We cannot easily describe happiness, but with the help of bright and vibrant researchers of happiness, we can explore meaningful happiness. The how’s and why’s of happiness are complex until they are experienced. At the same time meaningful experiences that bring you happiness are so amazingly gratifying, the experiences are nearly impossible to describe. Hundreds of words have been ascribed to the emotions of the experience and the feelings that linger because of it.
We cannot easily describe happiness, but we can look at decades of work done by Martin Seligman and his of esteemed colleagues to better understand the elements of happiness. In the early 2000’s, their ground-breaking research delved into human well-being to understand the range and dimensions of human goodness and how to improve the human experience.
" The things that underpin our mental and physical well-being are what makes us flourish as human beings and these are also the key to contentment and happiness."
Well-being is often defined as being synonymous with positive mental health, a combination of feeling good and functioning well. They refer to “enhancing well-being” as flourishing. Via the science of flourishing they are able to identify strategies (tools, practices, methodologies) which will help people attain a more gratifying happy life. Through the Science of Flourishing it is safe say that you can learn how to be happy.
When you are flourishing, you think more clearly and perform better because you are tuned into your core desires and character strengths. People want to work with you and learn from you. You are more fun to be around. When you are flourishing every experience presents meaningful knowledge, insight and something you can be excited about.
The science of flourishing stresses that you understand two things well before you implement any strategy to amp up your happiness: Your happiness is bound in both:
A. The Five Elements of Happiness – positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment.
Through the science of flourishing we learn that all human beings long for and instinctively desire five universal, timeless elements that are at the root of sincere happiness. They are the most gratifying and meaningful aspects of living and best for your well-being to flourish. You might say happiness is like seed within you. For that seed to flourish you must cultivate these five elements of your well-being.
B. Using Your Signature Character Strengths, as these are defined by the science.
The science of flourishing defines twenty-four character strengths. These strengths are the positive human traits that are the essence of your character and at the heart of your everyday life. You possess all 24 character strengths in varying degrees. More importantly, you have a one-of-a-kind “character strengths profile” with four to six signature strengths that rank higher and matter most to your authenticity. Unwrap and enhance all 24 character strengths to bring out the best in you. Apply your signature strengths daily. Once developed your character strengths will serve you for your lifetime in elevating the elements of flourishing that you cultivate.
In theory, most of us know we should be prepared for anything, but the reality is we can sometimes feel woefully ill-equipped to handle all the curve-balls life throws our way. Sometimes it is difficult to be a grownup! We sometimes forget to use our signature strengths and our most important skills.
In unwrapping your happiness these skills should not be taken for granted:
View these skills as your mighty muscles. They matter most to your well-being. It is vital to develop and exercise these muscles because they are valuable, regardless of the industry you work in or situation that confronts you. Two of these skills, curiosity and courage, are also character strengths which are valuable life skills at the heart of life. One might consider both survival skills for the 21st Century.
Your ability to flex any one of those muscles allows you to grow wiser and stronger from any situation, to transform it into an opportunity or something momentous to savour. You can count on these muscles to discriminate between right and wrong, find the strength to do what is difficult without giving in to impulses, maintain a positive attitude, and above all believe in yourself and your strengths and abilities – all meaningful to flourishing as an individual.
Once developed your character strengths and skills will serve you for your lifetime in shoring up your internal resources to have them help you in elevating the elements of flourishing.
The long-form resource entitled “Amp Up Your Happiness” delves into the finer points of the Science of Flourishing and gives you the tools and strategies you need to learn how to be happy. Excerpted from this resource, we offer other break-through articles to give you an understanding that it is not about what happens that leads to flourishing, it’s much more about what you make of your character strengths and skills.
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Because your happiness
is worth unwrapping…
