04 Aug Happiness is…3 enlivening positive moral traits
Just a few days ago I invited our Facebook community to review the "7 Deadly Sins" and then to proffer what they considered to be some more positive, enlivening moral traits that might contribute to happiness.
Responses included honesty and compassion, love and respect, contribution, communication, optimism and hope…and many, many more!
Which brings us to today's posting; I don't think there are any right or wrong answers to the question I posed but I do think this is a vitally important discussion to have, even if just with ourselves. Happiness will come to those who know what positive attributes to cultivate and happiness will stem from the appropriate applciation of moral behaviours.
So with this in mind, I thought you might all enjoy this interesting article I stumbled upon a month or two ago. Shawn Parr writes for FastCompany and his story begins thus…
Where there is happiness you will find success
The path to personal or corporate happiness can be found in the simple, yet powerful, equation of mixing a healthy dose of generosity toward others, with equal parts of gratitude for the good things in your life.
People or companies who show their appreciation and gratitude attract the admiration and interest of those around them, and grateful people stand out in a crowd with their intriguing and infectious energy, attracting interest, curiosity, conversation and friendship. After "I love you," saying "Thank you" is probably the most affirming and energizing statement that we can use toward one another, especially when it's combined with total sincerity.
Together, these powerful, positive words help to fuel a grateful and happy heart. Brands that show their appreciation and gratitude inspire and attract loyal fans with a natural curiosity to engage more actively.
This is quite the opposite from individuals and brands who are self-centered and focused on self-promotion. They lack the depth of relationship to move from a fan to a real friend.
Buy your friend a coffee instead of yourself. It will make you a happier person.
Recent studies found the Uncommon Sense principle that "It's better to give than to receive" provides a rich ground for innovation in relationship development and customer retention. Spending money on others or giving to charity puts a bigger smile on your face than buying things for yourself, according to Michael Norton, a professor at Harvard Business School. Most people think that if you make more money you are going to be a lot happier, but it actually doesn't have a huge impact on overall happiness. How you spend does make a tangible difference…
…you can read the full and orginal article HERE
And as always, we'd love to know what you think. So go to our Facebook Page or tweet with @drhappy on anything related to this or similar articles.
Thanks for reading… : )