One of the most exciting academic advances of our current era comes to us from the field of psychology. I was reading the monthly magazine published by the College of Literature, Science and the Arts of my alma mater, the University of Michigan, and I was surprised to see an article entitled “The Science of Meaning: A Closer Look at What Makes Life Worth Living” described the growing body of scientific research that confirms something I’ve suspected for most of my life.
The research comes to us via a new academic perspective called “positive psychology.” Rather than studying people who are troubled or disabled mentally, positive psychologists focus their inquisitive eyes and minds on people who are well and happy. This new approach is not designed to replace the former, for those who are ill require special attention, but much can be learned from those who are relatively psychologically healthy.
What they found astonished them. The initial studies aimed to define a set of universally held character values and traits common amongst happy and fulfilled people across the globe. Several years and nearly a half a million survey respondents from 200 countries later, these scientists identified a set of values that “contribute to fulfillment . . .[and are] robustly associated with life satisfaction.”
One common denominator was the conviction that other people matter. Much good can come from someone who holds the fundamental belief that other people are important and therefore worthy of respect, assistance and investment. The article outlined six virtues and their underlying character strengths that, according to positive psychology proponent and LSA Psychologist Chris Peterson, are universal and “enable human thriving.” Here’s the short list:
WISDOM – creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, perspective
COURAGE – authenticity, bravery, persistence, zest
HUMANITY – kindness, love, social intelligence
JUSTICE – fairness, leadership, teamwork
TEMPERANCE – forgiveness, modesty, prudence, self-regulation
TRANSCENDENCE – appreciation of beauty and excellence, gratitude, hope, humor
When you possess these values you are free. Free to enjoy and thrive in anything you might undertake. Free to live life without judgment of others. Free to celebrate the successes of others. Free from the shackles of a purposeless, meaningless, solitude and boredom.
As I have often cautioned, you must take care not to indulge in unbridled happiness. There is wisdom in the old injunction: “In joy not overjoyed, in sorrow not dejected.” Peterson refers to a lesson shared by the Dalai Lama about meeting a bear in the woods. There is a time for happiness and a time to run for your life!
While I find this budding field of research fascinating, I am even more intrigued by the scientists refusal to point out exactly how to live a better life. That part, they are quick to assert, is up to you. No one can tell you how to live, for you ultimately have the responsibility to make informed decisions about the approach you take in the living of your life. I agree wholeheartedly.
If you’re curious to see how many of these values and character strengths apply to you as you now are, please visit: www. authentichappiness.org.
Dare to be happy. Dare to live a life worth living. Dare to give expression to the values and qualities of character that now are scientifically proven to lead to happiness and fulfillment!
Gregory Hake 
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Henry Frey’s comments made me think about a conversation I just had with my daughter. She just started working at a very large all too familiar store that we all go too because they have taken over the entire country. Well her and a co-worker had a question about a time card issue. So they found what they thought was a night manager, one whom they had never met before. So my daugther said politely, are you the night manager? Isn’t that what most of us would say? Of course it is. And yes of course we may or may not have seen her nametag that said, night manager. Can you believe the woman looked up from what she was doing and snarled thats what the nametag says doesn’t it?! Then proceeded to tell them that it wasn’t her job to keep up with their timecard problems and they obviously couldn’t do math! Oh dear me it’s a good thing I wasn’t standing there. I’m afraid a few of the other good things on that list would have gone right out the door. Thats ok as they walked of her co-worker layed on the Medeia (?) goes to jail character heavily and within earshot.
There is just no reason for anyone to act like that towards people. And what would Sam Walton have said?!
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Definitely a training issue in the making. Chains of command are valuable when they actively correct for such things, but they rarely do. Probably a good lesson for your daughter on how not to act, at any rate!
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Very interesting. I can’t wait to go to the site you mentioned and give it a whirl. Kind of scary though. More often I am a glass half empty kind of person but I am trying to change!
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You’ll do fine. Thank you again for your comments!
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Bravo! Thank you for sharing this wonderful insight.
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You’re welcome and my pleasure!
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JUSTICE really stood out to me – fairness, leadership and teamwork. Sounds more like the true spirit of justice than the payback and revenge I hear some spewing.
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Great post Gregg. We are inundated with negativism. Thanks for a look in the other direction.
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Can’t believe this has not been written about more. Looking at only the negative is like training a new employee on just what everyone else did wrong.
Great study by the docs at U of Michigan, worth printing and passing around.
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What a concept…talking about what works instead of teaching everyone about what doesn’t.
Yea for these doctors and double yea for posting this. Us positive thinkers finally have some science to quote!!
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If you express many or all of these traits, you are unlikely to be self-focused. Most of the attributes that guarantee happiness are about a person’s ability to use what they have to learn, explore, and assist what is outside of themselves. Yet they are also all traits that allow you to be comfortable in your own skin. Once again: In all things, balance.
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What a great thing to study – something positive! These qualities are so wonderful to see in others and to live by. Thanks for the good news 🙂
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