How to Lead a Happy Life

Appreciation, Love, Acceptance and Happiness

According to Psychology Today, there are four essential elements that are needed to produce a happy life. The four important traits needed for happiness are self-esteem, optimism, personal control, and extroversion. These four traits can help psychologists predict an individual's happiness level.

One of the best ways to lead a happy life is to relax. Stress can wreak both psychological and physical havoc on the body. Stress produces a chemical in the body called Interleukin-6. In large doses, interleukin-6 can lead to diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis and even some cancers. Stress management can benefit a person’s overall health and make them feel more relaxed which leads to a happier life.

According to the book Authentic Happiness, by Martin Seligman, a person can raise their level of happiness on a daily basis. To do this, an individual should make sure that their day is filled with humor, authenticity, and generosity. By leading a generous, fun, and authentic life, people connect better with others and themselves.

Developing a non-materialistic attitude is also vital to leading a happy life. An article in USA Today featured psychologist, Ed Diener who explained that materialistic people have a difficult time leading a happy life. Materialism often breeds an attitude of more work, less relaxation and less personal enjoyment. People who care less about spending and getting things are more likely to be happy.

Oxford University Psychologist, Michael Argyle discovered that people who don’t manage their time effectively are generally less happy. Unhappy people don’t properly manage their time and usually postpone things and procrastinate. A person who manages their time is able to feel more in control and empowered which is a step towards leading a happy life.

One thing is for certain, depression is becoming epidemic and the overall happiness people experience continues to decline. The National Opinion Research Center surveyed thousands of Americas in 1957 and 35% of them claimed to be very happy. When the center surveyed Americans again in 1991, 31% claimed to be happy.

Social psychologists Jennifer Crocker and Brenda Major found that the following things have little or no impact on a person's happiness level - gender, age, race, or income. Although people have debated for decades whether or not money could buy more happiness, individuals are slowly learning that rich people almost equally suffer from depression, addiction, and other mental health problems that make them as miserable as the less fortunate.