12 Qualities of Happiness
Published on 7 May 2008 at 10:04 am.
10 Comments.
Filed under Business Development, Feature Articles, Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration.
“Happiness is the whole aim and end of human existence”
- Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony” - Mahatma Gandhi
Underlying the reasons why clients have come to me over the years is the desire for happiness. What is happiness? Conventional wisdom often defines happiness as status, financial security, worldly goods, possessions, lifestyle, accomplishments etc.
I have met many very successful people, who seemed to have it all; who have come to me saying they felt something was missing from their life – they weren’t happy! They say, “I want to be happy. What do I do?”
What I have come to know is that things and people do not create happiness. Feeling happy as a response to an external experience adds to our own happiness, but is not the true source of happiness. Why? Happiness is a state of being, independent of external influences and situations.
In a gem of a book called, “What Happy People Know” by Dan Baker, Ph.D, he defines happiness as “ A way of life – an overriding outlook composed of qualities such as optimism, courage, love, and fulfillment. “ He says, “We all have a neurological fear system embedded within our brains that once helped us survive, but now limits our lives. This biological circuitry of fear is the greatest enemy of happiness!”
According to Baker, “Happiness is a by-product for the condition (state of being, outlook on life) that comes from several indispensable qualities. The sum of the following qualities is happiness.”
The Twelve Qualities of Happiness
1. Love – the antidote to fear and an essential quality of happiness. Love renews and energizes the human Spirit.
2. Optimism – provides power over painful events to be able to see the profound value of the experience.
3. Courage –the strongest weapon for overcoming the lightening fast power of the fear system.
4. A sense of freedom –freedom is choice. Using courage to exercise choice is true freedom.
5. Proactivity – actively participating in creating your destiny and forging your own happiness.
6. Security – liking who you are on the inside and developing a strong inner foundation that will last a lifetime.
7. Health – health and happiness are interdependent. It’s hard to feel happy if you don’t feel healthy and vice versa.
8. Spirituality – having the connection to a Higher Power, Spirit, God, or Religion extends the boundaries of our own lives for extraordinary experiences.
9. Altruism – helping other people and contributing to the quality of their life fulfills a sense of purpose and personal satisfaction.
10. Perspective – being able to see shades of gray and knowing how to prioritize problems (challenges?) into possibilities and opportunities. Seeing the big picture!
11. Humor – Humor is the shift of perception that gives you the courage to take action. By lifting the suffering off the heart, humor empowers the Spirit to heal it.
12. Purpose – understanding why you are here on this earth and doing the things you were meant to do.
* You can find this list on page 19
Baker states, “Other qualities such as confidence, self-esteem, fulfillment, and peace of mind are important. Not all of these qualities must be present or in equal amounts to be happy. Most of them must be abundant for someone to experience the kind of lasting rock-solid happiness that endures even when life gets tough.”
What’s your definition of happiness?
Exercise: Over the next month, review the list of qualities for happiness. Select one or more qualities to focus your attention. For example: Taking action on things you have been procrastinating (proactive), extending yourself to help someone else for the joy of it (altruism), or taking better care of your body (health). At the end of 30 days, celebrate taking another step to increase your happiness level!
To your happiness 
Lorraine
www.powerfull-living.biz
AnneMarie on 7 May 2008 at 5:33 pm: 1
Lorraine
Love reading your articles and this one was equally inspiring.
The one thing that makes me happy each and every moment is gratitude. Just saying thank you for every single thing in my life makes me happy.
So thank you for your articles.
lorraine on 7 May 2008 at 9:21 pm: 2
I think the list should definitely include gratitude AnneMarie
I find focusing on my blessings makes me smile and is a great fear-shifter.
Your comments are always welcome!
Gratefully,
Lorraine
Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Map on 7 May 2008 at 10:02 pm: 3
There can be varied definitions of what happiness is. It’s nice that you shared about the breakdown in the all-elusive happiness down to its parts. Definitely, very helpful!
Thanks,
Evelyn
Gina on 9 May 2008 at 6:56 pm: 4
Thanks for this reminder Lorraine!
Great list and it helps me to stay centered by reading these 12 qualities.
warm wishes,
Gina
lorraine on 9 May 2008 at 7:00 pm: 5
Thanks Gina
Happiness is an inside job and we can foster feeling greater happiness when we are being authentic and true to who we are.
I find humor is one I return to often especially when caught in my own dramas and getting waaaay too serious.
Have agreat weekend
Lorraine
Gina on 9 May 2008 at 7:54 pm: 6
I hear you Lorraine. Laughter can definitely be the best medicine! My husband and I help each other come back to center when we start getting caught up in our own stories and dramas. We’ve both been dealing with health issues, one of mine just came back to visit again and I could easily go into the victim mode. But being aware of my ’stories’ helps me greatly and so did this list.
thanks again,
Gina
Hope you have a great weekend too.
lorraine on 9 May 2008 at 9:16 pm: 7
That’s the key Gina
Our stories affect how we view things and we can either make up a painful one or happier one. Health issues can invite a lot of stories to emerge. I find the people in my inner circle are such blessings when I’m having health challenges.
I hope you both feel better soon
Blessings,
Lorraine
Lola Fayemi / Nourishment for your spiritual awakening on 12 May 2008 at 2:39 am: 8
Thanks for this Lorraine
I’m gonna go for proactive and health for 30 days as when I find myself unhappy, it is one of these 2 that are out of balance.
In love, light and abundance x x x
lorraine on 12 May 2008 at 8:54 am: 9
Good ones Lola
The two go so well together. I’m actually working with all 12 this month - they really all go together.
Blessings,
Lorraine
How to Be Happier | The BridgeMaker on 24 Jun 2009 at 9:57 pm: 10
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