Happiness is not an experience, but an assessment of a worthily lived life.
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Life circumstances (money or health, smiles of others or loneliness) do not determine the presence or absence of happiness, but they definitely affect our well-being. How?
“Better to be rich and healthy than poor and sick.” Wealth and health are preconditions for happiness. According to the concept, happy is the one who is «with a part», with his part (share) of the inheritance, and without a part, without a share — destitute, unhappy.
Money. At the same time, money in itself, even very large ones, does not guarantee happiness at all. See Happiness is not in money Also, the lack of money does not prohibit being happy — for those who are disposed towards it. However, other things being equal, being well off definitely contributes to a positive outlook.
Health. Similarly, health: good health and a flourishing appearance can be in an absolutely unhappy person, just as it is quite possible to meet a happy person with bad health. Diseases, physical injuries, heart attacks and strokes interfere with a happy life, but optimism in life and the habit of being happy in any circumstances can be stronger than diseases. Reasonable people act on both lines — teach themselves optimism in life and take care of their health.
Love and family. Love is life in the most literal sense. If by the age of 50 a faithful life partner has been found — it does not matter, on the first or fifth attempt — this is a sure sign that you will celebrate your eightieth birthday in a bright mind and good health. Moreover, it turned out that a stable marriage is a much more reliable sign of longevity than low cholesterol in the same 50s.
Do what you want. “Six months ago I made an interesting trick — I quit my job and began to do what I want. In fact (minus the rocking chair, a little training and prevention from doctors) — I was sitting on the Internet and playing computer games. I can say from experience that it hasn’t gotten much better. The first couple of months were cool — you get up when you want, you play as much as you want, you go to bed the same way. Then it turned out that not everything is so simple with sleep: if I go to bed at will, then my sleep time always shifts by a couple of hours, i.e. soon have to go to bed in the morning and get up at night. And at the same time, I simply don’t get enough sleep (even if I sleep all the way), or rather, I plunge into a half-asleep state, which is worse than the traditional strict regimen.
The meaning of life. But this is important. People who know why they live, who live with dignity, and who can respect themselves for the results of their lives, are much more likely to rate themselves as happy people.