International Day of Happiness is celebrated this Wednesday, a date created in 2013 to show that this feeling is essential for the well-being of human beings.
International Day of Happiness comes at the suggestion of Bhutan, a small Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas that uses “Gross National Happiness” instead of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In 2012, the proposal was unanimously approved by the 193 member states of the UN (United Nations), arguing that the search for happiness is fundamental.
The Grant Study, carried out by Harvard University in the United States, began in 1938.
This followed the lives of 724 men for 75 years, with the aim of understanding the factors that contribute to a long and healthy life, as well as development patterns throughout adult life.
Participants were recruited from the University itself and from the poorest neighborhoods in Boston. Over the decades, researchers have collected medical exams, mental health questionnaires, interviews and information about their personal and professional lives.
At the end of the study, the three areas and steps that can contribute to a happy life were proven. Recognizing happiness in professional life is one of them.
In recent years, organizations have realized that happy employees tend to be more productive, creative, committed and loyal, which can lead to better financial results and a more positive company culture. Rodrigo Lang, founding partner of ‘Human SA’, states that “happiness is not just a desirable state, it is a facilitator of essential human skills such as creativity, collaboration and problem solving”.
“Happiness and well-being not only generate a more productive environment among employees, but also extends throughout the entire network that comprises organizations, impacting suppliers and customers”, he highlighted.
As for relationships, according to the specialist in clinical psychoanalysis and human development, Gisele Hedler, toxic relationships drain our energy. “The study showed that healthy relationships are one of the biggest predictors of long-term happiness and health.
On the other hand, isolation causes loneliness, representing a risk factor for health, especially mental health”, he indicated. “According to the study, the ability to forgive and let go of resentments is associated with better health and greater happiness.”
Finally, personal development also impacts happiness. Lang emphasizes that we should not work just for the money. “Quite the contrary, joy concerns experiences and interpersonal relationships.
They are responsible for enriching life, promoting true and lasting satisfaction.”
According to the Harvard study, “a lack of altruistic acts decreases the feeling of personal satisfaction.
The study shows that being generous increases the happiness of both those who receive it and those who carry out the act, reinforcing social bonds and emotional well-being”, concludes the expert.
Thus, the study showed that these three points contribute to a happier life.
