Finding Happiness in 2024: Top Secrets to Living Joyfully
As we embark on the journey of 2024, the pursuit of happiness remains a universal endeavor and one that becomes the center of everyone making vision boards and goal setting each year. For us, we try to switch up our language a bit, away from the word happiness, and rather focus on the top secrets to living joyfully, but more on that later.
There is one thing that contributes the MOST toward feeling happiness (or the opposite of happiness, stress) that might surprise you. The longest study done in the world, from Harvard, sheds light on what genuinely contributes to our well-being. The surprising findings are profound yet simple: the quality of our relationships is the cornerstone of happiness. This article delves into how nurturing relationships, finding joy in daily tasks, and understanding the true nature of happiness can guide us towards a more fulfilled life (or the secrets to living joyfully!).
The Harvard Study: Relationships as the Core of Happiness
The Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the longest-running studies of adult life, has revealed that close relationships are what keep people happy throughout their lives. These relationships are more influential than money or fame in keeping us happy and healthy.
Why Relationships Matter:
- Emotional Support: Strong relationships provide emotional support, which can buffer against the stressors of life. Knowing that someone has your back can significantly reduce anxiety and depression.
- Physical Health: Surprisingly, our relationships can even affect our physical health. People in happy relationships tend to have lower blood pressure, less stress, and reduced risk of chronic diseases.
- Longevity: The study also found a strong correlation between the quality of one’s relationships and longevity. People who are more socially connected to family, friends, or the community are happier, healthier, and live longer than people who are less well connected.
The Two-Way Street of Relationships and Stress:
Relationships are a double-edged sword; they can be the most significant source of happiness or the greatest contributor to stress. Negative, toxic, or unstable relationships can lead to increased anxiety and depression. The key is to cultivate healthy, supportive relationships and minimize or repair the strained ones.
Finding Joy in Daily Tasks
Joyful living (our favorite approach to ‘happiness’) is about finding pleasure in the everyday moments. It’s about choosing to feel happiness in the mundane.
Tips for Finding Joy:
- Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness by being fully present in the moment, whether you’re eating, walking, or engaging in a hobby.
- Gratitude: Keep a gratitude journal or take time daily to reflect on things you are thankful for, no matter how small.
- Connection: Engage in daily tasks that involve others, such as cooking with family or a friend, which can turn routine activities into more meaningful experiences.
Making Joy a Daily Habit:
Commit to doing at least one thing each day that brings you joy. It could be as simple as listening to your favorite song, spending time in nature, or enjoying a cup of coffee in silence.
Happiness: A Continuous Journey, Not a Destination
Understanding that happiness is not a destination or an end result is crucial. It’s a series of choices made daily. This is where we differentiate from happiness (which most think is a destination) to living joyfully (which does equate to feeling happy).
Happiness as a Choice:
- Perspective: Shift your perspective to view challenges as opportunities for growth. Mistakes are not failure, but an opportunity to learn. Being able to see light in the dark can make a huge difference in how you feel, let alone how life ’turns out’ for you. Also, what you focus on grows. So what do you focus on? What do you talk about the most? What are you seeking? You will cultivate and find what you talk about and look for the most. Make it good shit.
- Actions: Make conscious choices that align with happiness, like prioritizing your health, spending time on hobbies, and nurturing relationships.
- Acceptance: Accept that not every day will be perfect. Embracing the imperfect journey is part of choosing happiness.
Additional Strategies for Finding Happiness in the New Year
- Volunteering: Giving back to the community can provide a sense of purpose and happiness. Now is the perfect time to do this in a double benefit way: go through your closets and cabinets and create a donation pile. This not only clears out space to free up energy in your body and home/office- but it feels good to give things to others who will find more use for it.
- Physical Activity: Regular exercise can significantly boost your mood and reduce anxiety and depression. This does NOT have to be a 45-60 minute crazed workout. Walking for 20 minutes. A 15 minute yoga flow. Swimming. Dancing. Find movement that speaks to you and do that.
- Reducing Screen Time: Limiting time spent on digital devices can improve mental well-being and foster more genuine connections. If you could do just ONE thing that would improve your health it would be this: get the f*$k off social media. Or drastically reduce it if getting off is impossible.
Conclusion
As we look towards 2024, let’s embrace the wisdom that happiness is intricately linked to the quality of our relationships and the joy we find in daily life. By nurturing our connections, savoring the small moments, and understanding the continuous nature of happiness, we can embark on a path of well-being and contentment. Remember, happiness is a journey, not a destination, and it’s a path that we can choose every day.
