Happiness Newsletter March 2010

Welcome to the Happiness Newsletter - March 2010

-From Carole Smith at Type Dynamics

Hi there,

According to Martin Seligman, if we are to achieve happiness in our lives we must recognise there are four key components:

• A Meaningful Life
• Authenticity  
• Purpose in Life
• Strengths (Signature strengths e.g. integrity, kindness)

In this month's newsletter, I am concentrating on ‘meaning.’ Specifically, what is a meaningful life and how does it contribute to our overall happiness levels?

As always, I hope the content provokes questions or thoughts for you but most of all that you enjoy the newsletter.

And don’t forget I very much welcome any comments or feedback you may have.

Regards,

Carole

Email: carolesmith@typedynamics.ie / Website: http://www.typedynamics.ie/

 
A Meaningful Life

It is perhaps considered the biggest question of them of them all, ‘What is the Meaning of Life?’ Consequently, many of us choose to avoid asking this question of ourselves for fear it might shine a light on a life that does not measure up to expectations – ours, our families, our peers.

Here’s a thought though...what if we reframed the question?

Perhaps it might help in finding an answer. But first, we need to understand the word ‘meaning.’ According to several dictionaries, meaning is summed up as significance or importance. So then, when we ask what is the meaning of life, we are actually asking what is the significance of life or indeed the importance of my life.  

If we explore further and ask what we understand when we talk of ‘life’ we learn it is the ability to grow, to reproduce, to respond to stimuli and it is the power of adapting to our environment through changes that originate internally. While this also applies to both plants as well as animals, man we know is uniquely different in that he is rational, feels emotions, and has an ability to be self-aware. So when we are referring to ‘life’ we tend to be speaking about something that is more than just biological processes. For the most part, we mean our emotions and our ability to feel things like pain, pleasure, sadness, or joy. 

If we turn our attention now to emotions we know they are triggered by our senses that is touch, taste, see, hear, and smell. The emotional response to whatever the stimuli are in turn provokes either a positive or a negative reaction. Whatever the emotional response is will then influence our thinking and our behaviour. 

So, let’s go back to our question and reframe it as follows:

What is the significance of my ability to have reactions?

In essence, our reactions allow us to communicate how we are feeling about people, events, memories, thoughts, even our dreams. Our ability enables us to continually grow and develop. Significantly, we also have the resources to embrace and experience the excitement of discovery, the joy of achievement and the wonder of mystery.

So, perhaps a meaningful life is one that that is lived in a true sense. A life where we are connecting with others, and where we find the courage to share who we are from a deeply authentic place. Equally, a life lived with significance must be when someone at some point in time has touched our very soul and we have felt the intensity of that emotion.

My own thoughts are, that as long as we can feel, and express our emotions, we are alive. And, if we are contributing in a positive way to those around us then there is very little else we need for a meaningful and happy life. 

And finally..........

"When you have a sense of your own identity and a vision of where you want to go in your life, you then have the basis for reaching out to the world and going after your dreams for a better life". - Stedman Graham.

Carole Smith, Type Dynamics ©March 2010 Newsletter