4 Traits of Happy People
Happy people make better innovators.
“Research in the field of positive psychology often defines a happy person as someone who experiences frequent positive emotions, such as joy, interest, and pride, and infrequent (though not absent) negative emotions, such as sadness, anxiety, and anger (Lyubomirsky et al., 2005). Happiness has also been said to relate to life satisfaction, appreciation of life, and moments of pleasure, but overall it has to do with the positive experience of emotions.” (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-addiction-connection/201506/whats-your-definition-happiness)
Happy people don’t let negative emotions dominate their life. They strive for positivity. This is a critical foundation for becoming effective at innovation. Happy people have these four traits:
1. They practice gratitude
Gratitude is critical in one’s quest for happiness. It’s typical human nature to look beyond the good things you have and go straight to wishing for something you don’t currently have.
A big one is a money: for most people, being wealthy is their ultimate goal. They think that when they become rich, they can finally be happy. But, often, this is not the case. You can be happy without being wealthy. Try to appreciate the gift of life, family and friends, good health, etc. Life is not all about money. Some of the best things in life cannot be bought with cash.
2. They have a good sense of humour
Happy people know how to roll with the punches. They don’t dwell on whatever negative thing is happening to them. They take it all in stride. They try to find humour in everything. This is why happy people are such a joy to be with – they help others see things from a different and more positive perspective.
3. They are present here and now
Happy people focus on what’s happening right now. They know that whatever happened in the past stays in the past. There’s no point mourning it in the present. So, they make the most of what they do have. They learn from the mistakes and failures of the past, but they don’t dwell on them too much, which is the exact opposite of unhappy people.
Most people are unhappy because they let themselves get too attached to the past. If you’re one of them, you’ve got to learn to let go. Move on and focus on what you’ve got right in front of you, right this very moment. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on the present, and you’ll only add it to your long list of things you regret.
Also, if perhaps your past was great. Maybe you were happier in the past than you are now. It’s also important not to dwell on that past. You may lose out on opportunities in the here and now. The present is where our focus should be.
4. They are optimistic about the future
Happy people aren’t naïve. They know the future is essential. They can’t simply live in the present and not have a good plan for the future. They’re optimistic about what the future holds.
If you’ve got a good thing going, you’d want it to last as long as possible. This is why happy people want to protect their source of happiness. They’re not going to throw it away in exchange for actions that will cost them a lot more.
Innovative people are not only optimistic about the future; they are continually thinking of how to improve things so that their future is an enhanced version of their present.
And there you have it—4 traits of happy people. When you have these traits, you will set yourself up to become better at innovation.
