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Editor's Notes

• #2: Happiness is made by the choices one makes in life. “External conditions are the accidents in life, its outer trappings. Success and happiness lie within you” (Helen Keller, n.d.). What a person does in life will not guarantee happiness but rather how the person does in life that will bring the reward of happiness. Having a sense of well-being does not mean a person is necessarily well-off. The poor can be just as happy as the rich and the rich can be just as miserable as the poor. Happiness is not meant for certain people but meant for certain actions. The recommendations I am including have brought me happiness as well as struggles. Struggles can bring forth great accomplishment and happiness but struggles can also bring anxiety, fear, and depression. Determining how to effectively manage the stresses in life can be achieved by including goals. Happiness can be achieved easily without great effort with help of family, spiritual belief, and being thankful.
• #3: Don’t confuse well-being with being well-off Being well-off does not translate to well-being. More money does not make a person feel happiness, although many individuals believe they need a high income to fulfill their dreams. According to Myers (2000), many people ranked income as an ‘essential goal’ and ‘very important,’ and more important than ‘raising a family’ or ‘developing a meaningful philosophy of life.’ However, for a person to be happy, basic needs such as biological, safety, and the need for love and belonging must be met for a person to experience happiness. Gaining love and acceptance through relationships is more important than acquiring money or income. Once basic needs are met, income is less of a concern. At one point in my life, I thought I had everything I ever wanted; a high income, a home, three vehicles, credit cards, and enough money to buy whatever we wanted. When I chose my family over my job, things changed. We lost our home, vehicles, and credit cards because I was not bringing in the high income to support what we had and what we wanted. What I learned was money does not buy happiness. I still have everything I want and need but still desire to have more money. I am happy and content with living in an apartment, driving one vehicle, and shopping at thrift stores. I spend time with my children and husband cultivating the family bond.Picture retrieved February 5, 2011 from spirithappy.wordpress.com.
• #4: Cultivate family ties According to Willa Cather, “This is happiness, to be dissolved into something completely great.” Maintaining a strong bond with my children is very important. My husband and I do not have strong relationships with our families. We distance ourselves from our families because those relationships are destructive to our health and well-being. Although we do not cultivate family ties to our parents, we are strengthening the bond with our children in ways that are healthy and encouraging. We laugh together, play together, and share our life experiences together. When I am with my family, nothing else matters, only the experience of enjoyment. Spending time with my children and husband is very rewarding. I can teach my children valuable lessons while enjoying the experience. I love seeing the looks on their faces when they are happy. Knowing I contribute to their happiness, inadvertently contributes to my happiness. When I spend time with my family, time passes quickly. It is enjoyable to be with my family; cooking meals together, baking desserts, assisting with school, and playing games together. My concentration is focused on my family and the experience of what I do with them. Often times, I glance at the clock only to notice three hours have passed too quickly and I need to leave for work. Although my focus is on my family and the experience, I do notice things around me. I notice everything happening from the small child smiling at the bird to the sun rise with all the brilliant colors. When I start something, I also experience life along the way.Picture retrieved February 6, 2011 from johnehrenfeld.com
• #5: Finish what you start and wholly experience it along the way Striving for success and accomplishment, not perfection correlates positive results in achieving happiness. Setting higher goals, challenging ourselves to reach attainable goals, and having the skills to meet the goals exert control over one’s life. According to Angus Campbell (1981), “Having a strong sense of controlling one’s life is a more dependable predictor of positive feelings of well-being…” Entering experiences in life wholeheartedly, facing the challenges and difficulties, with body, mind, soul, and spirit brings forth an experience of happiness which cannot be compared to any other experience in life done half-heartedly. I set high goals for myself every day, challenging myself to overcome obstacles for a sense of control and success. Striving for success wholeheartedly to reach these goals brings forth a sense of accomplishment, self-esteem, and happiness. Often times I push myself too hard to accomplish too many goals in one day. Pushing up the ladder to higher, more difficult goals can be challenging, bringing stress, anxiety, and an overwhelming fear of failure. I am extremely hard on myself, both physically and emotionally. When I do not accomplish everything I set out to do in one day, I feel I could have tried harder to reach success. I have to remind myself that I am only human and cannot continue to set unreachable goals because this will only bring me down. I use my faith to get me past the difficulties in life, increasing my happiness and feelings of accomplishment.Picture retrieved February 6, 2011 from weightlossbuddy.com
• #6: Spirituality Individuals who actively participate in religious practices are happier than those who do not participate in religious affiliations. Religion is believed to bring a greater sense of satisfaction and happiness. Attending worship services brings individuals together for a sense of belonging, acceptance, and community.I encountered a different experience when attending church services which gave me an uneasy feeling about churches. Going through a difficult time in my life, I felt shunned and alienated. I no longer attend church services but I still have strong faith and a deep spiritual belief which helps me through the difficult times. Not letting my spiritual beliefs fade, as David Niven (2001) says, I am able to cope with the challenges I encounter in my life.Picture retrieved February 6, 2011 from silouanthompson.net
• #7: Happiness starts at the core of all things; family, friends, relationships, spirituality, and basic needs. Cultivating family bonds can bring happiness by remembering the simple things in life. Taking time for family can increase the happiness, joy, and love. Experiencing life comes with many challenges which can be overcome if the experience is done wholeheartedly. Putting everything - body, mind, and soul – into everything you set out to do can bring forth great experiences in life that can overcome any challenge. Including a spiritual belief or faith can help you get past the difficulties in life. Surround yourself with love of family, love of God, and wholeheartedly enjoy the experience, and life will become one great journey you will cherish forever. Happiness lies in the palms of your hands, all you have to do is reach out and take it.Picture retrieved February 5, 2011 from mariamore.com