Seven habits of happy people

Positive psychology is the study of positive emotions and “signature strengths”. There are several studies that indicate what makes people the happiest. These studies range from examining the effect of wealth on happiness to the effect of spirituality on happiness. From one of these studies, they have found that there are seven habits of happy people.

1. Close relationships where one individual engages in activities with another and shares one’s personal feelings with another.
2. Cultivating kindness and caring by volunteering or reaching out to another who is in need.
3. Exercise, or simply moving your body at any speed on a regular basis.
4. (my personal favorite) Finding one’s flow which is a joyful state one achieves doing an activity that is best suited for our skills.
5. Discovering meaning through spirituality or religious practices which can help us attain a deeper kind of happiness.
6. Discovering and using one’s own strengths and virtues to further one’s personal goals.
7. Treasure gratitude, mindfulness, and hope to keep personal perspective in reality, but hopeful for personal future.

If more information is wanted about positive psychology, please explore the Pursuit of Happiness or read “Happiness; Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth,” by Diener and Biswas-Diener.

Brianne Wooldridge is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the Campbell County Medical Group Kid Clinic. The Kid Clinic is a school-based pediatric clinic offering medical care for Campbell County students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and their siblings’ ages 2 weeks and up; and counseling services for children 4 years to 21 years. It is located at 800 Butler Spaeth Rd., across from St. Matthew’s Catholic Church. The Kid Clinic is open Monday-Friday from 8 am-5 pm. For more information, call 307-688-8700 or visit www.cchwyo.org/services/pediatrics/kid-clinic/. The Kid Clinic is a collaborative effort between Campbell County Health and Campbell County School District.