Happiness in mental health, includes positive emotions such as joy, peace, a sense of involvement and enthusiasm in life [4]. Many psychologists believe that there are at least three fundamental elements of happiness, including emotional, social and cognitive conceptions.
Positive psychology — considered the science of happiness — makes a distinction between happiness and authentic happiness (well-being). The theory suggests that happiness can be described as three distinct elements chosen for their own sakes: positive emotion, engagement, and meaning.
Research using the five-factor model found that extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and low neuroticism are typically associated with positive well-being and happiness [92, 93, 94, 95, 96].
The Big Four Happiness Factors. Researchers have explored populations around the globe and it turns out that the four qualities that bring satisfaction and peace are pretty similar no matter where your McMansion or Tiny House is built. The Big Four are friendliness, cheerfulness, compassion, and gratitude.
The Three Keys to Happiness
Scientists have found that the three things that make people most happy are PLEASURE (doing things you enjoy), ENGAGEMENT (feeling interested in your activities and connected to others), and MEANING (feeling like what you do matters).
Diener identifies five factors that contribute to happiness: social relationships, temperament/adaptation, money, society and culture, and positive thinking styles.
The sub-bars in the alternate version of Figure 2.1 show the estimated extent to which each of the six factors (levels of GDP, life expectancy, generosity, social support, freedom, and corruption) is estimated to contribute to making life evaluations higher in each country than in Dystopia.
Many psychologists have devoted their careers to answering this question and in short, the answer is yes. Happiness can be measured by these three factors: the presence of positive emotions, the absence of negative emotions, and life satisfaction (Ryan & Deci, 2001).
According to many researchers, strong social relationships are the most important contributor to enduring happiness for most people. Those who are happiest generally devote a great amount of time to their family, friends, and colleagues. They nurture and enjoy those relationships.
Signs of Happiness
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.
Dr. Seligmen identified 5 Pillars of Happiness: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishments.
Smile when you mean it: Even if you're not feeling very high-spirited, cultivating a happy thought – and then smiling about it – could raise your happiness levels and make you more productive. It is important to be genuine with your smile.
Some of us will measure happiness as being hedonia (pleasure). But that is a temporary, fickle, and unreliable thing. Others will measure happiness as eudaimonic. They will frame it within a meaningful life, or as a life done well.
Researchers have used behaviors to estimate happiness. Behaviors such as frequency of smiling, laughing, and helping others have been examined.
You can find true happiness by taking the time to appreciate the good in your life, spreading kindness, and learning to live in the present. If you need help with this, consider using the Do Happy App. It's a great tool that can help you focus on the positive and do things every day that make you happy.
Happiness Law #1: Own It
Rather than pursuing happiness (as though it's out there somewhere), SIMPLY DECIDE TO BE HAPPY. Aristotle apparently put it this way: “Happiness depends on ourselves.” Depends on who? Ourselves!
The 5x5 rule states that if you come across an issue take a moment to think whether or not it will matter in 5 years. If it won't, don't spend more than 5 minutes stressing out about it. When your problems need to be put into perspective, the 5x5 rule is a good thing to remember.
True happiness is happiness inside you. True happiness is enjoying your own company and living in peace and harmony with your body, mind and soul. True happiness is state of mind constantly being in love with yourself. For being truly happy you neither need other people nor materialistic things.
Psychological wellbeing
People who practice self-compassion (a positive and caring attitude towards themselves in the face of failures and individual shortcomings) and gratitude (a state of thankfulness) may be happier, she said.