Become Happier by Developing the Right Habits
There are two kinds of happiness: it lasts for a moment and lasts for the whole life.
If you are looking for the first kind of happiness, look for new experiences. Thrill chase, try new things, push boundaries and discover what brings you joy.
But do not forget about the second kind of happiness, which would be more accurately called satisfaction . Such happiness is not built from a series of unique moments; instead, it is carefully cultivated in daily activities and habits.
As Dr. Travis Bradburry, co-author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and president of TalentSmart, explains in his essay “The Eleven Habits of Extremely Happy People” :
The misconception that happiness and sadness depend on important life events is so common that psychologists have given it a name: exposure bias . In fact, event-based happiness is fleeting.
Happiness is synthetic: you either create it or you don’t. Lasting happiness is earned by your habits. Extremely happy people have honed the habits that keep them happy day in and day out.
What are these eleven habits? Many of them represent the same old tips and tricks that you see on almost every list about how to lead a good life: get enough sleep, exercise regularly, enjoy food rather than rush through it, and so on.
However, Bradburry takes this list a little further, suggesting that happy people live not only for health, but also for depth:
They have deep conversations. Happy people know that happiness and essence go hand in hand. They avoid gossip, small talk, and judging others. Instead, they focus on meaningful interactions. They interact with others on a deeper level because they know it’s enjoyable, creates an emotional connection, and is a fun way to learn.
If you want more meaningful interactions in your life, you may need to start surrounding yourself with the right people (Habit # 4) and spending time with them in person rather than online (Habit # 10). You can even develop a habit of giving these people gifts (habit # 3), but only if you take the time to find something they appreciate. After all, an unsuccessfully chosen gift upsets everyone.
It seems trivial to point out that happiness stems from the habits we form, the choices we make, and how we respond to external circumstances and challenges, but “try to live in ways that promote happiness” is something we often talk about. forget. in our rush to do the rest of our to-do list. If you’re looking for ways to bring a little more satisfaction into your life, ask yourself if you can adopt one of Dr. Bradbury’s eleven habits. He notes that you don’t have to combine all eleven to live a happy life, so pick the ones that work for you and try to do them as often as possible.