Contrary to what you might think, it's not career achievement, money, exercise, or a healthy diet. The most consistent finding we've learned through 85 years of study is: Positive relationships keep us happier, healthier, and help us live longer. Period.
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).
As The Harvard Gazette summed it up: Close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives… Those ties protect people from life's discontents, help to delay mental and physical decline, and are better predictors of long and happy lives than social class, IQ, or even genes.
Good relationships are one of the best ways to enjoy happiness, health, and well-being. Developing certain emotional skills can help us form and keep good relationships. When we are there for the people in our lives — and when they're there for us — we are more resilient, resourceful, and successful.
The Big Four are friendliness, cheerfulness, compassion, and gratitude. Let's break these down. The old saying about people who have “never met a stranger” describes people who meet the world with a happy temperament and an openness to new people—regardless of who may be standing in their way that day.
The book is broken up into seven pillars of happiness: meaning, truth, strategy, love, body, mind and trust. Within each section, there are testimonials and references to literature, as well as practical suggestions, which teach you how to become happier.
Frugality is one of the most important habits of growing wealth. Bargaining, and not getting tempted by the latest car or phone are some of the practical examples of frugality. Minimalism in lifestyle is important to preserve your cash reserve.
You might decide to pay all your bills once or twice a month, with a few days' buffer before due dates. Getting in the habit of paying bills on time will prevent late fees and improve your credit rating. And a good credit rating can save you money in the form of a lower interest rate when you apply for a loan.
Simple activities like watching sports with a friend, having a soak in the bath, or meeting up with friends for coffee can all improve your day. Doing something you're good at, such as cooking or dancing, is a good way to enjoy yourself and have a sense of achievement.
In the Six Pathways to Happiness, Xiankuan integrates Western psychology with ancient Buddhist wisdom. He presents six pathways: calming the mind, cultivating clear insight, improving loving-kindness and compassion, deepening concentration, maturing our wisdom, and being of benefit to all beings.
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.
Happiness. He believed that there were 3 ingredients to happiness. Friends, Freedom, and an Analyzed life. He also believed that we needed to be self sufficient in our lives to procure happiness.
One of the most important characteristics of rich people is that they are risk-averse – but they think big. The ultra-wealthy want to take as little risk as possible for as great a reward as possible. The average person thinks small. They'll risk a dollar to make 10 cents.
