Happiness: What it is and How to Be Happy Again

Life used to be so much simpler, and happiness was easy to come by.

However, with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it's challenging to slow down and find time to relax and enjoy life.

Despite our best efforts to stay positive, happiness sometimes seems like an elusive goal out of reach. Does it sound familiar?

If you've been experiencing negative emotions, you're not alone.

Fortunately, overall bliss can be cultivated and regained with the right attitude and effort.

This blog post will explore what happiness is and how to achieve it!

Defining happiness

"What do you want for your child?" Of course, one of the most popular answers is: "I want them to be happy "! 

But what is precisely happiness?

Happiness is a state of well-being and contentment. It is a positive emotion that results from achieving our goals and living in alignment with our values.

When we are happy, we feel good about ourselves and our lives.

We are also more likely to have better self-esteem, be optimistic, and be successful.

Feeling happy is not just an emotion; it is also a choice.

We can focus on the positive aspects of our lives and take actions to lead to greater happiness. It depends on us.

Types of Happiness

There are different sorts of happiness, but these are the three main ones: pleasure, engagement, and meaning, according to philosophers and psychologists.

• Pleasure, or hedonic well-being, is the most basic form of happiness and includes eating your favorite food or buying a new car. These are more "temporary" kinds of joy.

• Engagement refers to being fully absorbed in an activity and losing track of time, such as reading a good book or playing with your children.

• Meaning, also known as eudaimonic well-being, comes from having a sense of purpose and belongingness, such as making a difference in your community or raising a family. This type of happiness is usually related to longer-term effects.

Each type of happiness is essential; finding ways to experience all three is the key to a joyful and fulfilling life.

The Benefits of Happiness

The greatest thinkers have written about it for centuries. There's a reason it's been such a popular topic of conversation.

For one, happiness contributes to our physical health.

According to a study by UCLA and the University of North Carolina, people with high contentment levels from having a deep sense of meaning (eudaimonic) showed favorable gene-expression profiles in their immune cells. 

They had low levels of inflammatory genes and strong expression of antiviral and antibody genes.

An experiment conducted with 350 adults assessed the correlation between happiness and susceptibility to getting the common cold.

After five days in quarantine, the participants who felt the most positive emotions were less likely to have developed a cold.

Happiness also has a massive impact on our mental health.

Research shows a significant relationship between psychological health, happiness, and quality of life. 

Recent study findings suggest that improved life satisfaction and enjoyment significantly prevent and manage depression.

How can you figure out what makes you happy (and unhappy)?

How to have a happiness boost? It seems like such trivial questions, but to find happiness is something that often requires self-exploration.

Exploring and discovering your passions, values, and interests is essential to a joyful life.

Think about activities and events that bring you glee and make a list of them.

For example, observe your routine and take notes whenever you feel happy or fulfilled.

It can be from spending quality time with friends, reading a book, or when you are at work.

By the way, when thinking about what makes you happy, focus on the present moment because how we experience and perceive happiness changes over time.

And remember, living a happier life doesn't have to come from a particular source or person.

Likewise, it's essential to recognize what brings you negative feelings.

For example, do you feel frustrated at work? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of motherhood? Are you feeling unhappy in your relationship? Do you have unpleasant feelings when you compare yourself with others?

Again, identifying where the happiness has been taken away is vital, as planning how to restore it.

Working on a list of all the emotions that make you happy and those that bring you down can be beneficial. This will help you to determine how to fulfill those needs.

When you figure out what is holding you back from experiencing good feelings, it's time to take action.

You may not be able to avoid the negative things altogether, but you can take steps to make them easier to manage.

At the same time, you can work to improve happiness by engaging in activities that bring you pleasure and meaning.

So, how to be happy again?

Once you have identified what brings constructive or adverse outcomes to your life, the next step is implementing happiness-enhancing activities.

Take time to think about prioritizing happiness in your daily life, and start by making small, achievable goals.

Then, set realistic expectations for yourself and take it one step at a time.

According to experts, there are several things you can do to be a happier person. Here are some tips:

1) Get regular exercise

Having healthy habits and being physically active is a must to achieve a positive outcome. 

Exercise releases endorphins, dopamine, adrenaline, and endocannabinoid. These are all brain chemicals associated with feeling happy. 

A survey in 24 countries showed that young adults with moderate or high physical activity had higher life satisfaction and happiness.

2) Spend time with loved ones.

80-year-old extensive research from Harvard has shown that close relationships keep people happy more than money or fame. 

"Good relationships don't just protect our bodies; they protect our brains," said Robert Waldinger, director of the study, a psychiatrist, and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Therefore, spending quality time with family and friends, or even just having people in your life who you can talk to and trust is essential if you want to experience contentment.

3) Find a new hobby or activity that brings you joy.

Doing things you enjoy is one of the best ways to positively impact your happiness.

It can be anything from cooking, gardening, playing sports, or volunteering in the community.

It can also foster connection, which increases your chance of making good friends.

Getting out of our comfort zone and trying something new might be challenging. Yet, after the initial resistance, it can be pretty rewarding.

4) Practice gratitude

Being fully aware of the good in your life can help you focus on the positive and take your mind off bickering negative thoughts.

Start by writing down in a gratitude journal or saying out loud every day three positive things that make you happy.

Most importantly, be grateful for what you have and how far you have come.

Then, gradually eliminate bad habits like constantly wishing for more or blaming others for everything.

5) Practice acts of kindness

Helping others has been shown to boost happiness levels.

Like exercising, being kind can also improve oxytocin and dopamine and increase serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood.

When you start being less self-centered and focus on the well-being of those around you, happiness will return to you.

6) Stop comparing yourself with others.

When we compare ourselves to others, we tend to focus on how we fall short.

We compare our looks, accomplishments, possessions, and so forth.

Doing so can create a sense of envy, resentment, and self-loathing.

As a result, your mental health decreases, and it's not uncommon to feel depressed.

In contrast, focusing on our unique qualities and strengths makes us more confident and content.

We also become more motivated to improve ourselves rather than simply trying to keep up with others.

How to Cultivate Happiness

The adage is true: Happiness comes from within. 

While our circumstances affect how happy we are, psychologists have found that 50% of our happiness is determined by our genes and only 10% by our events. 

That means that 40% of our happiness is within our power to change! 

So, what can you do to ensure you will make the most of it?

Defeat your Negative Thoughts

Human beings tend to ruminate about an idea or situation out of their control.

Thinking about a distressful event that happened in the past.

Or continually worrying about a situation you can't change are examples of repetitive thoughts that can interfere with your life. 

Furthermore, obsessive thinking is commonly associated with developing mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety.

While it's perfectly normal to have unhelpful thoughts occasionally, the chances of feeling sad are massive if you often dwell on your gloomy thoughts.

Instead, focus on the things you can change and think of yourself as a friend.

What advice would you give your old friends if they told you all the things bothering them which are out of their control?

Once, I learned a precious lesson from a licensed clinical psychologist on how to fight my anxieties. She used a technique called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

This process helps you identify and change negative thoughts into more helpful and adaptive responses.

When you learn to recognize the triggers and how to cope with your feelings, you'll likely be able to deal with the issue more effectively. 

Find an Intrinsic Goal

Intrinsic motivation is something you do for its own sake without external rewards.

Folks might pursue a deep-seated objective because they enjoy the challenge or find it personally gratifying. 

Working as a volunteer or enhancing a skill you excel at are great examples of intrinsic goals.

Intrinsic goals are often associated with positive emotions like happiness, pride, and satisfaction.

There are many benefits of pursuing intrinsic goals:

• First, they can lead to a more enjoyable and fulfilling life.

• Second, it can help you develop a stronger sense of self-identity.

• Finally, they can provide a sense of purpose and meaning.

In addition, when you have a more profound sense of purpose, you're more likely to bounce back in the face of adversity. 

You're also more likely to experience a sense of flow, which is a state of peak performance and enjoyment.

 Appreciate what you have and enjoy the moment.

Once we understand our role in the world, it becomes easier to appreciate what we have and enjoy the moment.

However, that journey to self-discovery can be long and winding for many of us.

According to psychologists, there are several things we can do to learn to appreciate what we have and enjoy the moment.

First, it is crucial to be mindful of our blessings.

By taking time each day to reflect on what we are thankful for, we can train our brains to focus on the positive aspects of our lives instead of chewing over what we don't or can't have.

Finally, psychologists advise that we should genuinely savor life's joys by truly appreciating them. 

Whether it is a day out with your family or a milestone your son achieved, slowing down and appreciating the experience can help us live in the moment and enjoy all life offers.

By thinking about what we have instead of what we want, we can train our brains to be happy and appreciative. And that is a goal worth pursuing.

Be kind to yourself.

Finally, remember to practice self-care!

Sadly, we live in a society that demands perfection from us. And when we don't achieve expectations, we often feel beaten and overwhelmed.

We're constantly comparing ourselves, and somehow, we think the grass is always greener on the other side.

It's easy to show empathy or understanding to others. Still, unfortunately, it can be challenging to show ourselves the same love and care.

The research found that people who develop a sense of self-compassion are less likely to criticize themselves or feel depressed and anxious.

Consequently, it can be a powerful tool to help you become happy again.

Hence, it's time to learn to accept your flaws.

Then, give yourself permission to let go of all the worries, take a break for a few hours, find time to practice mindfulness, and develop a compassionate attitude towards yourself.

Final thoughts

The bottom line is that happiness is good for you.

It makes you healthier, both physically and mentally. It lengthens your life and makes you more productive.

What's not to love? So how do we go about cultivating happiness in our own lives?

First and foremost, it's important to remember that happiness is a practice. You have to work at it.

Like anything else worth having in life, it takes effort and commitment.

But the good news is the more you do it, the easier it becomes. And pretty soon, it will be a part of who you are.

Oprah Winfrey once said, "The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." 

So start celebrating your life today and see how it positively affects your happiness levels!