Every human being wants to be happy, but are we putting our energy into the things that actually make us happy? In this video, Evan, our resident and mental health therapist, shares research and his professional experience as a therapist on what variables lead to happiness. Further, many of these elements are also associated with individuals who live the longest. So tune in to hear what they are so you can reflect on how you spend your time and if it's the right way to go.
We know through a lot of research the variables of what makes people the happiest. These are five of the most important variables to focus your time and energy on if you want to be happy. Next is the importance of investing in your physical health. And last is cultivating a sense of gratitude.
I think it's safe to say that most everyone's goal is to ultimately be happy. However, we're never really taught how. This is not a subject taught in school. And the thing is, we actually know through a lot of research the variables of what makes people the happiest. So these are five of the most important variables to focus your time and energy on if you want to be happy. First, the most complicated, which is the relationship between money and happiness. Because we know that having more money does equate to being happier.
However, that's up to a certain point, and that's where you have your basic needs met. But also being able to go on a couple of vacations, or being able to partake in hobbies or passions, really just having enough money so that money is not a worry, but too far after that, it really does not buy additional happiness. Next is the importance of investing in your physical health. Because being physically healthy is associated with being overall mentally healthy. Having the stress of chronic conditions, chronic pain, these things weigh heavily on an individual's ability to enjoy life as a whole.
Next is having a sense of purpose and passion. We know that we're going to go through hard times. That's life. But being able to put meaning to your pain is extremely important. But also having a mission, being able to get up every day and have a greater purpose outside of yourself, whether that's in your. Your hobbies, passions, work, or just how you contribute to society and how you help other people. Next, I find to be one of the most important, and that is in the quality of your connections and the relationships you have with your friends and family.
It's all about depth of connection and not necessarily how many people you have around you. However, having a larger sense of community is also extremely important. And some of those blue zones where people live the longest, they have a strong sense of community, belongingness and connection. And last is one I work with my clients on all the time. And that is cultivating a sense of gratitude. That is focusing on the things we have, the gifts we've been given, no matter our situation. To not necessarily compare ourselves to the folks that we see as above us or have more, but to be thankful for that of which we do have.
And there are ways of practicing gratitude. Often I will write down a handful of the things that I'm grateful for when I'm struggling. Most. Look, it's really hard to know, where do I invest my time and energy to get the greatest return, to be overall the happiest and most fulfilled? Well, I think these five variables are very clear and easy guideposts to follow if you want the greatest chance of overall happiness and satisfaction in your life.
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