Faith

Faith is something we can consider as a belief in a higher power or of something unseen, something abstract, or something immeasurable. It is also often associated with a practice of a certain religion.

Many surveys have already shown that people with strong religious faith–of any religious or denomination–are happier than those who are irreligious. Through religion, people develop the mindset that the Higher Power they believe in is someone who can help them or rescue them from life’s pitfalls. It is where they go to ease their burdens and find forgiveness. It drives people to becoming better persons that eventually leads to spiritual satisfaction.

When a person gains spiritual satisfaction in practicing his religion, he becomes motivated in finding reasons to live life and be happy. Being spiritually satisfied also has an impact on a person’s health and well-being. According to studies, for the more inwardly focused, deep breathing during meditation and prayer can slow down the body and reduce stress, anxiety, and physical tension to allow better emotions and energy to come forward. Not only that, the happiness we get from practicing our faith also helps us to have a better sense of ourselves. According to David Myers, a social psychologist at Michigan’s Hope College, faith provides social support, a sense of purpose and a reason to focus beyond the self.

The happiness a person gets from being faithful is not necessarily measured by the religious practices he does and how often he does it. In 2004, studies showed that 36 percent if people who prayed everyday said they were very happy, versus 21 percent who never prayed.

Work

In a 2002 survey, more than 1000 Americans were asked, “If you were to get enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your life, would you stop working?” and fewer than a third of the respondents said yes. Apparently, most Americans love their work. And for a person to love his job, he really must be happy with it.

Reasons why people are happy with their jobs may vary. For one thing, our jobs provide for us. The money we earn through it helps us pay our bills, settle our financial responsibilities, and buy the things that we want. Having a job that suffices our needs to the extent of giving us comfort is a sure source of happiness.

Another is that our jobs make us useful. Aside from the basics of the work itself, we learn a handful of attitudes such as independence, self-esteem, cooperation, and even leadership. Being happy with our work makes us realize our self-worth. It causes us to be more productive and efficient not just within the workplace but also our homes.

Companies should be conscious about the happiness and satisfaction of their employees. They should pay attention to the performance of each worker. They can do this by having regular evaluation within co-workers and bosses. Employers may give incentives to the employees who have been excellent. If they feel appreciated, they are more likely to engage themselves in their work. On the other hand, employees who have poor performances should be given a chance to improve.

In the long run, happy employees are able to handle workplace relationships, stress, and changers better than unhappy employees. They also feel more secured and they usually have lesser frustrations.

However, not everybody is happy with his job and for most people, a job is not something you can just leave the moment you feel like quitting. If you feel unhappy about your work, you can consider seeking the advice of your boss or of a trusted co-worker. Ask them what they think your strengths and weaknesses are. After this, you can start on developing your strengths and improving on your weaknesses.

Finding happiness in our job is important because how we perform at work has huge effect on our well-being and on how we deal with life. If we want to be happy at work, we should strive hard in getting a job that we really like to do. However, we have to remind ourselves that there’s no such thing as an easy job. We always have to work hard and improve ourselves whenever we can.

Marriage

The belief that marriage tends to hold people, especially women, back from their full potential to be happy has been around since the 1960s. However, a 2004 survey in America says that married people were six times more likely to say that they were very happy than those who are single, divorced, and separated. And generally speaking, married women say they’re happy more often than married men.

We know that marriage is not something people just get into. Since it is a lifetime commitment, people consider many things such as financial, mental, and emotional stability, before tying the knot. This helps the couple to have a secure and happy married life.

According to Claire Kamp Dush, a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Social Sciences at Cornell University, being married is connected with less distress, higher self-esteem, greater life satisfaction, and grater happiness. On the other hand, married men are more successful in work as well, getting promoted more often and receiving higher performance appraisals.

Studies also show that married people tend to live longer. Having a spouse can decrease your risk for dying from cancer as much as knocking ten years off your life. As for married women, they are 30 percent more likely to rate their health as excellent compared to single women.

What about kids? Children, on their own, don’t appear to raise the happiness level. In fact, they actually tend to slightly lower the happiness of a marriage. However, a 2003 study suggests that children are almost always part of an overall lifestyle of happiness. Taking care of children may take its toll on the parents’ patience and understanding, but the more they develop their parenting skills, the more they can improve their married life and gain further happiness.

These days divorce is getting popular because of couples separating from left and right. We see them in the movies, the television, and yes, even in our neighborhood. But let’s face it, nobody really wants to have his or her marriage be ruined especially if it can be avoided.

Generosity

Giving is one trait that bounces back, often immediately, once you throw it away. Aside from making other people happy, the feeling of being a blessing to them makes you happy, too.

We’ve all heard that money doesn’t buy happiness. The truth is, it does, only that it tends to be short-lived when we do it for ourselves. To make it last longer, we can try buying happiness for other people. One way to do this is by donating to a charity. Studies show that 43 percent of people who give money to charity say that they are very happy than non-givers. On the other hand, 42 percent of volunteers say that they are happy compared to non-volunteers.

According to Elizabeth Dunn, a psychologist from the University of British Columbia, regardless of how much income each person made, those who spent money on others reported greater happiness, while those who spent more on themselves did not.

In practicing charity, it doesn’t really matter where your money would go or how it would be spent. The only assurance that you need is that it will be of good use to the people you gave it to and the happiness giving has brought you.

Being generous however doesn’t always mean giving money away. Sometimes, it could mean giving a part of yourself. This can be done by donating blood, volunteering for a charitable organization, or simply offering to babysit you neighbor’s child. Acts like these are always appreciated and causing both giver and receiver happiness.

Sources: www.time.com, www.usatoday.com, www.gmj.gallup.com, www.myhappy.com, www.psychpage.com, www.msnbc.msn.com, www.reuter.com

When a couple started to live together, they have no choice except to learn sharing things. The expense of married people is probably much cheaper. For example, if one is sick and cannot work anymore, the spouse can do the part at home instead of hiring nurses or someone who will take care of himself.  In paying debts – both are working to pay it.

2. Longer life

The mortality rate of singles is higher than married people.  Illness is more prone to unmarried women than to the married women.  For men, the immune system of married men is more resistant to sickness compared to the single.
3. Better mental health

Singles are more depressed than married people. There are more cases of singles committing suicide than single people.  Having someone to share ideas and feelings is very important.  Generally, it is helpful to solve a problem with a partner.
4. Better sex

Married people have better sex. They do it anytime because their partners are always there.

Source: www.psychpage.com

The SWS survey also found out that 50 percent of the respondents disapproved cohabitation. Those who are in favor stated that it is good for a couple to live together first in order to better know their partners. Meanwhile the Roman Catholic church – the major religion in the Philippines – strictly prohibits it as they claim that marriage is sacred and should be preserved.

Source: www.asiafinest.com

1. Appreciate his/her work.
Saying a simple “thank you” does not require a lot of energy.

2. Make time for each other
Make it a point to often spend time together but leave a little space to breathe. Also spend time alone with each other, so that at the end of the day you could both share your experiences. This way, you’ll stay interesting with your partner.

3. Be faithful
Fidelity is the word needed here. Though he/she doesn’t see you all the time, make sure that your partner is the only one in your heart. Learn to satisfy with him/her.

4. Keep it hot
You can do it by traveling to different places. As environment changes, moods change as well.  Always have physical contact – as simple as holding hands, a massage or just plain leg rubbing.

5. Honesty is the best policy
Don’t lie or hide things. The problem will only get bigger. Don’t even hesitate to tell him/her the truth. If you got any problem, be opened.

6. Never prolong untoward issues.
If both of you are experiencing awkward things in your everyday life together, as early as possible, talk about it.

7. Look good
Stay fit & healthy for each other. Better if you’ll do exercise together. Afterall, who wants an unattractive partner?

8. Remove uncertainties
Doubt is the number one termites in a relationship. Trust can never be earned if doubt hinders your love. If you really love the person, believe in his actions.

9. Say “SORRY”
Say sorry when you’re wrong; even when pride prohibits

10. Support
Support each other’s dream. Be willing to follow your passions, support your partner in their decisions & create new ones together. Two heads are better than one.

The study reveals that married people’s drive to live is to provide to their children that carries their happiness in life. However, they also desire to get their investment of time and money from their children which drives them to think that their children brings happiness.

The process is like this: Marriage is at its peak of happiness when children is still not present, it flows on until the expectancy of children but it decreases sharply when children comes because of the troubles and hardship encountered. But when the children reaches the legal age to leave the house and go away, that is where happiness is restored.

Source: www.foxnews.com

However, isn’t amazing seeing people celebrating their diamond wedding? Let’s take Rex and Brenda Hassock (pictured at right, in their wedding day) as our example. They met in the wedding of Rex’s sister more than 60 years ago. Now, 81and 78 years old respectively, have been together for more than 75. Wow.

They went on to have seven children that blossomed to 13 grandchildren and hear this, seven great-grandchildren.

Their secret? They have a common bond for simple activities and things which makes them happy, “I think our secret is to have a quick row and then make it up.” He said. “We love gardening and doing puzzles and crosswords together, but most importantly visiting all of our lovely children and grandchildren, who keep us on our toes.” the couple stated.

Source: www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk

The research, published in the Journal of Family Psychology studied 82 newlywed couples about their satisfaction as husbands and wives. The result was surprising: when the husband is, let’s say, less handsome, the happier their relationship.

Professor Jim McNulty offers an explanation, “Men who were more attractive than their partner demonstrated a tendency to offer less emotional and practical support to their wives.”

“Attractive men have available to them more short-term mating opportunities. This may make them less satisfied and less committed to the marital relationship.”

Economics may play a role here as both the male and female get what they want from a relationship and equity is gained. In general, men focuses on looks than women do. On the other hand, women value stability, loyalty and emotional attachment from a relationship

“The truth is that less attractive people are more successful at building long-term relationships, and happier in their relationships, than attractive people,” psychotherapist Dr. Tina B. Tessina said. “Attractiveness implies an unusual degree of attention to hair, grooming, makeup, fitness, etc. which also implies a higher than average degree of narcissism. All of us have some degree of narcissistic tendencies, but as the degree of narcissism rises, the ability to empathize, connect, give and cooperate goes down. Thus, attractive people have great self-enhancement skills (as well as good genes for facial and body symmetry) but not such great intimacy, faithfulness and partnership skills. No matter what the study says, I think the attractive women in those relationships are probably not great to live with. The men are just willing to give more and be in a thankless relationship because they’ve got such a hot babe.”

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

In a study published in the January issue of Health Psychology, it states childhood personality predicts adult behavior. Does this mean adults are materialistic? Not at all. Family and good health still makes people happy according to the study conducted by Economist Richard Easterlin of the University of California.

The power of friendship
Are you the type of individual whom people constantly approach? Being approachable is fun but use it to your advantage and gain more friends. A statistic from the University of Chicago National Opinion Research Center (UC-NORC) reported:

“…those with five or more close friends are 50% more likely to describe themselves as ‘very happy’ than those with smaller social circles.”

“By far the greatest predictor of happiness… is intimate relationships,” Sonja Lyubomirsky, a researcher at the University of California-Riverside said. “It’s definitely not money.”

Say “I do” to be happy
Another way to be happy? Get Married. Even though Hollywood is full of failed marriages, a study also from UC-NORC states that 40% of married American adults see themselves as “very happy,” versus 26% of those who are single.

According to Claire Kamp Dush, being married is connected with less distress, higher self-esteem, greater life satisfaction and greater happiness.

“whereas people who are not in stable romantic relationships tend to report lower self-esteem, less life satisfaction, less happiness and more distress,” the postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Social Sciences at Cornell University added.

Man’s best friend
Surely, one of the happiest recollections of your youth is having a pet. If not, it’s now time to have one although it may cost a little fortune. In an article published at Reader’s Digest magazine, researchers evaluated the heart health of 240 couples, half of whom owned a pet. Couples with pets significantly had lower heart rates and blood pressure levels than the couples who did not have pets.The pets even influenced the promotion of easing stress than other methods. Fantastic!

One can be happy without even dashing a penny. This may sound overused so let’s modify it a little: the best things in life are free; and make us happy!

(Image courtesy of kalandrakas)