There is more to happiness than simply feeling satisfied with one’s life.
A recent study found that experiencing the self as interdependent coincided with increased happiness through feeling greater harmony with others. The findings suggest that happiness does not simply depend on one’s life satisfaction. Rather, happiness is also shaped by the extent that one feels interdependent and in harmony with others.
Self-centeredness involves the feeling of being an independent and autonomous being. This mindset involves seeking pleasure by maximizing positive outcomes for oneself, leading to fluctuations in happiness that are dependent on external stimuli. On the other hand, selflessness and the feeling of being interdependent promotes lasting happiness, since one’s happiness is no longer dictated by external events. It has been proposed that selflessness gives rise to feelings of harmony, inner peace, connection with others, and authentic happiness.
In simple terms, seeing ourselves to be separated from others and our environment (the experience of self-centeredness) was linked to lower happiness, whereas seeing ourselves to be closely linked to others and the world around us (the experience of selflessness) was linked to higher happiness. The study also found that when individuals experienced selflessness, they felt a sense of harmony with others and within themselves.
With Counselling we can further our future psychotherapeutic development, helping us reach high and stable happiness despite life's adversity and in turn this can lead to a more peaceful and serene society overall.
Excerpts reposted with permission
To read the full study, published on October 25, 2021 in Mental Health by Beth Ellwood (earned degrees in Psychology and Behavioural Science from McGill University)
click on: http://www.bellacounselling.com/bellas-blog/category/relationships
A recent study found that experiencing the self as interdependent coincided with increased happiness through feeling greater harmony with others. The findings suggest that happiness does not simply depend on one’s life satisfaction. Rather, happiness is also shaped by the extent that one feels interdependent and in harmony with others.
Self-centeredness involves the feeling of being an independent and autonomous being. This mindset involves seeking pleasure by maximizing positive outcomes for oneself, leading to fluctuations in happiness that are dependent on external stimuli. On the other hand, selflessness and the feeling of being interdependent promotes lasting happiness, since one’s happiness is no longer dictated by external events. It has been proposed that selflessness gives rise to feelings of harmony, inner peace, connection with others, and authentic happiness.
In simple terms, seeing ourselves to be separated from others and our environment (the experience of self-centeredness) was linked to lower happiness, whereas seeing ourselves to be closely linked to others and the world around us (the experience of selflessness) was linked to higher happiness. The study also found that when individuals experienced selflessness, they felt a sense of harmony with others and within themselves.
With Counselling we can further our future psychotherapeutic development, helping us reach high and stable happiness despite life's adversity and in turn this can lead to a more peaceful and serene society overall.
Excerpts reposted with permission
To read the full study, published on October 25, 2021 in Mental Health by Beth Ellwood (earned degrees in Psychology and Behavioural Science from McGill University)
click on: http://www.bellacounselling.com/bellas-blog/category/relationships
RSS Feed
