By. Ran
The search for happiness is very real; many of us get lost in this search for happiness. Many psychologists have dedicated their time to study the human mind and how it works. And Carl Jung, a renowned psychologist, founded many theories about personality, identity, and analytical psychology.
In 1960, Jung was interviewed by journalist Gordon Young; he was asked one particular question.
“What do you consider to be more or less basic factors making for happiness in the human? “
Here is how Jung responded:
#1. Good physical and mental health.
#2. Good personal and intimate relationships, such as those of marriage, the family, and friendships.
#3. The faculty for perceiving beauty in art and nature.
#4. Reasonable standards of living and satisfactory work.
#5. A philosophic or religious point of view capable of coping successfully with the vicissitudes of life.
We went through each and every point, focusing on what we think is important.
Scroll down to see how you can use these principles to enrich your life.
#1. Take care of your mental and physical health.
It is no surprise that anyone working out to keep their body in good health while also taking care of the mental health leads a happy life. Benefits of physical exercise are vast; according to Web MD, our bodies release endorphins when we exercise, and these endorphins can provide us with the same level of satisfaction that chocolate can. So, you can eat a bar of chocolate and feel guilty afterward, or you can go jogging every day and feel light!
#2. Working to improve our relationships.
While it is true that we don’t like and get along with everyone all the time, the consensus is that someone who is loved and who works to put their relationships first is happier than someone who does not. In fact, people who spend their lives alone are not happy; sharing your life with people can make you happier. And spending your life serving others, your wife, children, friends, extended family etc can make you even more happier.
#3. See the beauty all around.
As modern human beings, our lives are essentially very busy. What we all forget is to slow things down and go at a safe pace. We need to smell those roses, nap on the patio, picnic under a tree, share some change with a man on the street, visit a friend, and appreciate the beauty that is everywhere. Taking time to soak up the busy world around us makes us happier.
#4. Enjoy your work and life.
The happiness of employees seems to go up when they enjoy their work and do not feel the need to demarcate their personal and professional lives. When we feel needed and productive, our levels of happiness go up. We do experience more satisfaction and better standards of living when we take pride in our work.
#5. Something to believe.
While it is true that believing in a religion is not necessary to lead a happy life, many people, including Jung, believed that having something bigger than yourself to believe in could lead you down a path of happiness.
Focusing on one aspect of your life that you can improve upon is a great way to get through tough times in life. In fact, the simple of act trying to improve one’s self or one’s situation can bring about a great deal of satisfaction and happiness as well.
Another Jung strategy you might be interested in is shadow work, which is about understanding your darker side so you can release it.