It is difficult to find a clear definition of happiness. Many people believe pleasure equates happiness-removing negative feelings and accentuating positive feelings will create a happy life. Feeling is used here to designate emotion instead of sensation. Pleasures can be plentiful and a happy life can still be elusive.
You may be thinking, if pleasures alone do not make a healthy, happy life, what additional factors contribute to happiness? When you receive satisfaction from pleasurable activities and relationships you tend to have feelings-emotions- of happiness. If you add meaning- it’s meaningful to you- then you increase the feeling of pleasure and happiness. The amount of pleasure does not automatically increase life satisfaction.
Among other factors, the happiness equation include meaning and pleasure. So, what does wellness have to do with happiness? How does it fit into the happy life? Think about the emotions anger and happiness. Happiness and anger cannot exist in an individual at the same time. The person is either happy or angry at a given moment.
The 10 Tenets of Wellness include:
- Wellness is a holistic concept. The whole person is taken into consideration-the environment, body, mind and spirit.
- Self esteem is a critical factor in the change process. Individuals have to care enough about themselves to take the necessary steps and make the changes needed to achieve optimal wellness
- Positive peer norms encourage wellness lifestyle changes. In order to grow our businesses we surround ourselves with forward moving, proactive people who bring out our best.
- Conscious living means becoming aware of all the choices we have and acting on them.
- A sense of connectedness grounds us in our lives
Happiness increases endorphins, boosts the immune system, improves mental health and generally makes you feel “good”. Anger can cause irregular heart beats, be a precursor to depression, tension, headache and more maladies. When you have more flow in life, a pleasant, satisfied life and meaningful life, you tend to be healthier and happier.
The happiness wellness equation include, but are not limited to pleasure plus satisfaction plus meaningful life equal happiness and wellness.
What makes you happy? How do you include happiness into your lifestyle and wellness program?
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