The 10 Proven Habits of the Happiest People In The World
Martin Seligman, the father of positive psychology, theorizes that 60
percent of happiness is determined by our genetics and environment and the
remaining 40 percent is how we choose to respond.
In
his TED talk, he summarized fulfillment and happiness as “consisting of knowing
what your highest strengths are and using them to belong to, and in the service
of, something larger than you are.”
There
are dozens of researchers like Seligman who have studied the art and science of
happiness. I’ve dived into the most interesting habits of the
happiest people in
the world and decided to share them with you here.
1. They enjoy the moment
It
turns out that taking the time to “smell the roses” truly does enhance
happiness in life. When you enjoy the small moments- good or bad- you’re more
aware of what’s happening around you.
The
happiest people focus on what they can control and it’s possible to choose
happiness in the moment, no matter the struggles you may be going through.
2. They have a growth mindset
In
the book Mindset, Carol Dweck explains that the most successful and
happy people have
what she calls a “growth mindset” compared to a “fixed mindset.” A fixed
mindset seeks success as affirmation of intelligence or worth; a growth mindset
thrives on challenge and sees failure not as evidence of unintelligence or
unworthiness but as a catalyst for growth and stretching beyond existing
abilities.
After
twenty years of research, Dweck concluded that those with
a growth mindset had happier relationships, achieved more success in the
classroom, and were much more persistent through challenges.
3. They surround themselves
with other happy people
As
Jim Rohn once said, “You are the average of the five people around you.”
Who
we surround ourselves with has a huge impact on how we think, feel, and what
direction we head in life. It may sound harsh, but cutting out the negative
people in your life is necessary if you want to be happier.
You
won’t have to confront them personally about this; it could just mean spending
less time with them gradually so you can focus on improving yourself.
4. They have a dream
Without
a future to look towards, the past is the only thing we can look back on.
Whether
your dream is to travel the world, start your own business, or learn a new language, having a dream is
one of the most important things in remaining optimistic when things get tough.
This
concept of having a purpose is especially prevalent in Eastern Asia. In Japan,
there’s an actual term called ‘ikigai’, which is translated as “the reason
you wake up in the morning.” When some of the happiest and longest-living
people were studied, they all had such a reason.
5. They can wait
The
bigger the dream you have, the more patience you have to practice.
Happy
people are willing to wait for the rewards and focus on the journey, how far
they’ve come, and what’s ahead for them.
They
understand that the best things in life come to those who are patient and can
stick it out for the long run, whether that’s a job promotion, relationship, or
a new skill they’re
learning.
6. They schedule “me” time
into their day
Saying
“yes” to everything puts you on the fast track to being miserable.
Giving
is important, but if that means taking up “your” time to relax, wind down,
and learn new things, then you’ll have
nothing to give over time.
You
can’t always be agreeable; that’s how people take advantage of you. You have to
set clear boundaries.
7. They spend money on
experiences- not material things
That
car that you just bought diminished in value the moment you drove it off the
lot, but experiences are memories that will stay with you for the rest of your
life.
The
happiest people would rather go on a backpacking trip around Asia instead of
buying a flat-screen TV that they’ll seldom use. According to Marc and Angel:
“Experiential purchases tend
to make us happier for two key reasons: 1. Great experiences improve over time
when we reminisce about them. 2. Experiences are often social events that
get us out of our house and interacting with people we care about.”
8. They give more than they
take
Since
happy people live in a world of abundance where there’s always more
opportunities to be had, more money to be made, and more love to share, they’re
always giving when they can.
From
raising money for a charity they care about, offering a dollar to a talented
artist playing in the subway, to giving their precious time to mentor a mentee,
they’re always giving.
As
ironic as it may sound, happy people understand that this will actually make
them happier in the end.
9. They embrace discomfort
According to
psychologist Peter Kramer, resilience is the opposite of depression. Happy people
know how to bounce back
from failure.
Resilience is a padding for the inevitable hardship human beings are bound to
face. As the Japanese proverb goes, “Fall seven times and stand up eight.”
Struggle
is the evidence of progress, and happy people live by this. Why? The rewards
of becoming great at a skill far outweigh the pain
they have to endure in the process.
10. They are always learning
Despite
his ASL, Stephen Hawking has made prominent scientific discoveries. What is
more, he has found the words to tell the world about his findings.
Like
Hawking, the happiest people all have one thing in common. They are lifelong
learners, constantly reading new books, exploring other cultures,learning new
languages,
etc. It is an ongoing process because without growth there’s no life.
http://www.lifehack.org/411983/the-10-proven-habits-of-the-happiest-people-in-the-world?ref=mail&mtype=daily_newsletter&mid=20160707_customized&uid=687414&email=drmsriram%40yahoo.com&action=click
No comments:
Post a Comment