According to Dr. Tal Ben Shahar from Harvard University and one of the leading exponents of Positive Psychology, Happiness can be described as "a total experience of pleasure and meaning." This ranges from enjoying the simplest acts of pleasure such as savoring an ice cream, to developing our talent and potential and finding fulfillment in the acts we perform with a deeper meaning, and that allow us to instill a purpose in our lives.
Happiness is not a destination, it is a state of optimal functioning that we can learn to seek. Being happy in the present can contribute to increasing our chances of success in our personal, professional and family life. There are 3 different ways to be happy, the difference is in the "duration" of happiness that each one causes us:
The Pleasant Life
At this level of happiness we enjoy the purest and simplest, allowing us to "savor" the best things and the best moments of our lives; learning to get positive emotions can brighten our days, help us improve our health, our quality of life and that of those around us. This way of being happy is also known as the “treadmill effect” - while you are in it you are fine, but when you get off the fun ends. The happiness that small pleasures and joys provide us, although important, is also ephemeral and lasts only as long as the circumstances that provoke them last.
Life with Goals and Commitment
This second way of living invites us to develop our potential by applying our talents and strengths, so that in this way we can “flow” and achieve our maximum performance in the projects that we consciously choose. Personal growth and the development of our skills give us the satisfaction that comes with a sense of achievement and success. Doing what we love fills us with energy, however, and although the happiness experienced through these resources is more lasting than that of pleasures, it is not yet a level where we reach the fullness and elevation that actions offer us. of personal significance.
Life with Meaning and Purpose
On the third level we find the opportunity to give purpose and meaning to our life. It is a level where we can reach our self-realization as adults to achieve transcending by building a positive legacy in life. By establishing the mission and purpose of our life, we can channel our actions and decisions to contribute to the world that is within our reach and really find the most lasting type of happiness; same that will be enriched in the years that we have to come.
Some questions to establish the purpose of your life are:
- Why and by whom would I like to be remembered? What do I want to leave as a legacy? What achievements and personal strengths do I want others to see from me? Am I living my life today so that I can achieve what I want to achieve as a legacy at the end of my life?
Sources:
- "Happiness: The Three Traditional Theories" - Dr. Seligman (Founder of Positive Psychology) University of Pennsylvania, USA. "Happier" -Tal Ben Shahar. "Positive Psychology: a Practical Guide" - Bridget Grenville-Cleave.
