Happiness . . . not so easy

HAPPINESS is a very elusive mental state. The whole world, including philosophers, theologians, psychologists, psychiatrist, motivational speakers and even more recently economists have sought to define it.

A whole branch of psychology called positive psychology has been dedicated to understanding it.

More than simply positive mood, happiness is a state of well-being that encompasses living a good life with a sense of meaning and deep satisfaction.

Happiness is not the result of bouncing from one joy to the next; achieving happiness typically involves times of considerable discomfort.

Money is important to happiness, but only to a certain point.

Money buys freedom from worry about the basics in life — housing, food, and clothing.

Genetic makeup, life circumstances, achievements, exercise, marital status, social relationships, even your neighbours all influence how happy you are.

So do individual ways of thinking and expressing feelings.

Researchers estimate that much of happiness is under personal control.

Regularly indulging in small pleasures such as warm baths, getting absorbed in challenging activities, setting and meeting goals, maintaining close social ties, and finding purpose beyond oneself are all actions that increase life satisfaction.

I will focus on time, a key factor if not controlled will throw happiness out of the window.

When the feeling of having too many things to do and not enough time to do them is present in your life, then there is a problem.

Most individuals feel pressed for time. Eighty percent of working adults wish that they had more time.

There is what is now called “time famine”, a state of the pervasive feeling of being overwhelmed with the demands of work and life.

Research has shown that people who report frequent feelings of time scarcity are less happy and more prone to anxiety and depression.

Public health researchers have ranked “time stress” as one of the most important social trends underlying rising rates of obesity.

A solution is to have time management courses as individuals, as part of the work wellness programmes.

The better one manages their time, the more they will have a positive effect on there happiness index and should be considered by all. Dr Sacrifice Chirisa is a passionate consultant psychiatrist at Harare Hospital Psychiatric Unit. He is the National Secretary General for the Zimbabwe Medical Association ( ZiMA ) A certified Life and Business coach.