Are you happy?
Today’s Washington Post has an interesting piece on happiness. It talks about last week’s AP-Ffk poll that showed that 78 % of Americans rate themselves are “very happy” or “somewhat happy.” This is a fairly high percentage- considering the current financial state of our union, two wars, and an increasing political and ideological divide among our citizens. Therefore, the question becomes, “Where does happiness come from, and what factors weigh most heavily in contributing or detracting from it?” This is a question that philosophers have been asking for thousands of years- and the answer remains elusive and mostly subjective.
Since the pursuit of happiness is the ultimate goal for all of us, the New Year is a great time for each of us to think about where we fall on the happiness scale- and what lifestyle changes or additions we could consider that could help us raise our happiness quotient in 2010. When you are reflecting on this consider factors such as stress, social supports, job satisfaction, intimate relationships (friends, family, and partner), use of leisure time, activity level, diet, and inner life (spiritual/emotional).
Approaching your resolutions in this way will help you to come up with a list that reflects what you really want and need- not what you think you should want and need. The best way to set resolutions that you don’t follow through on or forget about by February, is to set yourself up to make changes that you have no real interest or investment in.
Let 2010 be the year you will pursue greater happiness- following whatever paths hold the most promise for you. They may feel the scariest at first, but taking calculated risks is something that all successful people credit for their success.
Happy Holidays!