Stephanie Harrison, the writer behind “New Happy,” offers insights into achieving fulfillment in a materialistic society through various approaches like valuing connections with people and assisting those in need.
Happiness is frequently depicted online as being connected to one’s social standing, material belongings, and individual accomplishments.
Swipe through your Instagram timeline, and you’ll encounter meticulously arranged photos depicting “joy”: shiny timepieces, sports vehicles, luxury Designer bags.
American positive psychologist Stephanie Harrison views this as an obsolete concept of happiness. She has written
Fresh Joy: Finding Authentic Happiness in a World Misguided About It
To question our understanding of personal fulfillment.
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The internationally bestselling book leverages numerous research papers to provide a transformative roadmap for achieving happiness.
It has ignited a movement aimed at reshaping our understanding of true happiness; the book’s dedicated Instagram page,
instagram.com/newhappyco
, has 955,000 followers.
The San-Francisco based firm Harrison leads, named The New Happy, creates podcasts, newsletters, and various tools aimed at reshaping our perspective.
happiness
.
She has received an invitation to address international business figures, such as those at Google, regarding how conventional ideas of contentment may be steering us incorrectly.
Central to Harrison’s philosophy is a profound self-realization.
Raised in a nurturing household in the suburbs, she was shaped by what she refers to as “The Old Happy” – an unyielding drive for flawlessness.
“During my early twenties, even though I accomplished much of what I believed would bring me happiness, I found myself deeply unhappy,” she remembers.
Sitting on my bedroom floor, crying, I found myself questioning for the first time, ‘Could all the things I’ve been told about happiness be incorrect?’
She devoted many years to the belief that happiness could be attained through achievements, only to end up feeling detached and unsatisfied.
She discovered that the University of Pennsylvania provides a master’s program in positive psychology, which focuses on the scientific exploration of well-being and the abilities that help individuals and organizations thrive.
The field is based on the belief that people want to lead
meaningful and fulfilling lives
, to cultivate what is best within themselves and to enhance their experiences of love, work and play.
She enrolled in the degree, and after completing it joined the programme as an instructor.
Through her studies, she realised society’s definition of happiness, which is perpetuated by the media and our education and family systems, was fundamentally flawed.
So what does happiness actually look like?
Harrison suggests that true happiness isn’t about amassing riches or receiving praise. Rather, her concept of “The New Happy” focuses on forming strong bonds with people, contributing to your community, and valuing interpersonal relationships more than individual success.
She mentions that previously, she thought achieving an external objective would bring her happiness.
I now understand that true joy comes from feeling connected—be it with oneself, others, or the environment surrounding us. This implies that it’s within reach during numerous instances, including those that are challenging.
Harrison similarly disputes the notion that happiness revolves around exclusively concentrating on one’s self.
“The fastest route to happiness
is helping other people be happy
,” she says. “Being of service offers us everything we truly long for: connection, love, purpose, meaning and joy.”
Not all individuals have the privilege to ponder happiness from a standpoint of financial security, and Harrison recognizes this truth.
In our present reality, numerous individuals do not have their fundamental requirements satisfied. It’s extremely challenging to consider assisting others when one is merely struggling to make ends meet.
The New Happy isn’t focused on big actions or drastic transformations, but rather on making tiny, significant adjustments in everyday routines.
Harrison offers valuable insights and actionable tactics aimed at fostering genuine well-being.
-
Practise
self-compassion
:
“In difficult moments, pause and say to yourself, ‘It’s OK that I feel this way,’ or ‘I’m struggling, and that’s to be expected.’ Refrain from beating yourself up.” -
Seek small ways to serve others:
“As you go about your day, brighten someone else’s, whether
through a smile
, a compliment or a helping hand.” -
Put relationships first
Research indicates that robust relationships are the paramount element for well-being. A simple text message or brief phone call to connect with someone you love can maintain these connections. -
Cultivate a
hopeful outlook
:
Skepticism is simple, yet it can damage your happiness. Seek out instances of generosity around you and let those be evidence that humans are essentially kind. -
Clarify your values:
The New Happy platform provides a Values Wheel tool (available at thenewhappy.com/values-wheel) designed to assist individuals in pinpointing what holds the greatest importance for them. By using this, it becomes simpler to adjust their lifestyle choices so they better match their values both day-to-day and when striving towards longer-term objectives.
Finding happiness in the everyday
Looking back, Harrison says her personal struggles led her to her big shift in perspective.
“Shortly after that difficult moment in my twenties, I began to rediscover the joy I had felt as a young child,” she says.
“It has been a companion even in hard times. I feel incredibly fortunate to have
found a path to happiness
That is both sustainable and enduring, and I aspire to share that with others.”
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