Posts tagged Ed Diener

Happiness is a concept so widely discussed and so differently perceived by humans. Most of them think of it as pure hedonism or instant satisfaction. The pleasant sensation one experiences after eating chocolate, drinking a glass of fine wine, winning a prize or having a warm bath might be defined as happiness. But it has a short-term nature. One usually strives to achieve long-time pleasure and gratification that comes with true happiness.

An honest view of yourself and the surrounding world leads to identifying what is truly meaningful and important in your life and capitalizing on those virtues. Thus, filtering the significant aspects and values you can achieve true happiness. The entire process is influenced by one’s emotions. Emotional intelligence certainly contributes to the enhancement of the pursuit of happiness as the persons endowed with such an ability are optimistic, harmonized with their passions and emotionally self-aware.

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines happiness as “a state of well-being and contentment” and “a pleasurable or satisfying experience”. This doesn’t restrict the source of happiness to the inner or outer realms. However, most of the people tend to believe that true happiness comes from inside, within. Ed Diener, the happiness-expert psychologist from the University of Illinois, has surveyed numerous persons in order to establish a hierarchy of most important things in humans’ life. Only 6 percent of the surveyed ones around the world have rated money as more important than happiness. 69 % have declared happiness as the most prominent and essential thing in life.

Many have claimed that people who have a more modest condition enjoy more the little things in life, whereas the rich ones tend to take the privileges for granted. The former work their way through hardship to discover how to really appreciate what life has to offer. The example of a rich and prestigious professor has to endorse this assertion. The respective American professor went for the first time to an international conference in Europe to present a scientific paper of his. He was quite excited for being there.

However, a colleague of his showed him what real appreciation of this opportunity meant. The latter was a young professor at a small college in the United States. He came from a working-class family and was the first one to complete university studies. He also traveled to Europe and abroad for the first time and his trip was funded by the college he was working at. His enthusiasm was even more intense due to the fact they were in England and his family originated in Wales, which determined him to retrace the castle that carried his family name. The prestigious professor was invited by the young one to join him in his quest. Arriving there, after difficulties caused by weather conditions and poor directions, the two had to pay for their access fee in spite of the name the young one bore. Nevertheless, he was very happy and touched by the experience he came to live. This proved to the prestigious professor that happiness had more to do with living to the fullest emotions and special opportunities rather than with material possessions.