What is happiness, and how can it be built?
by Dr. Lisandra Mendoza
American culture teaches us to believe that our successes and achievements lead to happiness. We have been repeatedly told that if we keep going until we get “the thing” — a nice car, a promotion, a partner, etc. — then we will be happy. But have you ever noticed that once you got what you were searching for, your happiness spiked? You were temporarily elated, riding the high of achievement, joy or excitement only for those feelings to go back down again once that high wore off?
The truth is that — that high is temporary!
In reality, happiness is a transient emotion, much like anger, sadness, and disgust, and will always lack objective permanence. By nature, it can only exist one moment at a time. However, recurrent moments of happiness can be built for a burst of joy and excitement and a long-lasting experience.
True happiness is about wholeness. It’s about pursuing meaningful goals to us (rather than meaningful to someone else, society, our families, etc.). It often comes from understanding and embracing our values, passions, and aspirations. When we align our actions with our true selves, we experience a more profound, enduring sense of satisfaction and contentment. We can cultivate a state of well-being that is resilient and stable, rooted in our authentic desires and inner peace.
Happiness Elements
Among the various perspectives on happiness, I find Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar’s ideas to be the most compelling and in line with my own beliefs. In his books, such as “Happier, No Matter What” and “Choose the Life You Want,” he introduces SPIRE, an acronym that represents five elements of happiness that are deeply connected to the pursuit of well-being.
These happiness elements are:
Spiritual well-being
Physical well-being
Intellectual well-being
Relational well-being
Emotional well-being
Clinical health psychologists such as myself help patients investigate the many factors that influence happiness, physical health, and illness. Let’s take a look at each of these happiness elements more closely.
Spiritual well-being is the quest for meaning and connection, a journey that shapes our values, ethics, and purpose. It transcends religion, encompassing meaningful activities that foster connection with ourselves, others, and a sense of belonging. While many find spiritual fulfillment through religious traditions like Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism, which offer ethical frameworks and direction, spirituality is not limited by religion. Agnostic atheists, for instance, can cultivate a deep sense of purpose through practices like meditation, service to others, and a connection to something larger than themselves.
Physical well-being is the cornerstone of our strength and energy. By nourishing our bodies with regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and adequate sleep, we empower ourselves to thrive. This is especially crucial for those managing chronic conditions, as physical well-being builds resilience and strengthens the body’s natural defenses. Clinical health psychologists utilize a variety of behavioral interventions, such as stress management techniques, motivational interviewing, and habit formation strategies, to help people adopt and maintain healthier lifestyles. This includes addressing the important link between mental health and chronic disease management in therapy.
Intellectual well-being fuels our curiosity and keeps our minds sharp. It’s the engine of lifelong learning, driving us to constantly grow and challenge ourselves. This can involve deep dives into specific interests or exploring a vast array of subjects, fostering a well-rounded and ever-expanding mind. Reading books, poems, watching educational videos, or listening to podcasts can be a way to fuel intellectual well-being.
Relational wellness delves into the importance of our social connections. These connections fulfill a fundamental human need for belonging and acceptance. They come in various forms, each offering unique value. From close family and romantic partners to supportive friends, colleagues, and even casual acquaintances, these relationships provide a web of support that nourishes our well-being. Research shows that quality time spent with loved ones is a strong predictor of happiness.
Emotional well-being isn’t just about feeling happy. It’s about understanding and managing our emotions, building resilience, and cultivating a positive outlook. This includes acknowledging and processing even difficult emotions like grief, frustration, anger, and sadness. By allowing ourselves to feel these emotions, we can move through them and emerge stronger. Remember, even a fulfilling life will experience challenges and setbacks. These are natural parts of the human experience that can help us grow.
The eight dimensions of wellness
While I see the tremendous value in the SPIRE model and the happiness elements it encompasses, I also consider a few other elements that are equally important to build happiness — occupational, financial, and environmental wellness.
When we talk about the eight dimensions of wellness, those include:
Emotional wellness
Environmental wellness
Financial wellness
Intellectual wellness
Occupational or vocational wellness
Physical wellness
Social wellness
Spiritual wellness
*Emotional intellectual, physical, relational, and spiritual we covered already.
Environmental wellness emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with our surroundings, creating a safe and supportive environment. This dimension of wellness begins at home and extends to our community and the planet at large. In our personal spaces, it involves maintaining clean, organized, and aesthetically pleasing environments that promote relaxation and reduce stress. Simple actions like decluttering, incorporating plants, and ensuring good air quality can make a significant difference in how we feel.
Why is environmental wellness important?
Environmental wellness also involves making sustainable choices that benefit both our immediate surroundings and broader ecosystems. This includes reducing waste, engaging in recycling and composting, conserving water and energy, and choosing products that don’t harm the planet. By adopting sustainable practices, we not only reduce our ecological footprint but also foster a sense of responsibility and connection to the world around us.
How to improve environmental wellness?
Engaging with nature is another critical component of environmental wellness. We can improve our environmental wellness by spending time outdoors, whether by hiking, visiting the mountains, walking in a local park, or gardening in our backyard. Time outside has been shown to have numerous benefits for our mental and physical health. Nature provides a respite from the chaos of daily life, offering a peaceful setting where we can rejuvenate and find balance.
Environmental wellness also encompasses advocating for and supporting policies that protect natural resources and promote environmental sustainability. This might involve participating in community clean-up efforts, supporting conservation initiatives, or raising awareness about environmental issues. By getting involved, we contribute to creating a healthier, more sustainable world for future generations, while also improving our individual environmental wellness.
Moreover, environmental wellness includes our interactions with our social environment. Creating supportive, inclusive, and safe communities where everyone feels valued and connected is essential. This can involve fostering good relationships with neighbors, participating in community events, and contributing to a positive social atmosphere.
In essence, environmental wellness is about recognizing the profound impact our surroundings have on our health and well-being. By creating and maintaining environments that are clean, sustainable, and nurturing, we lay the foundation for a healthier, more fulfilling life.
By integrating these aspects, we create a balanced, fulfilling life where each dimension supports and enhances the others.
Financial wellness isn't just about managing money; it's about cultivating a healthy relationship with it to achieve peace of mind and a secure future. It's the bedrock of overall well-being, impacting our ability to live a stable and fulfilling life.
A journey to financial wellness involves creating a budget you can stick to, saving consistently, and making smart choices about spending and investing. Building an emergency fund for surprises, tackling debt, and planning for retirement are all crucial aspects.
Why is financial wellness important?
Financial wellness goes beyond numbers. It's about reducing money-related stress. Clinical health psychologists explore the impact of stress and coping mechanisms on overall well-being, and that includes looking at financial wellness. Feeling in control of your finances fosters security and reduces anxiety, leading to better mental and emotional health. Financial education empowers you to make informed decisions, placing you firmly in the driver's seat.
But it's not just about the money itself. It's about aligning your financial habits with your values and goals. Do your spending and saving practices reflect what's truly important to you? Financial wellness ensures your financial choices support your broader life aspirations.
Ultimately, financial wellness empowers you to pursue your passions, invest in your health, and create meaningful experiences, all without the constant burden of financial worries. By prioritizing it, you build a stable and supportive foundation that allows you to thrive in every aspect of life.
Occupational or vocational wellness goes beyond just a paycheck. It's about finding fulfillment and purpose in your career, aligning your work with your passions and strengths. When you feel this sense of alignment, your natural talents flourish, and work becomes a source of joy and growth.
What is occupational or vocational wellness?
Imagine a state of flow, where you're deeply absorbed and energized by your tasks. Occupational wellness helps you achieve this by connecting your work to your core interests. This not only fuels your motivation, productivity, and creativity, but also benefits your career development and overall well-being.
Furthermore, occupational wellness isn't just about the work itself; it's about achieving a healthy work-life balance. Setting boundaries between work and personal time is crucial. By ensuring you have time for rest, recreation, and relationships, you maintain physical health, mental clarity, and emotional stability.
Finally, a supportive work environment is essential for occupational wellness. This means having respectful and collaborative relationships with colleagues, feeling valued for your contributions, and having opportunities for growth and learning. In such an environment, you'll feel empowered to reach your full potential.
Happiness and Health
Clinical Health Psychology is based on the understanding that happiness is influenced by both internal (biological, cognitive, personality, and related factors) and external (behavioral, socio-cultural, economic, geographical, life events, and aesthetics factors) elements. Clinical health psychologists focus on helping individuals achieve a balance within themselves and in their external environment, and they address both endogenic and exogenic factors and their impact on happiness and health. The various wellbeing and wellness models can help us identify the sources of happiness in our lives and areas where we can make improvements.
As a clinical health psychologist, I find myself often speaking of work-life balance or mind-body-spirit-alignment, which in other words indicate the ongoing promoting of wellness supporting patients in first, assessing the status among all the dimensions of wellness, and later identifying core domains for clinical work based on the patient’s goals. My role as a clinical health psychologist involves guiding you to evaluate the happiness elements in your life and create an action plan to further that happiness. As a clinical health psychologist, I help patients enhance motivation every step the way towards their personal goals.
Schedule an appointment today if you're ready to step into wholeness and cultivate lasting happiness
At Avatar Cognitive and Behavioral Center, we believe in holistic healing. Together, we can examine the eight dimensions of wellness and how robust they are in your life. We’re here to support you on your wellness journey through Neuropsychological and Psychological Evaluations and Therapy tailored specifically for Women in Florida
