Should we pursue happiness?
We live with a ministry of ill health when what we need is a ministry of health. For a long time, mental health intervention has focused on symptoms (aka the stuff we want to get rid of). Why shouldn’t we focus on happiness (aka the stuff we want)?!
Yes, we need support in reducing pain and distress, this is a given. But that’s not all we need. There’s space for positive movement toward a good life which isn’t being looked after so well. This is where positive psychology comes in. This could be a whole new shift that the world needs. Meaning, flourishing, living a good life. Even amidst tough times.
People feel more in control when they’re equipped with tools to boost resilience and positivity. People who feel well themselves are more productive, altruistic and less aggressive. Looking after our happiness creates a snowball effect whereby we’re much more likely to pass happiness onto others. When in a state of good wellbeing, we’re much more likely to reach out to the world and offer help. We need it. The world needs it.
A deliberate pursuit of our own happiness so that we can help others too may well be the best way to spend our energy and time. It may well be our most useful life purpose. We all have the power to make a difference. Many of us just don’t pause for long enough while we’re running the life-race to what we think is making us happy.
Did you know that optimists are healthier, have less cardiovascular disease and live up to 8 years longer?!
Governments are finally spending money on measuring wellbeing. This should be a basic need that is met for everyone, everywhere. Is it realistic to move away from GDP (measuring “success” in monetary terms) and toward GDH (gross domestic happiness)? A focus on meaning and values, things that don’t change day by day.
It’s not only about feeling good, but the development of people’s potential and contributing to communities - the greater good. By doing one small thing each day, we’ll all contribute to GDH and be a part of betting human and planet wellbeing.
Should wellbeing training be prioritised? People struggle when they haven’t had the opportunity to learn how to best help themselves and others. A key feature of wellbeing training is resilience, equipping people with the cognitive skills to understand, manage and deal with adversity more effectively, using powerful inner resources.
To learn what resilience is and how to generate it when we most need it is crucial for getting through life’s ups and downs without falling too far into stress pits. Organisations such as the military are recognising this and rolling out wellbeing and resilience training for people across all levels. It’s no longer seen as a “nice to have” or solely for those who are struggling.
Life throws many things our way, whether it’s in our personal or work lives and there’s no avoiding that (aside from living under a rock, never going anywhere, doing anything or speaking to anyone!) There’s no denying that life can be difficult sometimes. But for the most part, we have more control over our wellbeing than we think we do and often there’s a mindset or perspective shift that’s required to start the ball rolling toward a more healthy existence. In short, it’s nicer and more fun to focus on generating more happiness, than it is to focus on all the tricky parts when they don’t need any further attention.
So… should we pursue happiness?
#happiness #positivity #positivepsychology #wellbeing #health