What is happiness? Psychologist Dr. Ed Diener identifies happiness, or “subjective well-being,” as a combination of two things: life satisfaction and having more positive than negative emotions. Another leading psychology researcher, Dr. Martin Seligman, describes it as three elements: pleasure, engagement, and meaning, with the last two having the greatest impact on living a happy life.
What is happiness? Although the answer varies from person to person, recent research is showing that what we used to think would bring us happiness – say, a higher salary, fancier house, snazzier car – isn’t actually the ticket. The things that bring people genuine happiness are more about memorable experiences, strong connections with friends and family, and a sense of gratitude for the good that exists in your life right now.
