Local & Global Happiness

Local & Global Happiness

by Malak Mostafa

PERMA - Positive Emotions

​Positive emotions broaden our minds and hearts to a point where we might begin to look at our environment and life differently.

​

​- Gratitude: Positive emotions about the past

​- Mindfulness: Positive emotions about the present

​- Optimism: Positive emotions about the future

PERMA - Engagement

​Engagement is an experience in which someone fully deploys their skills strengths and attention for a challenging task; flow.

​

​What is flow?

​- Creativity

​- The balance between challenge and skill

​- Using strengths and skills

​- The activity not the outcome

​- Rewarding

​PERMA - Relationships

According to Seligman (2012), the experiences that contribute to well being are often amplified through our relationships.

​

• Those in close relationships are happier, healthier and have lived longer.

• The quality of relationships is more important That quantity as you get older.

• Stable, supportive marriages decrease mental decline.

​Cont'd

According to Dr. Daniel Goleman, our emotions control our behavior more so than our thoughts. Thoughts are measured by IQ and emotions and feelings are measured by EQ. EQ is a bigger predictor of success, 80% more than our IQ. EQ can be taught and improved. (Emotional Intelligence).

​Cont'd

​Emotional intelligence is;

• Being aware of what your’e feeling, recognizing which feelings you’re experiencing and how that feeling effects others.

• Being able to manage your feelings, to focus your attention and to think before acting.

• Being able to use your feelings in service of your goals. (Enthusiasm, persistence and energy).

• Being able to recognize the feelings of others and treat them accordingly.

• Being able to manage the feelings in others and build relationships and social networks.

​

PERMA - Meaning

​

IKIGAI = The Japanese Secret to a long and happy life.

​

Meaning: According to Seligman (2012) you can experience a deeper sense of satisfaction with life when you use your strengths and virtues in service of and belonging to something much bigger than yourself.

Society has provided routes to seeking meaning through religion, science, politics, social causes, etc…

​Cont'd

​ The four needs of meaning:

• Purpose - The need to interpret what happens as leading to goals and fulfillment.

• Values - The need to justify our actions from our values that guide what we do and who we are.

• Efficacy - The need to believe that we can achieve our goals and realize our values by our own actions; to make a difference.

• Self-worth - The need to feel good about ourselves and what we do.

​

Cont'd

​

Research suggests that:

A meaningful life is not directly related to being happy, (satisfying your wants and needs).

Meaningfulness lasts longer than happiness in terms of feelings about the present because meaning involved the relationship between past, present, and future.

Meaning is promoted by engaging challenging situations that are beyond yourself or your pleasures.

People who reported having a purpose and a meaning to their lives had greater life satisfaction but not necessarily greater feelings of happiness.

​

​PERMA - Accomplishment

Accomplishment is achieving meaningful goals in pursuit of competence, success, and mastery.

• Research shows that people who feel personally involved in achieving their goals, report higher well-being and better health than people who lack direction. (Seligman, 2012).

​

GRIT

​Define by Dr. Angela Duckworth as passion and perseverance for very-long term goals.

GRIT is having stamina, you keep going day in and day out even when it is tough - for years.

Benefits - those with GRIT

• Higher GPAs among college students

• Greater retention in passing military training among West Point students.

• Advancement to find rounds among Spelling Bee contestants.

​GRIT Cont'd

​Self - Discipline is a better predictor of success than IQ or natural talent.

4 ways to develop GRIT:

• Interest:

What fascinates you? What are your hobbies? What takes up your time? What questions do you find interesting - what do you want to learn more about?

• Purpose:

Higher purpose (Meaning) = Higher GRIT

See goals as connections beyond themselves.

​

​GRIT - Cont'd

​- Practice:

Deliberate - Work on your goals intentionally and with practice.

10,000 hours of practice to become an expert.

Seek out challenges to be better.

Get and use constructive feedback.

• Hope:

Not luck - it is effort to learn and overcome failure.

Failure = Growth and learning.

“Tomorrow will be better.”

Growth Mindset.

​