PERHAPS START WITH A LITTLE SCIENCE - WHAT IS HAPPINESS AND PLEASURE AND HOW DOES WHAT WE DO AFFECT THESE?
Do we really understand the difference between pleasure and happiness? Is the pursuit of wellbeing just another consumer fad: something we buy, rent, hire, download or practice and for a small fee we find wellbeing?
You may find this video interesting.
I have previously written in a blog...
I will be particularly interested in what Wellbeing means for people and organisations, and whether they take a mechanistic approach (These interventions yield the happiness + productivity result) or a more humanistic approach (How do we change culture, communication and process to improve our community). The key difference between the two appears to be that the former treats the person and production unit, whereas the latter treats them like an architect of Purpose.
Source:
" WHAT IS WELLBEING - ARE YOU SURE THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT?"
Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of meditation, reflection and even mindfullness, but I am a skeptic of the simplistic buy now "3 step plan to transform your life"
A BALANCED LIFE
My view is that it is about a good balance and a sense of purpose
#Financial/Career
#PhysicalHealth
#MentalHealth
#Family
#Friends
#Community
#Social
#Educational
#Fun
#Spiritual/Faith
For each element above that is important to you [and add a few more if you like!] write down what is your long-term goal, short-term goal and routine habits. Now put that somewhere prominent [on the fridge, bedroom door, front door] and do something every-day, no mater how small, that moves you forward on that path. You will quickly feel the benefit of progress.
The sense of purpose comes from something more long-term than hunger, thirst, intimacy and more healthy and sustainable than drink, drugs, shop-therapy, materialism and foolishness. These are all great in moderation but a sense of purpose is something more about values than actions, it is something we walk towards rather than the walking itself.It may be family, community, country or religion. But it should be something big, worthy and consistent with your values and sense of self.
SOME THOUGHTS ON GOALS AND HABITS
It may be worth expending on the element "write down what is your long-term goal, short-term goal and routine habits".
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) tells us that thinking, about action, helps behaviour and feeling. It should be noted that each effects the other. What we do affects how we feel. How we feel affects what we do. We can start the virtuous pattern from either direction.
So when compiling your list of values [what is important to you] rank them so you spend time on the most important. Maybe score them 1 - 5 how much time they get now, and how much time you want to give 1- 5. This will help you identify where you need to change and by how much.
Now list the goals (once only) and habits (daily, weekly,monthly) that will help achieve your best YOU. Maybe also note 1 easy, 2 hard 3 very hard and use a diary or calendar to plan these goals and habits. Don't beat yourself up if you fail a 3-point habit, but just keep picking up the points: make it a game. Repeat and do better next week. And next month.
This point system means you stop doing stuff that scores 0-zero and start doing things that move you towards what is important. This brings happiness (yay!... I achieved something - Dopamine hit) and contentment (mmm... I am bit by bit getting to where I want to be - Serotonin hit)
I recommend you update and re-evaluate every so often, because lifes goals and priorities change with age, experience and circumstance. But now you have a system!
MORE INFORMATION
If you are keen to lean more about wellbeing and mental health there are plenty of good resources on-line which are free and useful