Morning Brew - January 2020 Edition

WANT TO BE HAPPY? THEN SERVE!

An Authentice Leadership Article By Dr. Kreslyn Kelly-Ellis

Some people experience fulfilment when completing their job-related duties while others feel little-to-no satisfaction reporting to work every day. For some, their sole purpose for showing up is to make a living provide for their families, maintain healthcare benefits, as well as for other security reasons. In fact, in a 2013 Forbes magazine article, a Gallup poll was summarized reporting that only 30% of U.S. workers enjoy their jobs, 52% implied having no feelings at all, 18% are simply not happy, and 90% of workers, worldwide, are more frustrated with than fulfilled by work. Furthermore, The Washington Post (2019) reported that there has been a constant decline in personal happiness, in general, which was indicated by a 50% increase in the number of people saying they are “unhappy” in 2018 than in 1990.

One may find these stats interesting since Positive Psychology suggests that people desire and attempt to be happy and to live meaningful and fulfilling lives through human flourishing. “Flourishing”, according to Dr. Seligman, founder of Positive Psychology, is comprised of five components: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment also referred to as the acronym, PERMA, by which people aim for a state of wellbeing, specific and unique to their individual values and interests. With that in mind, why are people reporting lower levels of happiness, especially in the socially connected world in which we live, work, and play?

I'M GETTING TIRED AND, FRANKLY IT'S ABOUT TIME I TALK ABOUT IT.

WANT TO BE HAPPY?

Research would probably note a myriad of answersto that question. However, another 2014 Gallupreport provides a peep into what many Americansattribute to their happiness. The article informedus that people who “actively engage in betteringtheir communities” reported higher levels of wellbeingthan those who do not; and the same wastrue for those who shared being recognized fortheir work in the community versus those who didnot report such acknowledgements. Therefore,maybe the (M) in PERMA, which has beenexplained as one’s sense of purpose and servingsomething greater than oneself could actually bean answer. Perhaps, disconnecting from virtualsocial connections and making real life humanconnections in a way that brings internalfulfillment could contribute to people’s happinessagain. Although some find this fulfillment at work,there are other places and situations it can also berealized like, religious activities, communityservices and projects, social justice issues andother specialcauses.

THEN SERVE!

Either way, as we enter the year 2020 and begin to think about how to make our lives better, maybe we should start by: 1) Continuing to aim for personal happiness 2)Personalizing our own PERMA; 3) Giving special thought to the (M) when determining what community involvement brings us the most fulfillment; 4) Researching community entities that specialize in our area of interest; 5) Creating a plan action to contact the organization, share our interest in serving, and then get busy being happy. There is much work to be done in our local and global communities; if doing the work can contribute to well-being and human flourishing, why not give it a try?