10 Principles Toward Happiness

Happiness is one of the most universal aspirations of the human being. But desiring it is not enough to achieve it. Whether it is happiness on a personal level or in the company, satisfaction and well-being are the result of active work.

And this is undoubtedly good news, because if we get going, happiness in the company and in personal life is in our hands. How to achieve it? Let’s see 10 principles explained by personal expert Marc Reklau in his book “Destiny Happiness” (where he includes a total of 12).

10 Principles for Creating a Happy Company

1. Believing that change is possible. We can only change our reality if we believe that it is really possible to change it. Until not long ago, it was believed that our brains were already configured when we reach adulthood, but neuroscience has discovered that it is possible to modify them and continue learning even at advanced ages. Therefore, it is possible to change to be happier, but for this, we have to assume that happiness depends more on internal factors than external ones.
2. Believe in ourselves. The most successful people are those who believe they are capable of achieving their goals and who always want to learn more. Therefore, optimism is a fundamental tool to achieve satisfaction at work and in our lives. And to create a happy company, we not only have to rely on our abilities, but also on those of the rest of the team.
3. Focus on the things that matter. Our attention span is limited, so we have to choose where we want to put it: in the good or the bad, in the failures or in the learning, in the successes or failures… Dwelling on negativity won’t help us, so it’s essential to cultivate gratitude.
4. Choose happiness. Following the previous point, we ourselves are the only ones responsible for choosing at all times whether to pay attention to the positive or negative aspects. Thoughts and emotions are not simply something that happens to us, but we can take actions to control them. In short, it is about assuming our responsibility for our lives.
5. Set goals. Knowing what we want to achieve gives intentionality and meaning to our actions, even when we have to face difficult challenges. It is important to put them in writing to reflect this intentionality. But it is not so important to achieve them, since the essential thing is to enjoy the journey and the present moment. When choosing our goals, it is essential that they are aligned with our values, because this will motivate us more and we will encounter less resistance.
6. Fight against perfectionism and fear of failure. Perfectionism and fear of failure are two of the great enemies of happiness in business. Insisting that we have to do everything right (and the first time!) paralyzes us and prevents us from taking risks and learning. We must understand that failures are necessary on the way to our goals and learn to deal with them to continue learning and moving forward.
7. Rest. Lack of rest hurts us and leads us to procrastinate, which in turn is a cause of anxiety, depression, and stress. It is necessary to distinguish between negative stress, which harms us, and positive stress, which motivates us and drives us to work towards our goals. In short, what we need is to find a balance between the stimuli that move us and the rest necessary to recharge our batteries.
8. Work on self-esteem. Self-esteem is at the base of our relationships, our happiness in the company, and on a personal level, in how others perceive us… Luckily, there are many things we can do to cultivate healthy self-esteem, such as being less ourselves, pampering ourselves, forgiving ourselves, and others…
9. Take care of personal relationships. In a happy company, relationships between employees and with the boss are of great importance. Relationships with others are the main predictor of our happiness. To improve our relationships, we need to start by knowing and taking care of ourselves and asking ourselves the right questions.
10. Take advantage of the connection between body and mind. The Romans already said it: mens sana in corpore sano. There are many ways that can help us improve our mood, starting from our body: physical exercise, medication, deep breathing, respecting our sleep hours, encouraging physical contact with other people… or simply, smiling more often.

Good luck on your way to happiness!