The document explores the concept of happiness, emphasizing that it is difficult to define but can be characterized by life satisfaction, positive emotions, and fulfillment. It highlights the importance of engaging in meaningful activities and pursuing intrinsic goals, rather than seeking happiness directly or relying on wealth. Additionally, it suggests that happiness can be cultivated through dedication to community, self-awareness, and proactive involvement in various aspects of life.

1. Happiness 101A Short Course on Living with Joy and Lasting Fulfillment

2. What is happiness?Elusive to define—we know it when we see it, feel itHappiness exists even in the midst of pain and sufferingIt may becaptured by other words more precisely (life satisfaction, positive emotions, contentment)“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence”Aristotle(4th Century BC)

3. Aristotle’s thoughts…You can’t obtain happiness by seeking it…You find happiness by practicing the virtuous life—seeking balance and meaningeudaimonea-obtaining full potentialHappiness is not the destination of living—but the path to living

4. Some questions researchers are asking…Do the same things make everyone happy?Do we have control over our happiness?What are the most important factors contributing to happiness?Can money buy happiness?Is it contagious?Is it overrated?

5. Happiness is…HAPPINESSSUCCESSSee: Happier by Tal Ben-Shahar

6. Happiness is…HAPPINESSPLEASURE MEANING(PRESENT BENEFIT) (FUTURE BENEFIT)

7. Life Mapping

8. Wealth and happinessT or F “All rich people are happy”T or F “All poor people are unhappy”Wealth and happiness do not correlateBeyond the level of taking care of basic needs, money will not bring us happinessIn US, family income of about $60,000 (2010 study) seems to be a threshold

9. Goals and intention“Happiness grows less from the passive experience of desirable circumstances than from involvement in valued activities and progress towards one’s goals”David Myers and Ed Diener

10. Self-concordant goalsGoals that are pursued out of deep personal conviction and/or strong interest.Freely chosen (locus of control)Generally are intrinsic in nature (without extrinsic rewards)Come from self and not outside forces (self determination)

11. FLOWFreely chosenIntrinsically motivatedClear goals and sense of purposeAction and awareness mergeLoss of timePeak performance(Csikszentmihalyi – Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience)

12. FLOW in diagram formAnxietyDifficultyFLOWBoredomSkills

13. What we have learned from happy people…Recommended reading:THRIVE by Dan BuettnerDenmarkSingaporeMexicoSan Luis Obispo

14. Shaping our happiness in 6 areas:CommunityWorkplaceSocial LifeFinancial lifeHomeSelf

15. SUMMARYThere are things we can do to improve our happinessMaking changes and doing something significant does not come without difficultyMake the most of what is before usRealize that life is made up of daily, ordinary and mundane things—what makes the difference is what we do with them

16. Michael Rich(828) 339-4497m_rich@southwesterncc.edu