Self Assess your "Happy lifes"

Think back to the last romatic movie you've seen. What was the strugle you witnessed? What was the resolution at the end of the movie? Was it about finding happiness together. Yes! Being happy, it's something we all strive for. In the end, the only thing we long for is this specific feeling. Martin Seligman did extensive research into this field. The good thing about his results is that they give us an easy framework that we can use to create our own happiness.

Happiness is the result of 3 "lifes":

The happy life, experiencing happiness = The Pleasent life with pleasurable experiences * The Good life full of engagement * The meaningful life.

Is this true? I don't know, it matches some of my experience.The formula is just as useful as we can put it to work. Just as true as we can use it to grow our own happiness. It dóes allow us to self-assess ourselves and see in which of these 3 activities we can (and want to) grow. So why don't you? Why don't you NOW learn where you can be more happy? Give it a try, what level do you experience in your life? Just dot a level down in all tree practices. It's a private exercise and only benefits you.

1.  Pleasurable experiences
Level 1: I don't know what you're talking about
Level 2: I know what you're talking about, but there is no pleasure in my life
Level 3: I do have a few of these experiences per month
Level 4: I have pleasure every day, I do thing I truelly enjoy
Level 5: My life is about pleasure, I fill my life with food I love, a home I love living in, people I enjoy and music I love listening to.

Tips:
- Remember that 50% if this is DNA, the other half you can organise
- You don't need money to meet up with a good friend and have a laugh
- Do a gratitude visit. Write a letter and thank someone who changed your life for the better.

 2. Experiencing flow / engagement.
Level 1: Flow?
Level 2: I know what Flow is but have never experienced this
Level 3: I have these experiences that I forget about time
Level 4: I easily forget about time when I'm doing what I love
Level 5: I enjoy every moment of my life.

Tips:
- Know what your strengths are and recraft your life, love and work to reflect these strengths
- Design a strength day, where you can exercise your talents

3. Experiencing meaning in what you do.
Level 1: Meaning has no meaning to me
Level 2: I do know what you mean, but have never found something to do that has meaning to me
Level 3: There are some things that I do that give me a sense of meaning
Level 4: Most of my life is filled with meaning
Level 5: My life revolves around meaning, everything I do has meaning to me. 
Tips:
- Know what your highest strengths are and using them to be belong to and in the service of something bigger than you are.
 - Do something altruistic

If you self assess yourself on for example 4,3,2 define for yourself in which of these lives you want to grow and to what level by when. Keep in mind that meaning is proven to be of the most impact on you experiencing happiness. It's your life and your decision. Write this down and put a date in your calendar to revisit your progress. 

If you're interested have a look at this TED video of Seligman talking about Positive Psychology

For more information and many self asssessments have a look at this website: www.authentichappiness.org