Now, ask your friends, family, partners, colleagues, or acquaintances. Do you think their answer will be the same? Not likely. This is because everyone has a different way of interpreting happiness.

These beliefs will determine the experience of happiness itself, whether they enable or inhibit it. Thus, it is necessary to be aware of how you think about happiness and whether it could be beneficial or detrimental for you.

This article will explore how various conceptions of happiness shape your experience, and how you can intentionally redefine the beliefs to support greater happiness and well-being. Take a look at your beliefs and consider ways to harness them in your journey toward happiness.

Conceptions of happiness

To gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts on happiness, research on lay conceptions of happiness may offer some insights.

In this study involving Korean and Canadian samples, conceptions of happiness refer to the beliefs about the nature, value, antecedents, and outcomes of happiness. The primary finding of this study is that these conceptions of happiness are significantly associated with an individual’s overall happiness and well-being.

The researcher noted that the following conceptions of happiness seem to improve happiness and well-being:

• Valuing happiness. The belief regarding the value of happiness is that it is crucial to obtain and maintain (e.g., “It is important for me to feel happy“).
• Eudaimonism. The belief about the nature of happiness and how it extends beyond the mere absence of negative feelings and the presence of enjoyment and happy feelings. Instead, it consists of self-actualization, meaningful pursuits, and a profound understanding of life’s meaning (e.g., “I believe happiness is having a sense of purpose in life“). 
• Transformative suffering. The belief that revolves around the nature and consequences of unhappiness is that suffering is a part of well-being and should be embraced, as it can sometimes be positive and lead to personal transformation (e.g., “Sometimes sadness can lead us to happiness“). 
• Inclusive happiness. The belief concerning the nature of happiness, on how it depends on others’ happiness and well-being. This includes other people’s, animals’, and the environment (e.g., “To be happy, others around me should be happy as well“).

Negative conceptions of happiness

But while there are conceptions of happiness that could cultivate its experience, some beliefs do not generate a similar output.

Recognizing these beliefs is necessary because they could hinder you in your journey toward happiness. Below are conceptions of happiness that are associated with less happiness and well-being:

• Fear of happiness. The belief regarding the value and consequences of happiness on how it will cause negative things to occur (e.g., “Bad things can happen from having too much fun“).
• Fragility of happiness. The belief concerning the nature of happiness, on how it is fleeting and can easily turn into less favorable states, making it difficult to sustain (e.g., “Happiness can be lost at any time“).
• Externality of happiness. The belief about the nature of happiness is that it is primarily determined by external factors instead of one’s control (e.g., “Happiness is beyond my control“).
• Inflexibility of happiness. The belief related to the nature of happiness, on how its levels are fixed and unchangeable (e.g., “Some people have a happy personality, some people don’t. So, people can’t change how happy they are“).

In short, some ways of understanding happiness are more effective at nurturing happiness and well-being, while others are less than ideal in this regard. 

How to shape what you think about happiness

Based on the findings of the study, it can be inferred that cultivating happiness and well-being involves fostering certain beliefs while regulating or reframing others.

Here are some tips for you to do so:

Reflect your current beliefs

Now that you have gained the insights regarding the categories of happiness-related beliefs, take a moment to reflect on your own beliefs. This can be beneficial because it helps you identify the beliefs that are contributing to your happiness and the ones that hinder it. 

To do so, grab a piece of paper and jot down the answers for the following prompts:

• For me, the definition of happiness is …
• What are the things that made me experience happiness?
• Aside from quick pleasure and comfort, what are the other things that cause me to experience happiness?
• Compared to other things in my life, how important is happiness for me?
• Should unhappiness and difficulties be avoided at all costs?
• Aside from myself, do I think connection with others, animals, or the environment helps me experience happiness?
• Does happiness depend on my external circumstances?
• Is happiness temporary or permanent? 
• Do I ever hold back from happiness because I believe that something bad will happen after?
• Do I believe my “happiness set point” is fixed, or that I can grow happier over time?

Once finished, you now have a written form of the beliefs you have about happiness. Congratulations on taking this first step! With this awareness, you now have the power to determine which beliefs should be adjusted, released, and nurtured.

Read more: Why You Should Have Many Different Definitions of Happiness

Normalize and explore the roots of your beliefs

After identifying the conceptions of happiness that you held, you may notice that you have some beliefs that are associated with less happiness. That is totally okay! You are not the only one who develops these beliefs. Everyone has their own unhelpful beliefs at some point in their life. 

So, remind yourself that having less-than-ideal beliefs about happiness is a regular part of the human experience. What matters is that you are now aware of the beliefs you should reframe in your journey toward happiness and well-being.

What you can do right now is to explore the origins of these beliefs. Most beliefs about happiness don’t appear out of nowhere. It could be from your childhood experiences, cultural and religious teachings, or any other factors. 

For example, some people avoid happiness because they come from a culture that believes expressing happiness can anger a supernatural deity.

To do so, revisit the list of beliefs you have generated before. For each of those beliefs, answer the following prompts:

• Where did I first internalize this belief?
• Has holding this belief served a purpose for me in the past?
• Does having this belief serve a purpose for me right now?
• Do I still agree with this belief?

Doing this practice could help you trace back the origins of your beliefs and reflect on whether they still reflect your values today, especially after understanding that some beliefs could inhibit and enable one’s happiness. 

By looking back on its origin, you have now given yourself the space to consciously decide on what to do with those beliefs.

Reflect the impacts and reframe the beliefs

Now that you have the idea of what beliefs you had and where they came from, you should connect how they’ve affected your life. This would help provide the evidence on why various conceptions of happiness could be truly beneficial and detrimental to your happiness and well-being.

In addition to that, it could give you the motivation to reframe the beliefs that could inhibit you from happiness. You can do this through the ABCDE model, which was proposed by Martin Seligman, an American psychologist and the author of “Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life.” 

With the ABCDE Model, you can assess the impact of your beliefs and develop a strategy for moving forward by reframing them.  The steps are as follows:

1. Adversity (A). Identify and describe the adverse event or situation you are facing that inhibits you from experiencing happiness.
2. Belief (B). Recognize the beliefs or thoughts that arise in response to adversity. You could connect this with the previously mentioned conceptions of happiness that are related to less happiness and well-being.
3. Consequences (C). Observe and record the emotional and behavioral outcomes resulting from holding these beliefs.
4. Disputation (D). Challenge and dispute the beliefs using the following techniques:
   1. Evidence. Provide evidence that contradicts the negative belief.
   2. Alternative explanations. Consider alternative reasons or explanations for the event.
   3. Usefulness. Assess whether the belief is useful or helpful.
   4. Implications. Evaluate the implications of the belief and its accuracy.
5. Energization (E). Note the shift in your psychological state after disputing the beliefs. You should also record how this change affects the way you perceive happiness.

In conclusion 

Think about the time before you read this article. Back then, did you take the time to reflect on the beliefs you have about happiness? Were you aware of certain beliefs that held you back from happiness?

Right now, you are a newer version of yourself. You now know that specific ideas about happiness may make or break your experience of happiness itself. 

With the knowledge of the previously mentioned conceptions of happiness, you may now recognize which beliefs to embrace, which to reframe, and the practical steps to move forward.

As you move forward on your journey toward happiness, nurture the beliefs that uplift you and transform those that hold you back.

If you want to see more resources on happiness, check out the Happiness Science Labs. The lab uses the research of the Institute for Life Management Science to produce courses, certifications, podcasts, videos, and other tools. Visit the Happiness Science Labs today.

Photo by Freepik

The post How You Think About Happiness Matters; Here’s How to Use It appeared first on Insights.

For some, it may be financial abundance. For others, it may be starting a family. Maybe you’re happy right now, reading this article, as you sip a simple cup of coffee. There is no “one-size-fits-all” definition for happiness.

This article will explore how happiness is seen differently across cultures and disciplines. Hopefully, this will help you build a foundational understanding of what happiness is and aid you in embracing different definitions of happiness on your journey towards it. 

By widening your perspective, you will be more equipped to challenge your limiting beliefs about happiness and discover new ways to foster happiness in your life. So, open your mind to these perspectives and discover how these could resonate with you and your journey towards happiness.

Exploring the different definitions of happiness

To understand what happiness is, the first step you can take is to learn more about the different definitions of happiness. Below are the various perspectives on the meaning of happiness:

Dictionary

The dictionary definition of happiness in the dictionary could provide the historical background of this often-used term.

The Online Etymology Dictionary noted how the word “happy” appeared in the late 14th century. The word was initially considered as an adjective that means “lucky, favored by fortune, being in advantageous circumstances, prosperous.” This shows that back then, happiness was largely linked to chance or luck.

By the 1590s, the meaning of “happiness” had evolved into a “pleasant and contented mental state.” The meaning has shifted, beginning as a term rooted in external fortune, to one’s internal state.

In a modern sense, the Oxford English Dictionary has provided various definitions of the word “happiness”, which are as follows:

• “The quality or condition of being happy.”
• “Good fortune or good luck in life generally or in a particular affair; success, prosperity. Now rare.” 
• “An instance or cause of good fortune. Frequently in the plural (in later use often as part of a stylized formula for wishing good fortune).”
• “The state of pleasurable contentment of mind; deep pleasure in or contentment with one’s circumstances.” 
• “An instance or source of pleasure or contentment.”
• “Successful or felicitous aptitude, fitness, suitability, or appropriateness; felicity. Also: an instance of this. Now rare.”

This shows that even in the dictionary, the word “happiness” has varied meanings, from external good fortune to the internal emotional state of contentment and joy, and everything in between. 

From this, you’ll see how the meaning of happiness evolved over time and how it shapes the way people perceive happiness today. This could serve as a reminder that, indeed, luck can contribute to your happiness, but you can also reclaim happiness as something within your control.

Philosophy

The question of what happiness truly means has been wrestled with by many philosophers for centuries. Each offers unique perspectives shaped by their own cultural, ethical, and metaphysical views on what it means to truly live a happy life.

Learning more about these perspectives can be beneficial, as it challenges you to reflect more deeply on your values and the kind of happiness you believe deserves to be pursued.

Below are some of those philosophers and the way they interpret happiness, which is elaborated in a chapter from “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Utility: Happiness in Philosophical and Economic Thought” by Anthony and Charles Kenny:

Aristotle

Aristotle is one of the earliest philosophers to question what happiness is. He argued that happiness (eudaimonia) is the supreme good that provides meaning and measures the value of all human endeavors.

He asserted that a truly happy person lives virtuously, appreciates pleasures in moderation, and places the highest value on contemplation.

Epicurus

Epicurus explains happiness as pleasure, but highlights that not all pleasures are equal. He favors simple pleasures and a modest life that is more focused on sobriety, justice, and friendship. Thus, he argued that luxuries and sensual excess are not necessary for true happiness.

In short, happiness, according to him, lies in the freedom from pain and the satisfaction from simple and natural desires.

Stoics

From the perspective of the Stoics, virtue is considered the sole source of happiness. This means that they see happiness as self-sufficient and immune to external influences. 

However, their perspective illustrates happiness as unrealistic because it ignores the frailty and vulnerability of human life. 

Economy

As cliché as the “money can’t buy happiness” sounds, the saying is actually true. In his paper, Richard Easterlin asserted that, indeed, rich people tend to be happier than the poor. However, he also asserted that richer countries are not necessarily happier than poorer ones. This shows that an increase in national income does not necessarily lead to happier societies.

From this, he emphasized that economic welfare is not the mere measure of happiness. Instead, it is also measured in the broader aspect of life that extends beyond the material domain (e.g., health, family, sense of purpose, etc). 

In a world that often equates happiness with profits, this perspective can remind you that money alone can’t be the sole source of your happiness. Understanding this could remind you that the goal is to be happier, not wealthier.

Cross-cultural perspective

People worldwide have diverse ideas about what constitutes true happiness. A group of researchers conducted a study examining the global definition of happiness.

From the 30 countries they analyzed, they found that 24 of them defined happiness as being associated with good luck and favorable external conditions. Furthermore, they also noted that people with this perspective feel less in control of their happiness and make fewer intentional efforts to seek it. 

Interestingly, the study also found that the presence of this fortune-based definition was linked to the nation’s distance from the equator, specifically to the countries farther from the equator. They argued that the harsher climates (which influence one’s need for external fortune) in these countries could explain why they see happiness as something dependent on luck and fortune.

On the contrary, people who viewed happiness as an internal and achievable feeling tend to be happier than the previous group. This may be because, in cultures that view happiness as a goal, people make choices based on what they believe will bring them happiness. 

So, what’s the point of learning all this?

This insight could remind you that where you are in this world, along with other external factors, could play a part in shaping your happiness. However, it is also important to take ownership of your happiness. 

Psychology

In his review article, Diener elaborated that the perspective of psychology defines happiness through three lenses:

• Normative definition. In this perspective, happiness is viewed as dependent on external standards such as virtue, morality, or success.
• Subjective evaluations. This approach views happiness as an individual’s assessment of life in relation to their personal standard.
• Emotional experience. Within this perspective, happiness is viewed as experiencing more positive emotions than negative ones.

This illustrates that the term ‘happiness’ is ambiguous. Hence, Diener introduced the term “Subjective Well-Being” (SWB). SWB is an individual’s general evaluation of life that comprises three components: Positive Affect, Negative Affect, and Life Satisfaction.

The emotional components of SWB are the Positive and Negative Affect. Positive Affect is the experience of pleasant emotions, such as joy, love, and serenity. On the other hand, Negative Affect refers to the experience of unpleasant feelings, such as sadness, anger, and anxiety. 

Life satisfaction is considered to be the cognitive component of SWB. It is one’s global cognitive judgment of one’s life. Individual evaluations are very subjective in generating this judgment. This is due to various factors in one’s life circumstances and priorities. This is why people have different ideas on defining happiness.

This is particularly helpful, considering the ambiguity and philosophical variability in defining happiness. Understanding this could help you get a clearer picture of what happiness comprises in general and the areas you should attend to in order to foster it.

By understanding the components, you can begin to reflect on what can help you achieve emotional well-being and increase your overall life satisfaction.

Read more: What ‘Life Satisfaction’ Truly Means

How to cultivate a multi-dimensional approach to happiness

From each discipline and perspective, you can see how subjective and multi-interpretative happiness is. However, each shows a certain understanding of what happiness is and the many ways to find it. Thereby, you should understand that there’s not only one road to happiness.

Here are some ways you could find and cultivate happiness from many sources of life:

Practice cultural and philosophical openness

Firstly, it is important to note that there are no bad interpretations of happiness. Instead, every perspective could enrich your knowledge regarding many ways to find happiness.

Therefore, do not solely focus on one notion of what happiness is. Try to be open to understanding and seek these many forms of happiness. 

Reflect on your happiness

Once you understand what happiness is, try reflecting on the sources of happiness in your life. Some exercises could help individuals reflect on their happiness. Here is one of the ways to do so:

• List things that make you happy. Recall and write down the things and instances that bring you happiness.
• Use prompts. To find out what makes you happy, you can complete the sentence “The things that make me happy are…” Write down as many endings to that sentence as you can. 
• Find the theme. Read those sentences and note the current themes from them.

With the help of that exercise, try to incorporate your recent insights regarding happiness from various perspectives and disciplines. Below are some ideas based on each viewpoint:

Happiness is pleasure

This viewpoint sees happiness as something that is experienced by activities and experiences that bring immediate pleasure. With this perspective,  you can complete the sentence with:

• Weekly yoga
• Delicious matcha
• Traveling the world

Happiness is luck

This viewpoint sees happiness as something that happens by chance, unexpected good fortune or serendipitous moments. Thus, you can complete the sentence with:

• The time I met my best friend at a concert.
• I’m fortunate to have been accepted in my current job, despite my limited work experience.

Happiness is an internal state 

This viewpoint sees happiness as an internal emotional state of the preponderance of positive emotions rather than negative ones. Thus, you can complete the sentence with:

• Peaceful morning walks
• The pride of finishing my deadline on time
• The warmth I experience after talking to my loved ones

Happiness is life satisfaction 

This viewpoint sees happiness as a big-picture assessment of how well life aligns with one’s values and goals. Thus, you can complete the sentence with:

• Watching my children grow exceptionally.
• Seeing how good I am at balancing my work and life.
• Excel in my career without compromising my values.

Map your way

Now that you have reflected on the sources of your happiness, you are equipped with the knowledge to cultivate it. So, it is time to move forward by mapping your happiness journey.

Below are the steps to do so:

1. Make an activities log. First, reflect on your current activities for the past 1-2 weeks. List down each of those activities along with their duration. Then, rate them on a scale of 1-5 in terms of how much they cultivate your happiness.
2. Assess and improve your current life. Reflect on the sources of your happiness and assess your current life. Then, ask yourself:
   1. What is missing? 
   2. How do I bring more happiness to my life?
   3. What should I do less?
3. Design the schedule. Once you have the activities, create a plan for the week to implement them. Try to prioritize the activities that bring you happiness in these schedules. 
4. Be realistic. Don’t overschedule and aim for perfection. Be realistic and leave room for things that are beyond your control. Also, focus on quality rather than quantity.
5. Execute the schedule. Live through the week and make another daily activities log. As in the previous log, jot down the name of the activity, its duration, and a scale from 1 to 5 on how much it cultivates your happiness.
6. Review the map. At the end of each week, compare your map with that week’s activities log. Review your progress and adjust your goals. 

Read more: How Much Happiness Do You Really Need?

In conclusion 

It is incorrect to assume that happiness is limited to certain things. It comes in many different forms and is highly personal depending on the individual. 

Knowing many interpretations of happiness equips you with the knowledge that the journey toward happiness is not merely a single lane.

So, embrace the ambiguity of happiness and realize how beautiful it is to know that the sources of happiness are limitless.

If you want to see more resources on happiness, check out the Happiness Science Labs. The lab uses the research of the Institute for Life Management Science to produce courses, certifications, podcasts, videos, and other tools. Visit the Happiness Science Labs today.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

The post Why You Should Have Many Different Definitions of Happiness appeared first on Insights.