happiness research
That is why psychological prosperity is the key to a successful life
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What does prosperity mean? While most tend to think in terms of financial well-being, other factors also play an important role, such as psychological well-being.
Many clever people have already pursued the question of what we need for a successful life. Unfortunately, satisfaction is difficult to measure. With quantitative factors, on the other hand, it is easier – for example the material ones. The state in which we have enough to be able to live relatively relaxed and carefree is what we call prosperity. But psychological prosperity, what we need inside, should play at least as big a role in our lives.
Psychological Wealth: What Exactly Is It?
Ed Diener was a psychologist and happiness researcher and co-wrote a book with his son Robert Biswas-Diener on the subject, Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth. The two experts define this special form of prosperity as follows: “Psychological prosperity is the feeling that one’s life has been successful – that we lead it in a rewarding, meaningful, committed and at the same time pleasant way.”
If you listen carefully, you’ll quickly realize that the main thing should be that we feel our life has been successful – and not that it is considered successful according to external standards. For some people, an important job or a big house may be the measure of all things. However, other people define their personal happiness and success quite differently and find an alternative way of life to be meaningful.
Ed Diener and his son explain several signs of psychological well-being in their book. These five aspects are particularly important:
The 5 Pillars of Psychological Wealth
1st sense
An important question is: What do I personally find useful? What is family or success at work for some people can be something completely different for other people – such as a personal project or discovering new countries. This is where it helps to be radically honest with yourself.
2. Values
As I said: what each individual defines as success is very subjective. In order to achieve psychological well-being, it is important to constantly review and review your values and then work toward goals that align with those values.
3. Mindset
If you are optimistic, you will find many things easier. And this is not about toxic positivity, that is, desperately wanting to suppress everything negative. But when we cultivate a benevolent attitude towards life, it makes it much easier for us to be successful and content.
4. Social Network
Even if a lot of inner work is necessary for lasting happiness, we still need a strong social network. Other people are immensely important to us, so spending time with family and good friends is always a worthwhile investment.
5. Job + Time Management
We usually spend a lot of our day at work. It is therefore all the more important that we perceive our work as meaningful – whatever that may mean for us. Because how we use our time and energy determines how satisfied we are. In addition to the job, hobbies and travel can of course also play an important role in achieving psychological prosperity.
This is why psychological well-being is so important
Our society is strongly geared towards performance and (material) success. We quickly lose sight of what really counts. After all, true wealth is not in the bank account, but in our experiences and our view of the world. Those who have deeply internalized this are a long way down the road to psychological prosperity.
After all, it’s not about reaching a certain point in life where we’re finally satisfied. We don’t need that one job or the perfect partner to be happy. Psychological well-being comes from within, and it’s less about the external circumstances and more about how we deal with them.
Sources used: “Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth”, Ed Diener and Robert Biswas-Diener, forbes.com, gedankenwelt.de