How To Be Happy: The Current Consensus on Happiness
This article draws from thousands of real-life stories as well as beloved non-fiction works to reveal the consensus on how to be happy. Understanding this consensus may light a spark and help you to uncover greater happiness in your own life.
Relishing Simple Moments
Happiness is sometimes found in the simplest of moments. It may be a solitary moment in nature or a shared moment with loved ones. These simple moments are characterized by distraction from the pressures and anxieties of daily life.
As a child, on Fall Sundays and even now when I visit home in autumn, my parents would let in fresh air and bake pumpkin or cinnamon treats.
Camping during a rainy trip and enjoying the peaceful moments.
I cherish the present moment when my kids are enjoying playing Mario games with me and my wife.
It's about living in the moment and appreciating the smallest things. Surrounding yourself with the things that inspire you and letting go of the obsessions that want to take over your mind.
Perhaps because it creates such a moment, the act of giving gifts can brighten the days of both the giver and the recipient.
The Joy of Giving Gifts
Giving personalized gifts creates a special and often memorable moment wherein relationships are recognized and celebrated.
I gave my younger sister a Chromebook for her birthday after she saved up $50 for a laptop since summer.
My mom surprised me with a Formula 1 racing game as a gift, which we played a lot and it created a cherished memory.
Gave my mother multiple gifts, she still enjoys using my DIY pencil holder, tie, and piggy bank.
It is not happiness that makes us grateful. It is gratefulness that makes us happy.
Sports and physical activities, like gifts, enable a focus on the present and a similar celebration of community.
Thriving Through Sports
Whether overcoming obstacles as a hiker or offering support to athletes dedicated to their craft, sports and physical activities are ways that you can stay happy in the moment.
Conquering a small mountain after a sedentary lifestyle made me feel strong and capable.
Winning my first swimming competition revealed a hidden passion for improvement within me.
Last week, my 3 1/2 year-old daughter scored a goal in her soccer game and joyfully shared the moment with us by giving high fives.
Studies have found that American teenagers are two and half times more likely to experience elevated enjoyment when engaged in a hobby than when watching TV, and three times more likely when playing a sport.
Physical and athletic challenges are not the only opportunities for us to overcome challenges. A critical factor in how to make yourself happy is the accomplishment of personal goals.
Triumph Over Challenges
Triumphing over challenges enriches our lives in ways that help us to stay happy and positive.
I prepared my rural home for a storm that caused a power outage and isolation. Despite my initial concerns, I managed to stay comfortable by using resources wisely and keeping positive.
My happiest memory was when our daughter finally received the help she needed after being diagnosed with ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder following years of struggle to find answers.
I recently failed a college class, but instead of being devastated, I focused on moving forward and improving. I've been working on this mindset shift for years and it's finally paying off.
Achieving goals by themselves will never make us happy in the long term; it's who you become, as you overcome the obstacles necessary to achieve your goals, that can give you the deepest and most long-lasting sense of fulfillment.
One immediate way to find happiness is to engage with nature, which can be as simple as a visit to a local park.
Finding Joy in Nature
In being surrounded by natural sights and sounds, many people find peace of mind and happiness for a time.
I saw a beautiful sunset that brought immense joy and reminded me of life's wonders.
Enjoyed swimming in a picturesque river, feeling completely relaxed and content while experiencing local fruits, floating on a tire tube, swimming under a waterfall, and observing fish swim nearby.
Standing in the empty African savannah and feeling the tall grass with my fingertips.
I am alarmed when it happens that I have walked a mile into the woods bodily, without getting there in spirit.
Central to answering the question of how to be happy with what you have is to recognize and celebrate the relationships that you value in life.
The Value of Time with Loved Ones
Moments shared with friends and family are not only an immediate way find happiness but can create cherished memories that will help you stay happy.
One summer night as a child, warm rain fell from the sky covering our farm with balloons released from a wedding, creating a joyful moment of catching balloons with my siblings.
I cherish the time with my family on Sunday mornings where we bond and make memories together.
Our wedding day was simple and intimate, held at a historic rented home with only close family members invited.
One of the reasons for the high level of happiness in Denmark is the good work–life balance, which allows people to make time for family and friends.
Experiencing adventures as a family is a uniquely enjoyable way to spend time with loved ones.
The Joy of Family Adventures
Family adventures often lead to some of the most memorable and deeply treasured moments of happiness.
One of my best memories is canoeing with my brother and dog to explore an island on the lake, although we never ventured far into the thick woods.
I had a memorable family outing to a hunting club in South Carolina low country where I admired the beautiful scenery.
Visiting castle ruins with family was a memorable experience due to the freedom to explore the ruins in good weather with very few people around.
If you are accustomed to working 50 weeks per year, the tendency, even after creating the mobility to take extended trips, will be to go nuts and see 10 countries in 14 days and end up a wreck. It’s like taking a starving dog to an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Among life's unforgettable moments, the birth of a child stands out as a way to find happiness in the present and look forward to a future filled with more.
Welcoming New Life
Welcoming a new life often marks one of the most significant moments in our own lives, sometimes even redefining what matters to us.
The first time I held my son was when I discovered my true purpose in life.
She is only five months old, but I made her laugh a lot tonight.
My son's first smile brought me joy.
Having worked so hard to have children, parents may feel it's only natural to expect happiness from the experience. And they'll find happiness of course, but not necessarily continuously, and not always in the forms they might expect.
However, parenthood is just one of many experiences, milestones for some, that can help you to find happiness.
Celebrating Life's Milestones
Whether it's marriage or celebrating academic accomplishments, reaching what you consider a milestone in life is a significant way to make yourself happy.
Buying my house made me realize I was headed in the right direction and had left my self-destructive habits in the past.
Scoring full marks in my first primary school math exam was unbelievable.
My band had a successful first show in a crowded barn at college.
Growth is happiness. Truly. Having something to work toward gives us purpose. Achieving new milestones, even little ones, gives us a sense of accomplishment and pride.
It may not be surprising to learn that our beloved pets are a source of happiness for many people, and they can even help you to be happy when depressed.
The Emotional Benefits of Pets
Pets offer companionship and emotional support, and in some cases, provide people with a unique way to be happy alone.
A German Shepherd puppy helped me through tough times and is now my loyal companion.
Getting my puppy brought light into my life during a dark time and saved me, for which I'm grateful.
Getting my cat on my birthday was a turning point in my life. My mental health was poor, and my brother's gift of a baby orange tabby kitten gave me hope and a reason to live.
People and their pets connect via shared brain structures that predate the development of the human frontal cortex with its apparatus of language and rationality. Animals and humans interact from their respective limbic systems, the brain’s emotional parts. Unlike people, animals are acutely sensitive to messages from the limbic brain—both their own and that of their owners.
Conclusion
What makes people happy varies from person to person, but the consensus on how to be happy reveals some clues. While relationships are major factors, there are also many ways that you can find happiness on your own. Wherever you live, there's probably an opportunity to find yourself in Nature right away. As explained at the beginning of this article, seeking out Simple Moments is another way to be happy.
Still, it's clear that relationships are a big piece of the happiness puzzle. In our next article, we’ll look into Making Friends As An Adult.
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