Everyone wants to find happiness. Many people think that being positive is for the weak. Happiness is complex. It lives in your mind, your body and soul. Happiness doesn’t come in a box, money doesn’t make you happy and having wine till you drop will give you a
- Autonomy is the first of these facets of individual psychological wellbeing. Making decisions with what you know at a certain point in time, makes you feel you have choices. For example, asking your manager to give you some freedom to reframe how to approach a new client using your values and strengths will energise you.
- Environmental mastery is the second facet. You cannot control your environment but you can control how you react to it. As a sales consultant, you probably get a lot of rejection from your clients, but you can accept this as a part of your role and try to learn from every potential new client.
- Personal Growth is the third aspect that buffers you from mental health issues. Learning new things gives you hope and a sense of achievement. At work raise your hand and take on a new challenge. Learn a new skill or introduce yourself to
a new staff. - Positive Relations with others is the fourth facet to protect you from not finding inner happiness. How do you feel when you share your time with others? Always look for connections that make you feel good. Nurture your relationships at work to boost your wellbeing and motivation.
- Purpose in life is the fifth psychological wellbeing facet that protects you from feeling empty with your life. Think about what gives you meaning in life, what makes you get out of bed every day. Is it to help others, to pursue your dreams or a combination of both?
- Self-acceptance is the last of six facets to help you from feeling down. Find the inner values and strengths that energise you. Focus and anchor on them to buffer from ruminating negative thoughts and emotions. You are unique and that is why you are special.
These aspects working in harmony will most likely help us feel good and motivated at work most days.
How can you juggle these inner processes with everything else that goes on in your life?
Firstly, discover who you are by pausing and thinking about when you have been at your best. Have the discipline every week or every day to stop being in auto-pilot. Reflect about your thoughts, emotions and actions. Well-being is multidimensional, and not only happiness and positive emotions. A thriving life is balanced and whole. Engage each one of the aspects mentioned above at random times but on a regular basis. Choose experiences that you love. If you enjoy helping others at work, find opportunities to be kind with others. Use your inner agency to seek for those moments, make a self-care plan and aim at reviewing it once a month. If you are able to tick the boxes of your goals that include these six guideposts, you are on your way to reaching life and work satisfaction.
Carol Ryff developed a systematic model of psychological wellbeing which remains one of the most scientifically valid and rigorous model today. Ryff’s model has been tested in cross cultural studies in Spain and Colombia, Sweden and in Hong Kong.
Carol Ryff’s model of Psychological Well-Being provides an evidence-based framework through which to plan and organise your own life, and to generate ideas about how to live better.
To unpack the six facets of your wellbeing contact me and I will guide you to notice, reflect and learn how to boost each one of these aspects by consciously planning, creating experiences and interconnecting each one to unleash your wellbeing.
References
Keyes, Corey LM, Dov Shmotkin, and Carol D. Ryff. “Optimizing well-being: the empirical encounter of two traditions.” Journal of personality and social psychology 82.6 (2002): 1007.
Ryff, Carol D. “Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being.” Journal of personality and social psychology 57.6 (1989): 1069.
