Many people would like a tangible, objective metric of happiness. This metric could make it possible for a country to compare itself to others in terms of the quality of life experienced.
Happiness is a state of contentment, peace, joy, or fulfillment. This view departs from hedonism in that it doesn’t associate happiness exclusively with pleasure experience.
1. It’s a good feeling
Happiness isn’t as easy to study as other emotions, like anger or sadness. But research is revealing surprising things about it, especially the fact that happy people tend to feel good, too.
One theory argues that happiness is a feeling of contentment and well-being that results from achieving or maintaining life goals. That theory differs from hedonism, which links pleasure to happiness.
Another theory identifies happiness with a variety of feelings, including spiritual growth, material prosperity, and healthy relationships. It also includes feelings of self-esteem, confidence, and accomplishment. Pursuing goals that give you these feelings can increase your happiness, although this approach assumes basic access to safety and social equality. It also requires work to make them a regular part of your life. These goals might include managing your mindset, calming your mind, and building strong relationships.
2. It saves you money
Whether you use it to pay for a house cleaner, lawn service or even food delivery, research shows that spending money on time-saving services can help you feel happier than splurging on things. Additionally, when you spend money on experiences – such as going out with friends or taking a road trip to reunite with college buddies – it increases happiness.
The key is to make saving money a part of your routine by setting up a separate savings account and moving any leftovers into it as soon as you get paid. This will help you build a buffer for the unexpected and feel more confident and capable as a result.
3. It reduces the risk of evaporation
Your tank needs to be full of the right kind of fuel. This means stretching your mind each day to learn new things, not vegging out on the news or Netflix binges. Find at least one thing to do each day to grow your knowledge, like reading a book or learning to play an instrument.
Your fish also need to be well fed with high-quality flakes or pellets to have a happy and healthy life. They should eat small amounts frequently throughout the day to avoid overfeeding, which can lead to water quality issues. Look for signs of happiness in your fish, such as breeding behavior or bright and active colors.
Stress in your fish can indicate problems, such as poor tank conditions or aggressive tank mates. Try to reduce stress by addressing the root cause of the problem, doing regular water changes, and rearranging decorations to provide more hiding spaces.
5. It’s safe
Happiness is a safe feeling because it protects you from the negative outcomes of low mood, such as suicide, poor health and lower life expectancy. It also protects you from threats, whether physical or psychological, such as a bad job or toxic people. Not surprisingly, safety is one of the top factors for life satisfaction in surveys. The world’s happiest countries tend to have generous social safety nets and pro-worker labor market regulations. They also have a free press and democracy.