20/03/2021
On International Day of Happiness, it’s important to remember that happiness is not just about promoting the ubiquitous smiley face.
Happiness is more than the pursuit of pleasure and heightened positive emotion. Although these things (hedonic happiness) are important for our wellbeing, they aren’t the be all and end all. A hit of excitement or joy can feel great, but it’s often only fleeting. In fact, plastering a fake smile or forced positivity can often be more harmful than helpful.
Being happy doesn’t mean being the most confident or most upbeat person in the room. Happiness is also about having a deep sense of meaning and purpose, feeling a part of something bigger and having healthy coping strategies to deal with the inevitable obstacles that come our way. An understated and deep contentment. A quiet satisfaction and non-judgemental reflection. Finding this eudaimonic happiness is more sustainable and long lasting than simple pleasure seeking.
The best approach is a combination of both - upbeat joy plus quiet contentment - together with an acknowledgment that it’s ok not to be ok. Negative emotions can serve us too, as long as we observe and accept them.
.0
