of the Higher Powers in his life, feels Their protection, his soul is filled with joy, happiness, and awareness of his inexhaustible possibilities.
Service
Altruism, lack of selfishness, the desire to give rather than take is an eternal source of deep satisfaction. It’s not without reason that they say: the hand of the giver never fails and what you sow is what you reap. Whoever gives his strength, time, emotions, receives a hundred times more in return.
Explore the world
Start traveling, leave your home at least once or twice a year and go explore the world. Someone will skeptically note that this requires a lot of money and not everyone has such an opportunity. But, you can choose travel to the best of your ability, go on an excursion by bus to neighboring cities. You can start saving for a vacation to the sea a year in advance, think about a part-time job to make your dreams come true. Anything is possible if a person really strives for it.
Biochemistry of happiness
Thanks to scientific research, we have learned that happiness is not just some kind of spiritual substance, but also a very specific, material one. The experience of intense joy, great happiness, and a feeling of deep satisfaction is possible as a result of the release of special substances into the blood - the so-called hormones of happiness: endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. Moreover, they act differently. Endorphins produced by the pituitary gland are responsible for a short-term state of euphoria. Serotonin, a brain neurotransmitter produced in the pineal gland, causes long-term feelings of satisfaction. And dopamine, a neurotransmitter produced by the brain, adrenal glands and even the kidneys, gives a feeling of joy and pleasure from a job well done - be it a project delivered on time, good sex or a delicious lunch.
If our hormonal system works actively enough, then we not only feel happy, but also healthy, strong, and purposeful. If apathy, powerlessness and lack of will suddenly fall, or even depression, it means that there has been a malfunction in our biochemical “kitchen”. The cause of which can be chronic fatigue, constant stress, viral, inflammatory or hormonal diseases and even improper upbringing.
Do you really need changes?
And these changes will help answer the question: “How can I find happiness?”
The technique is as follows: take paper and pen, make up questions and answer them honestly. “If I quit, what will it give me?”, “Why do I need this?”, “Which of my needs will be satisfied?”, “Do I really want this?”, “What other way can I satisfy my need?” ? etc. When a new desire appears, we act in the same way: we sit down and write. After your honest answers, you will definitely understand whether you need this desire in order to become happy or not, you will understand that many desires are imposed on us by society. Fulfillment of your true desire will definitely bring you happiness.
Happiness is in our hands
If we know what the stable functioning of the endocrine system and, accordingly, high levels of certain hormones in the body depend on, then nothing prevents us from keeping our happiness under control. This is what, according to experts, can provoke a constant release of endorphins into the blood.
Nutrition
Foods such as bananas, bell peppers, potatoes, rice, hard cheese, ice cream, chocolate, and nuts increase the production of happiness hormones.
Way of thinking
Think positively, learn to enjoy simple things, maintain a positive attitude, and your hormonal system will work smoothly. Meditation, affirmations, and prayer will help change your attitude towards the world and yourself.
Sport
They say that the release of endorphins occurs at the 30th minute of running, or swimming, or fast walking. Engage in physical activity regularly, and the “happiness” system will work like clockwork.
Sex
But not just sex, but sex with orgasm. At the same time, a powerful release of endorphins occurs.
New impressions
Visiting the theater, watching movies, reading, traveling, walking - everything that is interesting contributes to the increased production of happiness hormones.
Acupuncture
To do this, it is not at all necessary to contact acupuncturists. It is enough to buy a Kuznetsov or Lyapko applicator and regularly lie on the thorns. Within twenty minutes, morphine-like substances - endorphins - will begin to enter the blood.
Sunbathing
Why is the memory of a hot summer always accompanied by pleasant sensations throughout the body? Because ultraviolet radiation enhances the synthesis of the corresponding hormones.
music and dancing
Beautiful melodies and dance moves also help in achieving a blissful state.
Well, now, having analyzed a lot of sources, we at least know which direction to move in order to exclaim more often: “Oh, God, how happy I am!”
How to become a happy person, brief tips:
- Don't wait for approval from others - do what you think is necessary and useful.
- Stop being angry with those who are offended. Anger destroys a person from the inside.
- Accept yourself and your body. Only conscious love will truly make you happy.
- Find a good environment. Loyal, cheerful, successful friends – that’s what’s valuable.
- Don't look for a perfect life, but do everything to improve it.
- Don’t rely on anyone, but trust the advice of your loved ones.
- Find a note of positivity in every day and learn to sincerely enjoy it.
“Live here and now” - is there anything else worth adding?
- Don’t bring back bad memories from the past, but think more often about the good ones.
- Avoid negativity and whining people, do not give in to their whining.
- Stop being jealous and set yourself up to achieve personal success in your endeavors.
- Get rid of uncertainty. Every day, set your life on a positive wave, ride it, imagining that this is the best surfing and moment of the day.
Is it difficult to be happy and easy to be unhappy? - not at all. Paths, solutions, happiness - there are in every situation, in every day. You just have to become more attentive and notice the little concerns from loved ones, pleasant words addressed to you. The world is very diverse and multifaceted. Know yourself, learn from your mistakes, taste life every second, enjoy the moment, and you will certainly become the happiest on this planet.
