Everyone wants to be happy. While attaining long-term happiness is much easier said than done, psychological studies conducted by some of the brightest minds on Earth have identified methods with which we can get closer to sustained happiness and life satisfaction.
However, upon learning about the strongest and most significant indicators of happiness, I discovered that they all correspond directly to how the Lord calls us to live in the Bible!
Simply put, subjective well-being, or how someone feels about the outcome of their life, can be boiled down to a combination of a person’s emotional responses and life satisfaction. In research that studies this, 2 forms of subjective well-being emerge: hedonic and eudaimonic. Hedonic well-being refers to short-term pleasure, gratification, and low distress, whereas eudaimonic well-being is related to life goals, values, and purpose. These studies show that eudaimonic well-being is a much stronger indicator of sustained happiness than hedonic, which aligns well with the Lord’s commands. Here are 4 proven attributes of long-term happiness that also support a Christian lifestyle.
Fulfilling Relationships
The state of one’s personal relationships is the single most effective and accurate indicator of long-term happiness, according to studies conducted by psychologists. And this goes both ways - having fulfilling and meaningful relationships can give someone an immense sense of belonging, yet unhealthy relationships can be the shaky foundation for internal collapse.
However, as Christians, our foundation is the rock of Christ (Matthew 7:24-27), and our most important relationship is the greatest one of all! And as children of God, we are called to love one another to maintain the unity of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:1-3). Unity is as important as ever in an increasingly divided world, for it grants us strength (Ecclesiastes 4:12) and peace (2 Corinthians 13:11).
Mindfulness & Prayer
Mindfulness is also a significant indicator of happiness and well-being. It helps us block out all the buzz we hear on a daily basis, so we can simply hone in on what’s most important - God and His creation. Christ often went to secluded, quiet environments to meditate and pray to God (Luke 6:12). While we might not always have the ability to go to quiet places physically, we can use the techniques in yoga to clear out the mental clutter and communicate with God with our undivided attention.
Self-Control & Discipline
At a glance, it almost seems counterintuitive that being disciplined can make you happier. After all, what’s so great about forcing ourselves to abstain from what might bring us pleasure? This calls back to the eudaimonic vs hedonic well-being debate, where sticking to one’s values and convictions boosts one’s overall life satisfaction, which is a stronger long-term indicator of happiness than the short-term alternative of instant gratification.
Working towards a goal through a routine, such as consistent prayer or exercise, builds a sense of self-efficacy: you become satisfied that you overcame something challenging and are now a stronger person for it. Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit for a reason (Galatians 5:22-23). Practicing it makes us better suited to represent Christ’s kingdom, and the practices of Christian yoga can help us refine it.
Selflessness
Putting others before oneself is another critical doctrine we practice as followers of Christ, loving our neighbor as we love ourselves (Mark 12:31) and caring for those in need. Likewise. according to psychological studies, acts of selflessness strongly correlate to eudaimonic happiness.
This is simply because we are serving a Lord who is so much bigger and greater than we could ever imagine! There truly isn’t any good news better than that, and at Beside Still Waters, we incorporate all these practices into our classes and routines to help you find happiness and healing so you can do what the Lord has called you to do! Contact us today to get started!
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