The progress principle is the science behind the famous saying “it’s the journey, not the destination, that counts.” In other words, more happiness will be achieved in the steps that lead up to a goal than in the final step of reaching the goal itself. In The Happiness Hypothesis, Jonathan Haidt explains the logic behind [...]
Happiness Broadens your Thoughts and Actions
Although they are often unpleasant, negative emotions have an important purpose in our lives, because they prepare us to deal with potential threats. If someone transgresses against you, you become angry, so that you might retaliate and discourage future transgressions. If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, anxiety will help you avoid the same [...]
Five things everybody needs to know about materialism
I’ve seen Fight Club about 58 times. It’s my favourite film. I love it so much I even had the above quote engraved onto the back of my iPod. In the film, Brad Pitt’s character Tyler Durden is a pretty heavy anti-consumerist. He is disturbed by the way people look for self-esteem and happiness in material things, and senses a better way. Was he right about materialism? Some researchers have been looking into the effects that materialism has on people. Here are five things everybody should know:
Wanting is not the same as liking!
Daniel Nettle’s book, Happiness, devotes a chapter to explaining the distinction between wanting something, and liking it once you get it. Wanting and liking are separate. We can want something but not enjoy it, or we can not want something but then find we like it when we get it. Combined with our poor judgements [...]
Mindfulness Meditation
What does the word ‘meditation’ mean to you? Does it conjure images of orange robes, chanting, and the sound “oohhm?” There’s a kind of mystical image surrounding meditation, and it has a bit of a “new age” image. But in actual fact, it is simply a practical tool to achieve specific mental goals. There are [...]
Hedonic Adaptation
The principle of adaptation is quite interesting, and is related to the progress principle. Hedonic adaptation means that very often it is changes in circumstances, not absolute conditions, that affect our happiness. Many people today feel they could not live without their x, where x is a new versatile solution for modern living, a new [...]
Does Happiness Lead to Success? Part 3: Health
Good moods contribute to good health. (Photo: Mr. Theklan) This series is discussing the idea that not only does success bring happiness, but happiness also brings success. Previously, we found that happiness helps people to have better careers and better relationships. Today, we’ll see that they also have better health, too.
Does Happiness Lead to Success? Part 2: Love and Relationships
Happier people tend to be luckier in love. (Photo: Brandon Christopher Warren) This series is discussing the idea that not only does success bring happiness, but happiness also brings success. Last time we found that happiness helps people to have better jobs and earn more money; today we’re going to see whether they enjoy better [...]
Does Happiness Lead to Success? Part 1: Work
Happy workers tend to be successful workers. (Photo: redteam) Let’s look at happiness from a different perspective. Most people see happiness as a response to good things happening; a natural assumption to make, considering that when good things happen, it makes us happy. But the evidence is piling up that happiness is also a cause [...]
Six Success-Enhancing Behaviours that Good Moods Bring You
Happiness sometimes comes before success. (Photo: tandemracer) Just like Santa Clause, happiness brings gifts with it too – and you don’t have to be good all year to get them! In the last three articles, I’ve discussed a paper arguing that happiness leads to success, through a better career, better relationships and better health. This [...]
- The progress principle
- Happiness Broadens your Thoughts and Actions
-
Five things everybody needs to know about materialism
- Wanting is not the same as liking!
- Mindfulness Meditation
- Hedonic Adaptation
-
Does Happiness Lead to Success? Part 3: Health
-
Does Happiness Lead to Success? Part 2: Love and Relationships
-
Does Happiness Lead to Success? Part 2: Love and Relationships
-
Six Success-Enhancing Behaviours that Good Moods Bring You
-
How to manage your weaknesses
-
What to do with your Strengths
-
Can Happiness be Measured?
-
How to Identify your Strengths. Part 1: Self-Reflection
-
How to Identify your Strengths. Part 2: Questionnaires
-
What is happiness?
