Five Roads to Create Happiness: Soul Sculpting Project Part 2
Not every road leads to happiness.
Some roads we take to create happiness look good in the beginning but the little happiness we experience fades away quickly. Money is in this category. Money does help us become a little happier- briefly. But research shows that the amount of happiness we gain from money is small and that small happiness does not last. One of the most surprising findings in the study of happiness is that if our basic needs like food, shelter are met then, wealth, health, and other circumstances affect our level of happiness only about 10%.
In this Soul Sculpting Project we will explore 3 roads that have excellent track records for helping us create happiness.
In our previous Soul Sculpting Project we looked at the first two of a set of 5 roads. Road 1: Positive Emotion and Road 2: Engagement. These Five Roads to happiness come from the research of Dr. Martin Seligman and his colleagues.
I invite you to join me in exploring the final 3 Roads: Relationships, Meaning, and Achievement.
3rd Road to Create Happiness: R – Relationships
We are social beings and relationships are a key part of our happiest and unhappiest moments.
For pursuing happiness, building excellent relational skills is worth our time. Skills like mutual respect, listening and empathy make a difference.
My key relationships are with my family members, close friends and God.
Though relationship with our unseen God is different from relationships with our seen family, it is a valid and real relationship.
“If the God you worship is loving, caring and present, that is the equivalent of having a friend.” Dr. Robert Maurer UCLA School of Medicine and Medical Center
Who are your key relationships? What relationship skills would you like to grow in?
___________________ ______________________
___________________ ______________________
____________________
4th Road to Create Happiness: M – Meaning
Living for something bigger than ourselves gives meaning to our lives. For some of us, having a pet to care for helps us get-up in the morning and keep going. Others of us find meaning in caring for children or elderly family members. Social issues like homelessness can be a meaningful pursuit. When we have a sense of working in partnership with God our level of meaning can significantly increase.
When pursuing meaning: the bigger, the better. The bigger the cause, the bigger the sense of meaning we experience.
For me, Meaning has been a primary player in my creation of happiness. My work giving classes at a rehab center, and in a music group for disabled adults are meaningful activities. When as youth I found connection with God, the meaning that it gave my life was an unexpected boon.
What gives you meaning?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
5th Road to Create Happiness: A – Accomplishment
Achievement, making it happen, getting it done, checking it off your list.
Setting a goal, which is specific and measurable, and then reaching the goal brings us a sense of accomplishment.
Reaching big goals like finishing a book writing project, or building a fireplace chimney is very satisfying, but I also get a sense of accomplishment from a lot of simple tasks like washing windows and putting neatly folded clothes in a drawer. I pursue daily happiness by building accomplishment into most of my activities. I feel accomplishment when I learn a new piece of music, complete a blog, repair a section of ranch fence, or bake a good loaf of bread .
What gives you a sense of accomplishment? (small or BIG)
______________________ ________________________
______________________ ________________________
Recap: Five Roads to Create Happiness (P.E.R.M.A.)
- P- Positive emotions
To create a new emotion: Change the way your body feels or tell a new story.
- E- Engagement
Do an activity that you enjoy and that requires your full attention.
- R – Relationships
Spend time connecting well with others.
- M- Meaning
Do meaningful activities.
- A – Accomplishment
Complete a task, set and reach a goal
Soul Sculpting Project: Get A little Happier, Today
- Select one of the 5 roads
- Take a minute to make a plan. How can you take that road to pursue happiness today?
Gratitude for the work of Martin Seligman, Sonja Lyubomirsky and the many other scientists who have studied the topic of Happiness.
soulsculpting 