Happiness + Meaning = Well-being
What is quality of life? Research indicates that "good days" include having experience of autonomy, competence and connection.
Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi formalized the study of positive psychology in 2000 and the field and grown exponentially since then. Key concepts include developing your feelings of optimism and gratitude. Volunteering is good for you!
Life satisfaction is also linked to having a sense of meaning for your life.
This model gives us a comprehensive framework for understanding well-being as well as a foundation for improving well-being. If you’re looking to enhance your own sense of authentic happiness and well-being, all you need to do is focus on…
- Experiencing more positive emotions; do more of the things that make you happy, and bring enjoyment into your daily routine.
- Working on upping your engagement; pursue hobbies that interest you, develop your skills, and look for a job more suited to your passions, if necessary.
- Improve the quality (and/or quantity) of your relationships with others; work on building more positive and supportive relationships with your friends, family, and significant other(s).
- Seek out meaning; if you don’t find it through your work, look for it in volunteering opportunities, personal hobbies or leisure activities, or acting as a mentor for others.
- Keep your focus on achieving your goals—but don’t focus too hard; try to keep your ambition in balance with all of the other important things in life (Seligman, 2011).
