I am reading a book from the Harvard Business Review on the latest research on happiness. I like it because, in addition to knowing the newest findings in neuroscience, it invites me to reflect (and questioning ourselves is extremely important).
We think that being happy means being with a smile all the time, in a good mood ... in short, happy. But this is not the case, being happy and leading a full life consists in being able to assume the bad and good experiences that touch us, and in learning to reformulate the bad. We are happier when we do not think about achieving happiness, when we do not pursue it, when we enjoy the present moment because we are committed to a project that excites us, working to achieve a goal or helping someone who needs us. We associate happiness with a person who does not have great problems ... but in reality happy is that human being who learns to handle what stresses him (because we all have things that stress us) with more resilience through training, just as we train ourselves to achieve those 10k. Happiness is the ability to resurface from suffering, not the absence of it.
Do you want to feel satisfied in the short, medium and long term? The psychologist Seligman collects five essential elements to achieve it:
- Commitment: Commit to a task or project that is rewarding for you. When we are absorbed in something that motivates us ... how time flies!
- Positive relationships: worry about establishing positive relationships. That day to day does not leave you time to have a drink with your friends, talk to your partner or share a meal with coworkers outside the office.
- Achievements: To feel important life satisfaction we must strive to improve ourselves. Don't think "that's how I was born, and that's how I'll stay" "at this age what are we going to change" and a long etc .; There is always something you can improve and that is in your hands.
- Meaning: it means putting ourselves at the service of a cause greater than ourselves. Whether it's religious beliefs, volunteering… but we all need our lives to have meaning beyond ourselves.
- Positive emotions: look for what makes you feel at peace. Be grateful. Forgives. He loves and loves. Have hope.
Don't look for happiness the wrong way. Discovering what makes us happy and engaging in these activities on a regular basis will lead to a more satisfying life.
Maria Jose Ortega
Health Psychologist