The Habits Of Happiness

According to Buddha, “Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are. It solely relies on what you think.” To be happy, one must know what happiness is and then find aspects that make them feel that way. Happiness is not a brief sense of positive feelings, but a lasting sense of contentedness that can be achieved by keeping close relationships and engaging in habits that seem contradictory at first to happiness. Real happiness is more than brief positive feelings but rather a lasting state of peace or contentedness. According to Reich, a former professor of psychology at Arizona State University, happiness is “deeper than a momentary good mood” (Reich). When ordinary happiness is experienced, Jacobsen, a professor in the Department

Everyday choices and habits affect the wellbeing of humans. Recent research documents the unique habits of the people who are happiest in life. According to the data of scientist and professor of psychology at George Mason University, Todd Kashdan, “activities that lead us to feel uncertainty, discomfort, and even a dash of guilt are associated with some of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of people’s lives” (Kashdan). Therefore, happy people “engage in a wide range of counterintuitive habits that seem, well, downright unhappy” (Kashdan). Essentially happy people take more risks. They have the knowledge that by taking these risks, they can learn how to manage uncomfortable feelings in life. Many people are averse to risk and things that make them uncertain. However, by taking risks and trying new things one experiences personal growth and feel positive emotions which can lead to a more positive mindset. Examples of these actions improving overall/genuine happiness can be anything from trying an odd, new food to leaving the country for volunteer work. While someone might feel nervous at first, many of these risks will end up working out well in the end. You never know what may come out of a new experience and this is a primary reason why taking risks can lead to positive emotions. Through risk taking, genuine happiness will increase as lasting memories are created and a shift occurs toward a more positive, open mindset for the