Are you happy?

Recently I have been thinking about such a question: work every day moving bricks, living so tired, what is the meaning of living? Is making a lot of money and achieving financial freedom the ultimate purpose of life? Are financially free people happy? With these questions in mind, I finished reading The Happiness Method by Tal Ben-Shahar, author and lecturer of a popular Harvard course on positive Psychology. According to the author, happiness is the sum of pleasure and meaning, and is the ultimate wealth of life. Happiness is the primary goal that people should pursue, but it is often ignored by people in modern society. Pleasure (present benefit) refers to positive emotional experience, reducing the control of negative emotions, meaning (future benefit) involves choosing goals that are in line with one's values and hobbies, and finding self-fulfilling meaning. However, no matter where we live, the pursuit of happiness requires discussing the relationship between material and happiness. Human existence and development cannot be separated from material life. Material life can satisfy the basic needs of mankind. But material things do not equal happiness, rich people do not necessarily happy. Happiness is based on a certain material basis, but people should not pursue material as the goal of life. People's earning ability is limited, but happiness is unlimited. Happiness is a long-term pursuit and never stops, unlike material life, which can be quantified by money. Just like plants take time to manage, happiness takes time to manage. Here's what I learned from this book that we can practice: 1. Create habits. It takes 21 days to build a habit. It could be exercising three times a week, meditating for 15 minutes a day, going out with your partner every Tuesday, etc. Make it a habit to define the details of your actions and set a time limit for them. 2. Express gratitude. Write down 5 things you are grateful for every day. It could be a nice meal or a conversation with a good friend, or an interesting idea at work. 3. Record your daily activities and find a "life map". Take a little time each day to record your day. Keep a record for 1-2 weeks. At the end of each week, draw a chart of what you did, when you did it, and the meaning and pleasure it brought. Note whether you would like to spend more or less time on it. This method can help us find patterns of happiness so that we can make better plans for our lives. 4. Pursue self-concordant goals. Goals are meaning, not endings. Actively choose goals about growth, relationships, and contributing to society. Don't pursue external goals that others think you should pursue, like wealth and fame. Instead, pursue goals that have deep meaning for you and bring you happiness. The pursuit of the most want to do, this is their heart's deepest expectations. 5. Go to work with a sense of purpose. There is no happiness or meaning in taking work as a task. But for those who think of their work as a mission, the work itself is a goal. Choose a job based on ability (what you can do) as well as passion (what you want to do). Find happiness in the things you do and add things that you enjoy, are meaningful, and are good at. 6. Write gratitude letters to people you care about. It could be a lover, a family member, a good friend, etc. You can write about the fun times you've had together in the past, or your shared goals and dreams for the future.