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I didn't find any article that matches what I think how one attains true happiness. I think that to attain true happiness, you work hard to protect and maintain what makes you happy in the first place. Maintain what you love doing,  protect the ones you love, protect the ones who love you. When you always have what makes you happy and never loses them, then you attained permanent happiness for yourself.

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I didn't find any article that matches what I think how one attains true happiness. I think that to attain true happiness, you work hard to protect and maintain what makes you happy in the first place. Maintain what you love doing,  protect the ones you love, protect the ones who love you. When you always have what makes you happy and never loses them, then you attained permanent happiness for yourself.

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As much I want to say that money is the most important, I couldn't deny that relationships are what determines happiness in life. Normal people can't live a life without having any relationships with others. In fact, relationships is what makes life life. You have relationships with your boss, coworkers, friends, families, lovers, etc. A part of being human is how we interact with each other. And since our relationships influence us every second, keeping a good relationship in all relationships is the key to permanent happiness. That's how you fulfill and be satisfied with you life.

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What's the secret to a happy life? Many might say that money is a big part of the equation. But intrigued with discovering the secrets to a meaningful and happy life, a group of Harvard researchers launched a study in 1938. Then, they followed 268 male Harvard undergraduates - for 75 years.

The unique Harvard Grant Study collected data on the men's lives through surveys and interviews. They looked at all aspects, including relationships, politics and religion, coping strategies and alcohol use. What they found may surprise you.

Perhaps one of the biggest revelations was that love really does matter when it comes to living a fulfilled life.

In his book about the study, Triumphs of Experience, Harvard psychiatrist George Vaillant, study director from 1972 to 2004, writes: "There are two pillars of happiness. One is love. The other is finding a way of coping with life that does not push love away."

The study's most important finding? Relationships are the only things that matter in life. You could have a successful career, money and good physical health, but without supportive, loving relationships, you'd be unhappy. The ability to take in love is a great human skill.

Interestingly, Vaillant says that so many of the things people thought mattered when it comes to happiness don't. For example, many believe money and social class are vital to success. These two things were at the bottom of the list.

Even our earliest relationships are important to long-term happiness, especially the mother-child relationship. Men who had a warm mother-child bond were less likely to develop dementia later in life. They were also more likely to have professional success.

Avoiding smoking and not abusing alcohol were by far the most important things to increase longevity. The study found that alcohol abuse was the greatest disruptor of health and happiness for the study's subjects. Alcoholism was the leading cause of divorce among the 268 men and their wives. Plus, a strong correlation existed between alcohol abuse, neurosis and depression. Interestingly, the mental illness followed the alcohol abuse rather than preceding it.

Another interesting finding: More money, power and intelligence do not mean more happiness. Vaillant found that men with IQs between 110 and 115 were no more or less happy than men with IQs higher than 150. Furthermore, the only thing that really matters when it comes to achievement is contentment at work. Having a meaningful connection to our work is more important than achieving traditional success.

Additionally, Vaillant found that early success did not necessarily mean future success. Conversely, failure early in life did not necessarily mean ultimate failure. In fact, some who seemed they would not end up doing well actually became successful. Vaillant shares that the journey from immaturity to maturity is a sort of movement from narcissism to connection. Moreover, a big part of this shift has to do with the way challenges are handled.

In the end, it all comes back to relationships, connection and love. Are you on a pathway to happiness and a meaningful life or a dead-end road?

Posted on Thu, August 24, 2017 by Kris Nash filed under

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improved employee attitudes and behaviors

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What's the secret to a happy life? Many might say that money is a big part of the equation. But intrigued with discovering the secrets to a meaningful and happy life, a group of Harvard researchers launched a study in 1938. Then, they followed 268 male Harvard undergraduates - for 75 years.

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So I guess wether pets bring happiness to human depends on who you ask. This article is all about pets do make people a lot happier, plus many other benefits. Where as in another article I read that pets has no effect on human life. But for me, I lived 16 years without a real pet. Life's just so different when I suddenly have one. I have something to look out for when getting home instead of taking a nap. I put his needs before mine, that's how much I cared. It really gives a purpose.

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News UK Home News

Pet owners are also more likely to be married, have a child, bag themselves a university degree and have found their perfect job

Owning a pet increases your chances of being happy and successful, according to a study.

Experts who polled 1,000 dog and cat owners over the age of 55, and 1,000 adults of the same age without a pet, found those with canine and feline companionships were twice as likely to consider themselves a success.

In addition, pet owners are more likely to be married, have a child, bag themselves a university degree and have found their perfect job.

Read more

Pet owners also do almost double the amount of exercise - raising their heart rate five times a week compared to just three times for non-pet owners - and nine in 10 owners believe their pet is good for their health and wellbeing.

The study revealed owners of cats and dogs are more likely to volunteer for a charity, and go on a dream holiday.

But those without pets are more likely to have paid off their mortgage (69 per cent compared to 60 per cent) and retire earlier (46 per cent compared to 35 per cent).

Researchers also found pets bring laughter to six in 10 owners, and seven in 10 feel more relaxed in their company.

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While 43 per cent value their dog or cat as it means they always have someone to talk to, 16 per cent went as far as to say that if it wasn't for their pet, they wouldn't ever speak to anyone.

And half of those surveyed, through OnePoll.com, admit they never feel lonely due to having a pet, while the same percentage always look forward to getting home to see them.

For 45 per cent, their pet is the main reason they exercise and another 31 per cent claim that having a pet gives them a purpose in life.

Psychologist and author, Corinne Sweet, said: "The psychological and emotional benefits of pet ownership are well-known among mental health professionals.

"Having a close bond with a domestic animal can boost 'feel good' biochemicals such as endorphins and oxytocin; which can make owners feel more relaxed, calmer and happier at home.

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"The act of stroking a pet can lower high blood-pressure, and being greeted or comforted by a pet can increase general emotional wellbeing.

"Owners may also talk to their furry friends and gain a friendly, comforting ear and warm welcome when they are feeling unwell, sad or lonely.

"The many benefits of pet ownership also include the cardio-vascular exercise of dog-walking, and even the light housework associated with feeding and clearing up after our beloved animals."

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1/1 Owning a pet increases chances of happiness, says study

Owning a pet increases chances of happiness, says study

Pet owners are also more likely to be married, have a child, bag themselves a university degree and have found their perfect job

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Owning a pet increases chance of happiness, says study

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News UK Home News Pet owners are also more likely to be married, have a child, bag themselves a university degree and have found their perfect job Owning a pet increases your chances of being happy and successful, according to a study.

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nothing cuter

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All those problems talked about in the article, applies to the poor also. I think it's just that the poor don't get as much attention as the rich, so people are only pocusing on the rich are living unhappy lifes. It's saying more money more wants; well, even with out the money, people'll want things. They just can't afford it; they can only think about it more and more and get more unhappy. While the rich, they want something, they get it, even if the material things is not going to bring happiness, it's not going to result in unhappiness. It says that rich people are more isolated; that's only if they choose they. They don't have to, and alot don't. Even if they are isolated from the poor, they've got their own social group. The real rich people, don't work 23 hours a day, they have people working for them. The last point falls apart again. It's the poor that has to work their heads off to earn some bread money. So I don't think money is the reason of unhappiness for some, it how those people choose to view their rich life that decides wether they are happy or not.

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This video is both dark and healing. 90% of this video to me, is saying that don't be the good old  person that helps everyone; no one's going to return anything. It's just you to make you sad too. Maybe you saved their life, yet you are still a nobody to them. You are just ruining your own life. Yet the last few seconds, it's just heart warming: you had a rough day, but when you get home, there's always going to be that sweatheart waiting for you no matter what. And I can really relate to it. Everyday when I get home from school, and I see my cat waiting there for me, it just makes my day. I walk up, hugs him and kisses him, couldn't have enough. Though this happiness may not be permanent, but as long as that little creature's around, there's a bright side in your life, and you'll love it. That's happiness. So I don't a hundred agree with the people saying that a warm puppy doesn't mean happiness.

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Helping Others | Short Animation - Black and White

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- both material things and experiences are important; that's why money is essential to happiness
-spending money on others has nothing to do with yourself, why would it make you happy? It's not like they are going to return you anything.
- This one makes sense. I would rather have a lot good shoes other than a very expensive shoes.
-Why would you look forward to something that's going to be a letdown, and how can a letdown be a source of pleasure?
- This is only true to some people. Optimistic people will be happy when seeing others being happy. --Pessimistic people will only blame those happy people for his sad life.

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Does money make people happier? Less than you may think. But experts on the science of happiness say spending in certain areas can make you feel good about yourself and your life.

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Often hear people say that eat some chocolate or candy when you are sad. Yes sugar high can give you a temporary high, but if you do it too much, it'll give you a permanent sadness. You eat too much sugar products, and you get fat, then you'll sank into some low self esteem or self blame sate. That mood will follow you as long as you have that fat on you.

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When we feel blue, sometimes the best remedy is reaching for the cookie jar or cuddling up with an ice cream cone. These treats can be a quick fix, but sweets may not be the healthiest solution to happiness.

Sweet Surrender - Why It Matters

Sugar is found in a range of foods: from a batch of homemade holiday cookies to a bottle of ketchup. Many of these foods contain processed sugar (also known as sucrose), which causes significant spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels. Processed sugar also increases endorphins that can boost mood and provide a temporary chemical "high" Sweet preference, sugar addiction and the familiar history of alcohol dependence: shared neural pathways and genes. Fortuna, J.L. Department of Health Science, California State University, Fullerton, CA. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2010 Jun;42(2):147-51. Differential effects of honey, sucrose, and fructose on blood sugar levels. Shambaugh, P, Worthington, V, Herbert, J.H. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 1990 Jul-Aug;13(6):322-5.. (Sugar's effects on blood glucose vary in different people, so it's unclear just how much sugar it takes to cause a high. Is glycemic index of food a feasible predictor of appetite, hunger, and satiety? Niwano, Y., Adachi, T., Kashimura, J., et al. Carbohydrate Task Force, International Life Sciences Institute Japan, Tokyo. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, 2009 Jun; 55(3):201-7. ) And sugar may not be the only substance to lift our spirits- one study found a bit of chocolate makes people more willing to help others Sweet taste preferences and experiences predict prosocial inferences, personalities, and behaviors. Meier, B.P., Moeller, S.K., Riemer-Peltz, M, et al. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2011 Aug 29..

For some, it may be harder to steer clear of the sweet stuff. It turns out we can blame genes for making us wish it were Halloween everyday, as certain people may be genetically predisposed to crave sugar Sweet preference, sugar addiction and the familiar history of alcohol dependence: shared neural pathways and genes. Fortuna, J.L. Department of Health Science, California State University, Fullerton, CA. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2010 Jun;42(2):147-51.. Plus, recent research suggests people who prefer sweets are more likely to be friendly, compassionate, and yes- sweeter Sweet taste preferences and experiences predict prosocial inferences, personalities, and behaviors. Meier, B.P., Moeller, S.K., Riemer-Peltz, M, et al. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2011 Aug 29.. But a bag of Skittles probably isn't the healthiest route to kindness.

Sugar Highs and Lows - The Answer/ Debate

Forget friendliness- research has linked sugar consumption to higher rates of depression A cross-national relationship between sugar consumption and major depression? Westover, A.N., Marangell, L.B. Depression and Anxiety, 2002;16(3):118-20.. In terms of physical effects, concentrated sugar sources (like candy and fruit juice) can cause blood sugar spikes and drops, which can leave us extra-sleepy Aspartame- or sugar-sweetened beverages: effects on mood in young women. Pivonka, E.E., Grunewald, K.K. Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 1990 Feb;90(2):250-4.. After a few weeks, even low to moderate sugar consumption (as little as 40 grams, the same as a can of coke!) can decrease the size of LDL particles, and smaller LDL particles are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease Low to moderate sugar-sweetened beverage consumption impairs glucose and lipid metabolism and promotes inflammation in healthy young men: a randomized controlled trial. Aeberli, I, Gerber, P.A., Hochuli, M., et al. Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2011 Aug;94(2):479-85. Epub 2011 Jun 15.. Other researchers pinpoint excessive sugar intake as a cause of obesity and diabetes. Makes those sugar cookies seem a little bittersweet, right?

And unfortunately, sweetness isn't even a short-term solution to a sour mood. In meals that also contain protein (yup, that includes the protein in ice cream), the carbohydrates in sugar don't have their usual mood-boosting effect Carbohydrate ingestion, blood glucose and mood. Benton, D. Department of Psychology, University of Wales Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, UK. Neuroscience& Biobehavioral Reviews, 2002 May;26(3):293-308. And chocolate addicts, take note: Researchers found indulging in some cocoa-therapy general fails to brighten people's moods Mood modulation by food: an exploration of affect and cravings in 'chocolate addicts'. Macdiarmid, J.I., Hetherington, M.M.Psychology Department, University of Dundee, UK. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1995 Feb;34 ( Pt 1):129-38.. Guess sex might bebetter than chocolate, after all.

So the next time the stomach goes a-grumblin', try eating some healthful foods instead, like oatmeal, eggs, or low-fat milk. A dose of nutritious fuel can alsomake us smile with low-sugar sweetness!

The Takeaway

A sweet treat can provide a temporary high, but that happiness boost will quickly fade. Excess sugar can potentially do more damage than good to our health.
Do you reach for something sweet when feeling down? Does it really make you happier? Tell us in the comments below!

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When we feel blue, sometimes the best remedy is reaching for the cookie jar or cuddling up with an ice cream cone. These treats can be a quick fix, but sweets may not be the healthiest solution to happiness. Sugar is found in a range of foods: from a batch of homemade holiday cookies to a bottle of ketchup.

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No.2 on this list is literally describing Gatsby. He has so much wealth, but he couldn't care less about his money. And he's aquiring the love of Daisy, that he lost his own purpose of living. Though I don't agree that material things don't make people happy. People can't be happy without material things. I'm not happy without material things. Money's only unimportant when you have so much when you can have anyting you want. Before that, you'll always be worring not having enough money for something. And when you are constantly in worry of money, you can't be happy.

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10 Troubling Habits of Chronically Unhappy People

Happiness comes in so many different forms that it can be hard to define. Unhappiness, on the other hand, is easy to identify; you know it when you see it, and you definitely know when it's taken ahold of you.

Unhappiness is lethal to everyone around you, just like second-hand smoke. The famous Terman Study from Stanford followed subjects for eight decades and found that being around unhappy people is linked to poorer health and a shorter life span.

Happiness has much less to do with life circumstances than you might think. A University of Illinois study found that people who earn the most (more than $10 million annually) are only a smidge happier than the average Joes and Janes who work for them.

Life circumstances have little to do with happiness because much happiness is under your control—the product of your habits and your outlook on life. Psychologists from the University of California who study happiness found that genetics and life circumstances only account for about 50% of a person's happiness. The rest is up to you.

"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself." - Benjamin Franklin

Unhappy Habits

When people are unhappy, it's much more difficult to be around them, let alone work with them. Unhappiness drives people away, creating a vicious cycle that holds you back from achieving everything that you're capable of.

Unhappiness can catch you by surprise. So much of your happiness is determined by your habits (in thought and deed) that you have to monitor them closely to make certain that they don't drag you down into the abyss.

Some habits lead to unhappiness more than others do. You should be especially wary of the ten habits that follow as they are the worst offenders. Watch yourself carefully to make certain that these habits are not your own.

1. Waiting for the future. Telling yourself, "I'll be happy when ..." is one of the easiest unhappy habits to fall into. How you end the statement doesn't really matter (it might be a promotion, more pay, or a new relationship) because it puts too much emphasis on circumstances, and improved circumstances don't lead to happiness. Don't spend your time waiting for something that's proven to have no effect on your mood. Instead focus on being happy right now, in the present moment, because there's no guarantee of the future.

2. Spending too much time and effort acquiring "things." People living in extreme poverty experience a significant increase in happiness when their financial circumstances improve, but it drops off quickly above $20,000 in annual income. There's an ocean of research that shows that material things don't make you happy. When you make a habit of chasing things, you are likely to become unhappy because, beyond the disappointment you experience once you get them, you discover that you've gained them at the expense of the real things that can make you happy, such as friends, family, and hobbies.

3. Staying home. When you feel unhappy, it's tempting to avoid other people. This is a huge mistake as socializing, even when you don't enjoy it, is great for your mood. We all have those days when we just want to pull the covers over our heads and refuse to talk to anybody, but understand that the moment this becomes a tendency, it destroys your mood. Recognize when unhappiness is making you antisocial, force yourself to get out there and mingle, and you'll notice the difference right away.

4. Seeing yourself as a victim. Unhappy people tend to operate from the default position that life is both hard and out of their control. In other words, "Life is out to get me, and there's nothing I can do about it." The problem with that philosophy is that it fosters a feeling of helplessness, and people who feel helpless aren't likely to take action to make things better. While everyone is certainly entitled to feel down every once in a while, it's important to recognize when you're letting this affect your outlook on life. You're not the only person that bad things happen to, and you do have control over your future as long as you're willing to take action.

5. Pessimism. Nothing fuels unhappiness quite like pessimism. The problem with a pessimistic attitude, beyond it being hard on your mood, is that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy: if you expect bad things, you're more likely to get bad things. Pessimistic thoughts are hard to shake off until you recognize how illogical they are. Force yourself to look at the facts, and you'll see that things are not nearly as bad as they seem.

6. Complaining. Complaining itself is troubling as well as the attitude that precedes it. Complaining is a self-reinforcing behavior. By constantly talking—and therefore thinking—about how bad things are, you reaffirm your negative beliefs. While talking about what bothers you can help you feel better, there's a fine line between complaining being therapeutic and it fueling unhappiness. Beyond making you unhappy, complaining drives other people away.

7. Blowing things out of proportion. Bad things happen to everybody. The difference is that happy people see them for what they are—a temporary bummer—whereas unhappy people see anything negative as further evidence that life is out to get them. A happy person is upset if they have a fender bender on the way to work, but they keep things in perspective: "What a hassle, but at least it wasn't more serious." An unhappy person, on the other hand, uses it as proof that the day, the week, the month, maybe even their whole life, is doomed.

8. Sweeping problems under the rug. Happy people are accountable for their actions. When they make a mistake, they own it. Unhappy people, on the other hand, find problems and mistakes to be threatening, so they try to hide them. Problems tend to get bigger when they're ignored. The more you don't do anything about a problem, the more it starts to feel as though you can't do anything about it, and then you're right back to feeling like a victim.

9. Not improving. Because unhappy people are pessimists and feel a lack of control over their lives, they tend to sit back and wait for life to happen to them. Instead of setting goals, learning, and improving themselves, they just keep plodding along, and then they wonder why things never change.

10. Trying to keep up with the Joneses. Jealousy and envy are incompatible with happiness, so if you're constantly comparing yourself with others, it's time to stop. In one study, most subjects said that they'd be okay with making less money, but only if everybody else did too. Be wary of this kind of thinking as it won't make you happy and, more often than not, has the opposite effect.

Bringing It All Together

Changing your habits in the name of greater happiness is one of the best things that you can do for yourself. But it's also important for another reason—taking control of your happiness makes everyone around you happier too.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Travis Bradberry, Ph.D.
Dr. Travis Bradberry is the award-winning coauthor of Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and the cofounder of TalentSmart® the world's leading provider of emotional intelligence tests and training serving more than 75% of Fortune 500 companies. His bestselling books have been translated into 25 languages and are available in more than 150 countries.

Dr. Bradberry is a LinkedIn Influencer and a regular contributor to Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, The World Economic Forum, and The Huffington Post. He has written for, or been covered by, Newsweek, BusinessWeek, Fortune, Fast Company, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The Harvard Business Review.

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Emotional Intelligence (EQ) | The Premier Provider - Tests, Training, Certification, and Coaching. - TalentSmart

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Happiness comes in so many different forms that it can be hard to define. Unhappiness, on the other hand, is easy to identify; you know it when you see it, and you definitely know when it's taken ahold of you. Unhappiness is lethal to everyone around you, just like second-hand smoke.

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Babies are laughing all the time, it's just so affectionate. They don't have real worries and sadnesses. Seeing them smile and laugh make people happy.

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There's one sentence this man said that made me think, though most of what he said is confusing and not making sense. He said that what makes us happy will eventually make us unhappy. I think this one depends on the situation, if something makes you happy and you always have that thing with you, then it will not make you unhappy. But if you once had something, and it's not in your life anymore, it's gong to make you unhappy. This is pretty true on Gatsby. Daisy's what makes Gatsby happy, he was happy since the he met Daisy, and even for the five years Daisy is his hope. He was even happier when he met Daisy again after all those time. For his he's thinking his life is about to be full. But then Daisy left, he chose Tom over Gatsby. Gatsby's entire life and purpose collapsed.

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The Secret To Happiness - Best Motivational Video 2017

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Buddhism's one of the world's largest religions, yet, I think I disagree with it's four most important principles: The Four Nobel Truth. It is saying that suffering of life is caused by desire and attatchment; the only way to get rid of suffering is to get rid of all your desires and attatchments. This to me, is complete nonsense. If you don't have any desire or attatchment, what's the point of living? People need pleasure in their life, people need loved ones in their life, people need good meals and warm shelters. Those to me are all desire and attatchments. I don't see the point of living a barren life where you can't drink, eat meat, have fun, and dress nice, and a lot more. The people who don't have desire and attatchments are those suicidal ones.

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my opnion and this article really matches; I came to the came to the same conclusion about what is happiness before I read it. That Happiness is when you are satisfied with your life. Its examples of what make people happy covers many of mine. Though I think some of its needs for happiness is too much; such as outlook (how you approach the world) and elasticity (ability to recover from negative events). I don't think these are nessary maybe because I'm shallower in my thoughts. However, I do think that a turly happy like should not have inevitable negative events. When a relative who lived a fullfiled life and died of old age peacefully, it is not inevitably negative. But if a loved one died in an accident, there's always going to be that sadness in your heart, you can't get rid of it.

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How often have you said, "I just want to be happy"?

How often have you said to someone else, "I just want you to be happy"?

Have you ever stopped to consider exactly what happiness means? What, exactly, is this happiness you are wishing for?

It matters because it's hard for your wishes for happiness to come true if you aren't clear about exactly what happiness is.

What is Happiness? A Definition of Happiness

Possibly the best place to start defining happiness is by defining what it is not.

Many people believe that happiness is having fun at a party, the excitement of new experiences, the thrill and passion of sex, or the delights of a fine meal. These are all wonderful experiences to be cherished and cultivated but they are not happiness.

These experiences are the definition of pleasure. They are experiences to have and let pass. A meal to savor, then digest. A party to enjoy then let wind down. The passion to enjoy and the warm afterglow to linger in.

Pleasure is fleeting and must be if it is to continue to please us because if we have these joyful experiences all the time, our brains adapt and turn pleasure into routine. Once that happens, it takes even more to make us feel good again. Chasing pleasure is not happiness.

So, if happiness is not the same thing as pleasure, then what is happiness?

Happiness is...a warm puppy. Just kidding, warm puppies are pretty nice but I'm putting the puppy squarely in with pleasure. After all, would it still be fun to hold a warm puppy for a month? I don't think so. So, what is happiness?
Happiness is when your life fulfills your needs.
In other words, happiness comes when you feel satisfied and fulfilled. Happiness is a feeling of contentment, that life is just as it should be. Perfect happiness, enlightenment, comes when you have all of your needs satisfied.

While the perfect happiness of enlightenment may be hard to achieve, and even harder to maintain, happiness is not an either /or case. There are nearly limitless degrees of happiness between the bliss of enlightenment and the despair of depression. Most of us fall somewhere between, closer to the middle than the edges.

What Are Your Essential Needs to be Happy?

Since happiness is when your life fulfills your needs, the next logical question is, "What are my needs?"

Over the millennia many have offered answers to this question and nearly all came back with too simple answers to what is, at its core, a complex problem.

Let me ask you a question. Would you say that you, like all humans, are complicated to understand? Of course you are. We all are. If we weren't life might be much simpler but also much less rich. That complexity means that there are no simple, one-size-fits-all answers to what makes us happy.

Our individual needs vary based on our genetics, how we were raised, and our life experiences. That complex combination is what makes each of us unique, both in our exact needs, and in every other aspect of what makes us the person we are.

We may each be complex but we are all human and that provides the foundation on which we can discover our essential human needs. Just as we are all born looking human on the outside, we all share common basic needs on the inside. Where we differ is exactly how strongly we feel each of those needs.

I like to think of each of us like one of those big recording studio mixer boards, the ones with all the sliding controls and knobs, some of which interact with each other, some working separately, all working together to produce the final product. We're like that. Each knob and slide may be set a particular way, the way that produces the person we are. Each of us is like the same model of mixer board, let's call it Homo Sapiens 1. We each have the same knobs and sliders but we each have them set a bit differently.

Our current theory, largely based on new scientific discoveries about how the brain works and on current happiness theories, has identified 9 universal and overlapping human needs which go by the handy acronym WE PROMISE.

WE PROMISE stands for:

Wellbeing - mind-body connections, aspects of your physical body that affect your mood, and vice versa

Environment - external factors like safety, food availability, freedom, weather, beauty, and your home

Pleasure - temporary experiences such as joy, sex, love, and eating

Relationships - as a social species, relationships are at the foundation of what it means to be human

Outlook - how you approach the world through adventurousness, curiosity, and making plans

Meaning - having a purpose and the wisdom to understand it

Involvement - to be happy you have to be engaged and actively involved

Success - confirmation from yourself and others that what you do has value

Elasticity - how you recover from life's inevitable negative events

These 9 categories cover the range of human needs in a very general way and are intentionally overlapping, just as our thoughts and feelings overlap in our mind.

For example, the thrill of a roller-coaster ride is a mix of: fear (Elasticity), joy (Pleasure), adventure (Outlook), shared experience (Relationships), safety (Environment), upset tummies (Wellbeing), the courage to ride (Involvement), and the reward of having done it (Success). All these are experienced in one event, many at the same moment in time.

While the WE PROMISE categories are a convenient way to organize and simplify our universal needs, they are just the beginning - we are each more complex than that.

Within each category are 5 to 10 specific items which we call Happiness Essentials™, for a total (as of this writing) of 58 "knobs and sliders."

Going Deeper - How to Build a Happy Life

To go in-depth about WE PROMISE and your Happiness Essentials, I have created a special 14-part series, "The Keys to Happiness: Your Ultimate Guide to Building a Lifetime of Fulfillment and Satisfaction" which not only explains much more about the WE PROMISE categories and all of your Happiness Essentials, but shows you how to build a Happiness Plan, and even compute your Happiness Index to give you a measurement of your happiness which you can track over time.

To get "The Keys to Happiness" e-series, please click here now.

Wishing you happiness and fufillment,
Kenneth Benjamin and the Happiness International team

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What is Happiness? Learn About a Better Definition of Happiness You Can Use to Become Happier

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How often have you said, "I just want to be happy"? How often have you said to someone else, "I just want you to be happy"? Have you ever stopped to consider exactly what happiness means? What, exactly, is this happiness you are wishing for?

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I really like this image because it made me think of some thing I previously didn't think of. I think the picture's saying that what's happy or not depends on how you want to look at things, it's more so up to you. You don't need to be too rigid about things, look outside the box, and you'll find more smily faces. However, at the sametime, if you think too much outside the box, it could also cause you sandess.