“‘Thank you Ray for being a big part of my happier future!’”
What is hAPPINESS?
Happiness is something that people seek to find; yet what defines happiness can vary from one person to the next. Typically, happiness is an emotional state characterized by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfilment. While happiness has many different definitions, it is often described as involving positive emotions and life satisfaction.
Some key signs of happiness include:
Feeling like you are living the life you wanted
Going with the flow and a willingness to take life as it comes
Feeling that the conditions of your life are good
Enjoying positive, healthy relationships with other people
Feeling that you have accomplished (or will accomplish) what you want in life
Feeling satisfied with your life
Feeling positive more than negative
Being open to new ideas and experiences
Practicing self-care and treating yourself with kindness and compassion
Experiencing gratitude
Feeling that you are living life with a sense of meaning and purpose
Wanting to share your happiness and joy with others
Why is happiness so important?
Happiness has been shown to predict positive outcomes in many different areas of life including mental well-being, physical health, and overall longevity:
Positive emotions increase satisfaction with life
Happiness helps people build stronger coping skills and emotional resources
Positive emotions are linked to better health and longevity. One study found that people who experienced more positive emotions than negative ones were more likely to have survived over a 13 year period
Positive feelings increase resilience. Resilience helps people better manage stress and bounce back better when faced with setbacks. For example, one study found that happier people tend to have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and that these benefits tend to persist over time
People who report having a positive state of well-being are more likely to engage in healthy behaviours such as eating fruits and vegetables and engaging in regular physical exercise
Being happy may make help you get sick less often. Happier mental states are linked to increased immunity