Find your happy place. Seriously.
Posted October 17, 2019 by Cindy Carraway-Wilson
The redwoods were not the reason for my most recent trip to California, but who can pass up an opportunity to experience the awe and splendor of walking amongst giants? When I stand among these majestic beings, I feel happy.
In spring of 2019, I traveled to Scotts Valley, Calif., to attend a summit on happiness. The Science of Happiness gathering, hosted by Greater Good Science Center, brought together hundreds of people from all over the world to talk about what makes us happy, and the importance of happiness—for us personally, in our families and communities, and in our workplaces.
“We take these truths to be self-evident….” The United States’ Declaration of Independence put forth the pursuit of happiness as an inalienable right, yet as I have talked to people around the country this year, I’ve seen just the opposite—confusion, pain and suspicion (and yes, even hatred). Our founders considered happiness important enough to explicitly name it as a right in a document central to our country’s formation, but in our collective lives, happiness is a low priority, particularly in our work settings.
Research clearly demonstrates that happier workplaces are more stable and productive, and have better customer engagement[1]—that is, the people they serve are more likely to stay with them and return for services in the future. Think about youth workers you know who have a generally positive outlook, whose overall way of being in the world is “happy.” That happiness is contagious.[2] Young people who are disenfranchised, cynical beyond their years, or who know better than to trust adults tend to engage with happier staff in a deeper and more genuine way.
The good news is that happiness as a state of mind—rather than a passing emotional state—can be developed with practice.[3] By cultivating workplace happiness, programs can both reduce employee turnover and increase client satisfaction.[4]
Try these three practices for increasing happiness:
The author in her happy place.
Twice a year or whenever it feels like you need to, do a “purpose check.” Is your personal sense of purpose being fulfilled? Think about your experiences at work, at home, in your community, wherever you live daily life. When we are working with purpose, our happiness gets a boost.
Schedule “recovery times” and follow through on taking them. During recovery times you allow yourself to just be and do things that bring you comfort and happiness. For me, this usually means hitting a nice hiking trail or climbing into my kayak. I spend time being aware of the natural world within which I exist, and if other thoughts intrude, I acknowledge them and bring my attention back to where I am. When I return to family, work, or just the business of life, I feel refreshed and ready to go.
Find the humor in any situation. When we pause to appreciate the antics of others (people or animals), we momentarily forget our to-do lists and all the obstacles and irritations that seem to block our paths. This practice trains our brains to notice the good, balancing out our natural tendency to constantly scan our environment for threats and problems.
I believe it is time for us, as a culture, to recommit to our own personal happiness and the happiness of others. Happiness is indeed an inalienable right and like all rights, we need to protect it and allow space for everyone to experience it. By tuning into our happy moments and sharing happiness with others, we can make the changes we wish to see in the world.
[1] Fry, E. (Sept. 8, 2017). “Can Levi’s Make Life Better for Garment Workers?” Fortune. Retrieved from http://fortune.com/2017/09/08/levis-change-the-world/; and De Neve, J.E. & Ward, G. (2017). Happiness at Work in Helliwell, J., Layard, R., & Sachs, J. (2017). World Happiness Report 2017, New York: Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Retrieved from https://s3.amazonaws.com/happiness-report/2017/HR17.pdf
[2] Barsade, S.G. (2002). The ripple effect: emotional contagion and its influence on group behavior. Administrative Science Quarterly, v47, i4, pp. 644-675. https://doi.org/10.2307%2F3094912; and Kjerulf, A. (Jan. 18, 2016). “The 5 Most Important Findings from the Science of Happiness That Apply at Work” [blog post]. The Chief Happiness Officer. Retrieved from https://positivesharing.com/2016/01/positive-psychology-at-work/
[3] Greater Good Science Center. (2018). Science of Happiness at Work [course]. Retrieved from https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/what_we_do/online_courses_tools/the_science_of_happiness_at_work
[4] Lyubomirsky, S., King, L., & Diener, E. (2005). The benefits of frequent positive affect: Does happiness lead to success? Psychological Bulletin, v131, n6, pp. 803-855. DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.131.6.803. Retrieved from http://sonjalyubomirsky.com/wp-content/themes/sonjalyubomirsky/papers/LKD2005.pdf