The Pursuit Of Happiness!
The Declaration of Independence proclaimed that humans have certain unalienable rights, and among them are “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Of these rights, pursuing happiness is “big and daunting,” according to Stephanie Harrison, founder of The New Happy, an organization advancing a new philosophy of happiness.
“Sometimes, it can feel difficult to know where to start, especially when American culture and conventional wisdom tends to get it so wrong most of the time,” Harrison wrote in an article for CNBC’s “Make It.”
Harrison considers herself a happiness expert. She has spent 10 years researching the science of happiness and writing her book, New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That’s Got It Wrong, in which she reveals secrets to happiness.
According to Harrison, society tells us that achieving fame, wealth, and power—and doing it all on our own—will bring us happiness. Harrison calls this “Old Happy”—our society’s “false definition of happiness,” which she says is making us miserable. But Harrison claims there are simple yet powerful steps backed by research that people can take to experience happiness today. She added that the more we practice these steps, the more instinctive they will become.
Harrison gives five small steps that if taken every day, can transform our day and us, as well.
1. Share Your Feelings With Others
Research suggests that expressing your emotions to someone you trust is much better than suppressing them. For instance, sharing good news with someone close to you might make you happier and give that person an opportunity to feel the same way. Likewise, having someone by your side when you’re in distress can lessen the severity of your pain.
2. Focus on the next step more than the end goal
Pursuing meaningful goals is essential for living a happy life. However, you may put off taking the next step of achieving your goals if they seem too difficult. Remind yourself that you don’t have to accomplish your goals all at once; focus on taking a small step toward your goal each day. Harrison suggests setting a timer and saying to yourself, “For the next 10 minutes, I’m going to take a step that moves me toward my goals.” For instance, if your goal is to start your own business, come up with names for your business or products you could use until the timer goes off. Every step you take and every bit of progress you notice can significantly keep your hope alive and help maintain your motivation.
3. Perform an act of kindness
If there’s one way that is guaranteed to make you feel better, it’s helping other people. Acts of kindness improve not only your emotional well-being but also your physical health. Studies have found that practicing kindness can lower your blood pressure and cortisol, a hormone that regulates the body’s response to stress. Harrison suggests thinking of someone in your life who is struggling and what you can do to help that person. It could be something as easy as sending a text message or putting more effort into it by spending more time with that person.
4. Ask for help when you need it
Harrison said that our society values independence, which is why we are taught early on that we must do everything on our own. Consequently, we might think that asking for help means failing or giving up. But Harrison believes asking for help only means you are determined to advance, improve, and grow. When you’re struggling, Harrison recommends thinking about who has already accomplished what you’re trying to achieve and what type of support you need. Then, reach out and ask for help. She said that we probably do not realize how much other people want to help us. Just think about it: by asking for help, you’re also giving someone else an opportunity to feel happiness, according to Harrison.
5. Notice the good that’s around you
Focusing on what we do not have instead of what we do have is a common result of our brains’ negativity bias and the way our “Old Happy” culture has conditioned us, Harrison said. Studies show that we are more content when we focus on what we do have. So, Harrison recommends asking yourself, “What’s going right, right now?”
“There’s a lot to be thankful for: a helpful colleague, a chat with a good friend, a delicious meal, or a beautiful sunset,” Harrison wrote. “You just have to pause and notice it.”
Source Links:
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/29/little-things-to-do-daily-to-be-happier-happiness-researcher.html
https://www.thenewhappy.com/book
