The Nature of Happiness

Here we are, approaching another holiday season. As I reflect on years past, I often often recount memories of “Hallmark” moments, bathed in misty nostalgia. Somehow I seem to marginalize the not-so-perfect memories of the past, and try to maintain a “holiday happiness” aura year-round. Like many recovering perfectionists (a trait often found in gifted kids), I began wondering about the nature of happiness, and then discovered this article from the Business Insider, Science Says Happier People Have These 9 Things in Common.
While most research can only identify correlations, science has identified these things that could have an impact on personal happiness levels. I offer these suggestions as a holiday gift to you and to your gifted child/ren, and have added some of my own thoughts to the list:

1. Know that relationships are essential. For gifted kids, relationships with others who “get them” are often life-transforming. Relationships are not age-bound; gifted children crave mentors, mind-partners, and just cozy “be yourself” friends.
2. Understand that time beats money. In our fast-paced world, carving out time for quality relationships can be difficult. Giving our children and ourselves the gift of time is precious beyond words.
3. Practice living comfortably within your means.  Enough said.
4. Stop to smell the roses.  Cultivate an attitude of gratitude in your child and in yourself. Daily doses of gratitude help put and keep things in perspective.
5. Perform acts of kindness, randomly, and with joy. Help your child to learn that doing good anonymously can bring great joy (there’s secret happiness in being the only one who knows).
6. Keep active. Physical activity does improve happiness, and there are many studies that confirm this!
7. Buy fun. Though it might be tempting to buy gifts, buying experiences (plays, outings, concerts, trips to the library, sporting events, etc.) will make memories that last for a lifetime. These memories feed the soul.
8. Practice mindfulness; be present in the moment. Ruminating about the past, and fretting about the future diminishes the joy of the moment.
9. Spend time with happy people; better yet, strive to be a source of happiness for those around you. Help your child/ren understand that each of us is responsible for cultivating our own happiness, and that sharing happiness is a gift we can give to others. Giving generously makes us happy.

As always, I hope that this foray into other ideas, and then linking them to the gifted perspective, has made you think.  I welcome hearing from you, and I wish you happiness in the coming year.
Jacquelyn Drummer
Past President, WATG