10 Positive Feelings That Inspire Happiness
Published February 4, 2022
Happiness, as they say, is an elusive feeling. Most of us do the things we do because we want to be happy or it makes us happy. Yet, no matter how hard we try, we just can’t seem to attain the level of happiness we want. Maybe it’s because happiness is fleeting. Or maybe because we just have different definitions of happiness.
But regardless of how we define happiness, one thing is for certain: happiness stems from positive feelings. When we feel good, everything seems right. The leaves are greener, the sun is much brighter, and everyone is laughing. It’s like nothing can go wrong. We feel empowered and elated. In short, we’re happy.
If you really think about it, there’s no single emotion that can fully encapsulate the feeling of happiness. Rather, it’s a whole range of positive emotions that makes us happy in various ways and varying degrees. And understanding the power of positive emotions and how to harness them can be the key to genuine happiness.
What Are Positive Emotions?
When we hear about “positive emotions”, the first thing that usually comes to mind are ” happy feelings”. But they’re more than just the short burst of elation that we often associate with being happy.
According to psychology, emotion can be defined in two ways:
- a state or feeling that you can’t summon at will
- a response or attitude towards a thing or a situation
From these, we can glean two things: our emotions are voluntary and they depend on how we react to things. Positive emotions, therefore, are the intense and pleasurable experiences we have when we react positively to a situation or the things around us. In short, a positive attitude towards life creates positive feelings.
How Do Positive Emotions Inspire Happiness?
Don’t get me wrong. Having negative emotions is totally normal. In fact, feeling both positive and negative emotions is a sign of emotional health. But you cannot deny the vital role of positive emotions in our mental wellbeing. In fact, a study posits that when we experience positive emotions, the negative emotions vanish.
The Broaden and Build theory in positive psychology also posits that positive feelings give us the resources to build resilience against negative emotions. They broaden our awareness and encourage resourcefulness – both of which help us develop coping skills.
In short, positive feelings help us cope with an onslaught of negative emotions. This, in turn, steers us clear from negative thoughts and focuses on the ones that positively affect us. And when we learn to focus on the positive rather than the negative, that’s when we start to notice the silver linings and the glass as half-full rather than half-empty. All of these eventually lead to happiness.
(Related: What Does Having a “Pure Soul” Mean?)
The Positive Feelings That Inspire Happiness
As mentioned, happiness is a spectrum of positive emotions that affect us in varying ways and degrees. So if we want to be happy, we should focus more on amplifying positive emotions.
If you don’t know where to start, here are some of the positive feelings that inspire genuine happiness:
1. Love
We often hear the saying that “love” makes the world go round. Indeed, love can make us do things we never thought we’d be able to. Love gives parents the strength to work long hours so they can provide for their children’s needs. It’s what inspired Mother Teresa to dedicate her life to charity. It’s what drives a soldier to risk their lives for their country.
That feeling of intense affection changes our perspective. We see the world from a different angle. Having love in our hearts wipes away the hatred. It inspires forgiveness and acceptance. It makes you feel good and genuinely happy.
2. Serenity
Have you ever noticed that when you’re in a quiet and serene place, everything just seems much lighter? The air is not stuffy, your thoughts aren’t chaotic, and you just feel at peace. That’s the power of serenity. It chases away our worries and any negative emotions which, in turn, leads to happiness.
3. Contentment
When we continue to chase for the things we don’t have, we tend to overlook the things we have. We would always feel like nothing is ever enough. It’s a very exhausting cycle that can lead to depression and a lack of self-worth.
But if we learn to be content with what we have, life would be much happier. We won’t be stressed out working ourselves to death just to have that latest phone model. Or drown ourselves in debt just to buy a nice car. When we start to value the things we have, life would be much more meaningful.
4. Joy
Many people tend to equate joy with happiness. But joy is more than the short bursts of elation that we get from things and moments. It’s the kind of exhilaration we get from receiving a gift or winning a raffle. It can also be that positive feeling when we hear a piece of good news or even simple things like receiving our pay. But without those little bursts of joy, we won’t know what happiness feels like.
5. Optimism
Part of feeling positive is having a positive outlook in life. When you believe that tomorrow will be better, today becomes much brighter. You focus less on what could go wrong and start looking forward to what could go right. Instead of being apprehensive, it makes you feel excited for what tomorrow can bring. It allows you to cast away your fears of the future and just be happy for today.
6. Hope
The dictionary defines hope as the “belief that something good may happen”. Hope gives us a reason to get up in the morning and face a brand new day. It inspires us to believe in something uncertain. It allows us to dream of better days and a better life. As they say, when all else fails, hope remains.
7. Altruism
Altruism is the practice of selfless concern for the well-being of others. In short, altruism makes you happy by bringing happiness to others. When you see someone smiling because of you, it brings a different kind of satisfaction. The kind that money can never buy. The kind that warms the deepest, darkest recesses of your heart. The kind that makes you genuinely happy.
8. Gratitude
Practicing gratitude in our everyday life helps us appreciate our friends, our job, the food we eat, the air we breathe – all of life itself. Instead of complaining, we become more aware of how blessed we are. We also become more inclined to share those blessings with those who need them the most. And for most of us, that’s what genuine happiness is about.
9. Pride
Some people view pride as a sin. But that usually applies to excessive pride that borders on self-conceit. Being proud of yourself and your achievements is another matter altogether. It’s the kind of pride that’s associated with goal attainment. It’s that awesome feeling you get when your efforts and sacrifices have finally paid off and you contributed something to make the world a better place.
10. Inspiration
They say that motivation is one of the strongest forces in the world. When someone is inspired and motivated, they can take on the world. Being inspired lifts you up. It makes you believe in yourself and your dreams again. When we see someone doing the things we have been dreaming of, we tend to recognize our own potential too. And there’s no feeling more euphoria-inducing than recognizing your true worth and potential.
Donate To The Poor & Homeless Of South Florida
Our Father’s House Soup Kitchen has fed the poor and homeless in South Florida over 900,000 hot meals since 1993. Our tax deductible non profit organization also accepts and distributes donations such as clothing, toiletries, shoes, bicycles, and more. You can donate to help the poor and homeless through our website.
Reviewed For Factual Accuracy
Our team meticulously fact-checks all website content before publishing. Discover more about our website’s editorial standard here and the dedication we uphold.
About The Author
Judy Ponio is a professional writer and devoted Christian. She has a passion for writing about topics related to morality and helping the poor and homeless. She is the lead author for the Our Father’s House Soup Kitchen blog.
Correct Digital, Inc is paid by private donors to provide website digital marketing services to this non-profit organization.
