The search for happiness & well-being

Are you as happy as you want to be? Do you wake up with a zest for living each day? Do you love going to work, wondering what the day will bring, excited to meet it's challenges? Or, are you like many of us, merely trying to make it through one day at a time, trying to cope with life's endless challenges and demands? Has life lost much of it's meaning? Are you satisfied with simply getting your paycheck and taking care of the bills and responsibilities?

The customs and traditions of many cultures and societies are fairly effective at handing down the traditions of a work ethic, religious/spiritual beliefs, family values, and personal responsibility, but most fall short at the job of teaching and/or facilitating happiness and a sense of well-being. As such, one may be at a loss of how to achieve such a true sense of well-being and happiness. One may ask, how do I do this? Do I simply read some self-help books, talk to friends and family, speak to my priest or minister, or, consult my family doctor? Another helpful approach may be to search out a good therapist. This approach may have drawbacks, though, as well.

The traditional focus of professionals in health and human services has been to concentrate on: 1)understanding and diagnosing psychological and/or physical problems, 2)the treatment of such conditions, and 3)conducting research into possible biochemical, physiological and genetic causes of such problems. Despite all of these efforts, however, the problems remain. Society tends to focus on removing problems, rather than facilitating healthy lifestyles, maximizing potential, and cultivating personal growth and the healthiness of our communities. In recent areas of thought and research, however, the focus is increasing shifting toward creating the optimal societal conditions for optimal growth.

The search for happiness and a sense of well-being starts with two basic approaches. First, is subjective well-being - the presence of positive mood and life satisfaction. Basically, one feels good more often than they feel bad. Second, is psychological well-being, which is tied to personal growth and the cultivation of one's full-potential. Individuals experiencing psychological well-being have a sense of autonomy, competence, and purpose. Research in the area also suggests a feeling of belongingness, self-acceptance, social connectedness, and contribution. Most anyone would aspire to understand and learn to develop such lofty attributes and personal characteristics. I will do my best to present much more information on this exciting area of exploration. Future articles in this blog will explore the myriad of benefits of this level of well-being and possible means of facilitating it's development.

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