The most popular class in Harvard University’s history (900 students) is “Positive Psychology” taught by Professor Tal Ben Shahar. This class became really popular because it taught as part of its curriculum what is now referred to as the science of happiness. Here are some key lessons from the work of Professor Shahar…
Prof. Shahar achieved more happiness by taking himself off the tenure track; he did not want to keep publishing. His class on positive psychology offered insights on what makes people happy. His research indicates the following key lessons:
1. Give yourself permission to be human
When we accept emotions – such as fear, sadness, or anxiety – as natural, we are more likely to overcome them. Most people try to hide or suppress their emotions. Suppressing emotions, positive or negative, leads to anger, bitterness, frustration and the resultant unhappiness.
2. Happiness is at the intersection between pleasure and meaning
It should be every one’s goal to engage in activities that are enjoyable and significant. An example of this might be a walk with some friends for both social purposes and for health. Pleasure without meaning can create temporary satisfaction not happiness.
3. Happiness is mostly dependent on our state of mind
Our level of well-being is determined by our “state” – how we feel about things and our interpretation of external events. For example, some people may view failure as catastrophic while some may view tit as a learning opportunity? Happiness is not a function of how many possessions we have or the state of our bank account.
4. Simplify your life
The more busy we are, squeezing in more and more activities into less and less time, the less happy we are. We end up compromising on our happiness by trying to do too much.
5. Remember the mind-body connection
What we do – or don’t do – with our bodies influences how our mind functions. Adequate exercise, sleep and a healthy diet are essential for both physical and mental health.
6. Express gratitude, whenever possible
It is important to appreciate and value what life has to offer: family, friends, food, the wonders of nature. Be grateful for what life has offered you and believe there is more happiness in the future.
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