Reflections on Happiness
One of my favourite things to do as a professor is to stay after class and talk to students about what hit home for them about each week’s lecture.
Fresh Perspective
Students look at the world in a very unique way.
Motivating me to think about psychology at a whole different level.
Especially when it comes to FOMO and happiness.
“FOMO is an acronym for fear of missing out, which is a feeling of anxiety that manifests itself in various ways, from a brief pang of envy to more intense feelings of self-doubt or inadequacy.” Source: Macmillan Dictionary
Student Insights
In the video below I share the insightful questions students asked after class about happiness and social comparison.
— Specifically: What deters happiness? What contributes to happiness?
Each question underscoring the famous quote by Theodore Roosevelt: “Comparison is the thief of joy.”
Happiness, FOMO, and Social Comparison
FOMO and measuring happiness against each other’s’s lowlight reel / difficult times and highlight reel / celebratory times was also an active discussion on social media today.
After watching the happiness video posted on YouTube, Jenna (facetofacewiththesky) shared the following observations:
YOUR TURN
How would you answer the questions asked by my students in class today:
- What are 2 deterrents to happiness?
- What are 2 contributors to happiness?
- How is your happiness influenced by other people’s highlights and lowlights?
- What simple changes can you make today to enhance your happiness?
The way I see it —
True Contentment Comes from Being Satisfied with Your Life Independent of Everyone Else
Thriving Under Pressure 
Thought provoking post Andrea. Learning to appreciate the simplest of things and not comparing my life to others is a recipe for happiness but it is not easy to live independently when both younger and older generations are dependent upon you.
Step One: Acknowledge want you want.
Step Two: Trust the universe to bring it to you.
There will always be barriers.
Yours are big & so are mine.
The key is found in “The Art of Allowing”.
Breathe
Release
Receive
Together Bernice – We Rise
☁️ ⛅️ ☀️💖
I love the thought of ‘The Art of Allowing’ Andrea, thank you for your thought-filled reply! Le grà, Marie xx
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#!: Looking outside of oneself, in general and (as you’ve said) comparison, even if it’s comparing yourself at a particular point in time to now.
Amen Dr. G!
Everything is relevant!
Happiness is an ongoing exploration for all of us. Including understanding and respecting why money (security) brings one person joy, while heart-centered work (self-actualization) brings another person.
The key is to honour individual differences in motivation when it comes to joy.
—- My video on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs might help:
I don’t know if this is revelant, Andrea, but just last evening I had a conversation with hubby having to do with career choices. I pointed out he followed the “money”. In other words he read in a magazine what the up and coming jobs would be and so that is where he headed. He did not follow his “Heart” to work at something he truly enjoyed.
I on the other hand, listened to my Heart in my career choice and even though it was extremely challenging (ICU RN), I knew this was where I wanted to be.
This does touch on the subject of happiness, for how can you be happy if you choose to go into a job that your Heart really isn’t “in to”?
Lots to think about Andrea. For me happiness and contentment have grown as I learned to appreciate everything in life, from the small blessings to the big, and also the setbacks…
Struggle, adversity, challenge combined with appreciation for “what is” is the magical formula for happiness and contentment. Something you write beautifully about in your book.
Please share the link to your book in the comments on this post Brigid. A seminal work in faith, resilience, and mindfulness that needs to be shared with the world! 📗💚🍃
Thank you so much Andrea. You are kind. My book “Watching the Daisies” link is https://amazon.com/dp/B01N3M9VJ0 It is also available on Apple, Barnes and Noble, Kobo…
Thanks Brigid! ☀️💛
Awesome!
You know how to bring it, my friend.
Thanks for this!
These remind me of the eternal “what is life?” question.
The answers may depend on your age. As you age, the answers often get less concrete. I think happiness, contentment, joy – all originate in having a real sense of purpose, feeling loved and cherished by someone and seeing the glass as “half-full” rather than half empty.
Obviously good health, food and shelter factor into the equation as well!
So many jewels in your happiness reflections!
The crowning jewel being: “I think happiness, contentment, joy – all originate in having a real sense of purpose, feeling loved and cherished by someone and seeing the glass as “half-full” rather than half empty.”
Thank you for contributing to the conversation!
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And thank you as well!
Happiness comes from within. Only I can stop happiness however other people can cause me (us) temporary pain and make us feel unhappy.
I’m a naturally happy person and I’m happy about my life. I believe it’s going in the right direction finally.
Grateful to see you hear Lane and on my YouTube page!
Wonderful knowing you have found a place of contentment.
Hard won. Much appreciated.
I get it 100%
One of the many upsides of aging.
Perspective + Time = 😊😊
Thank you very much Dr. Andrea! Have a wonderful weekend 🌻🦋🌞
You too! 💖☀️
For question 1, believe nothing and nobody could stop you from being happy or from finding joy. I get sad sometimes that is when things are really tough but most of the time i would realize i am not actually, i am frustrated.
For 2, I believe i am in the stage in my life where i have found the “balance”, thus i am contented and fulfilled
Things dont change or happen the way we want it…i am sure of that..but we can always change the way we view things..
I am not a professional psychologist..my answers are based solely on my experiences in life
Love your answers!
BTW: The best kind of psychologist integrates life experience into their practice.
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What I love about this post is that it discusses one of my favorite subjects – happiness.
We go through life wanting this or that. We teach our children to have goals and dreams.
What do you want to be when you grow up? We instill these habits and ideas at an early age.
Sadly, we forget to teach them to be happy. Our purpose in life should be to happy and to do whatever makes us happy. Life is too short. Be happy.
So beautifully said!
We teach our young to reach for the stars but too often forget to show them by example that it’s in the reaching — more than in the attaining that true bliss is found.
The anticipation, the envisioning, the believing = Happiness
Which is why I am always looking up!
https://drandreadinardo.com/2017/09/01/always-looking-up/
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Exactly. Have a beautiful weekend.
You too! ☀️💛