Like a gas tank, happiness is something that needs to be kept full. It takes time and effort to fill it up, but it feels good to have a full tank.
Psychologists have figured out that the things we think matter for happiness, like money or wealth or job satisfaction, often do not.
1. Taking care of yourself
It is important to remember that happiness is a state of mind, and there are many things you can do to cultivate it. This can include spending time with friends, volunteering, exercising, and even laughing (especially at yourself!). It is also important to make sure you get enough sleep and eat healthy foods.
Taking care of yourself can be difficult, especially when you’re trying to focus on those around you. But it is crucial to put your own oxygen mask on before you can take care of anyone else.
Happiness is a state of being, which includes life satisfaction, subjective well-being, flourishing and eudaimonia. While some people will argue that these factors do not fully explain happiness, there are ways to increase your level of happiness. For example, it is helpful to surround yourself with people who are different from you, exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet and meditate. You should also try to find a way to spend some of your money on experiences rather than material possessions.
2. Taking care of others
The hedonic theory of happiness focuses on pleasure, but there are other theories that focus on more than just the experience of pleasant feelings. The eudaimonic theories of happiness focus on virtue and meaning in life, such as fulfilling responsibilities, investing in long-term goals, caring for other people, and living up to one’s personal ideals.
The hybrid theories of happiness combines the hedonic and eudaimonic approaches by focusing on both the positive experiences and the overall satisfaction that a person has with his or her life. This approach has some appeal, but it also faces some objections from hedonists and emotional state theorists.
Some of these objections are about ways in which a happy person would seem to lead an impoverished or stunted life, such as by accepting oppressive conditions, or by counting blades of grass. Other objections involve a belief that happiness is not an intrinsic good, but that it is simply the byproduct of other important pursuits.