Comments on: Three strategies for being happier at work or school http://www.meaningandhappiness.com/three-strategies-for-being-happier-at-work-or-school/234/ More meaningful and happier life, work, and play Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:17:06 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Career Passion Shouldn’t Be an Oxymoron « Mentor Planet http://www.meaningandhappiness.com/three-strategies-for-being-happier-at-work-or-school/234/comment-page-1/#comment-3860 Career Passion Shouldn’t Be an Oxymoron « Mentor Planet Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:06:04 +0000 http://www.meaningandhappiness.com/?p=234#comment-3860 [...] to be counter-intuitive.  Even if you’re working long hours, according to research psychologist Dr. Steve Wright, people are happier when they have a job that fully engages them. So find something that’s [...] [...] to be counter-intuitive.  Even if you’re working long hours, according to research psychologist Dr. Steve Wright, people are happier when they have a job that fully engages them. So find something that’s [...]

]]> By: Dr. Steve Wright http://www.meaningandhappiness.com/three-strategies-for-being-happier-at-work-or-school/234/comment-page-1/#comment-601 Dr. Steve Wright Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:55:37 +0000 http://www.meaningandhappiness.com/?p=234#comment-601 Everyone has strengths. One person's particular strength may be more impressive than someone else's. Some people may have a single prominent strength, but more likely they have several. Some people have strengths that are very pronounced and noteworthy (compared to their other strengths, or to other people). And some of those people have many interests. Some strengths - like hope, gratitude, love, and zest - have been found to be directly associated with life satisfaction, but researchers have discovered a number of factors involving strengths that lead to a happier life. Even though the science on these questions is quite new, we do know some things from these empirical studies; it's not just empty theorizing. It's true that some people who have many interests and can't decide among them will delay commitment and may drift. But sometimes what looks like drift may end up being a very constructive process of discovering what really fits for you. In many cases just diving in before you're 100% sure is a good way to find out whether the actual day-to-day activity in a certain job or career really suits you. Not being able to decide what kind of work you really want to do is a particularly hard issue to study, even harder than most issues in scientific psychology, which are almost always complex and elusive. Decades ago, psychology was heavy on theory and light on solid evidence. That has changed, and there are thousands of people who understand some important body of scientific psychological research. This research gives us insights into the human situation just like any body of scientific knowledge does about its subject matter. There is also scientific psychological research that has tested whether some of these insights actually work when implemented in the real world. In any area that can be studied scientifically, you're a lot better off if you know what the science says - certainly far better than just using the subjective analysis of your personal life experience alone. Everyone has strengths. One person’s particular strength may be more impressive than someone else’s. Some people may have a single prominent strength, but more likely they have several. Some people have strengths that are very pronounced and noteworthy (compared to their other strengths, or to other people). And some of those people have many interests. Some strengths – like hope, gratitude, love, and zest – have been found to be directly associated with life satisfaction, but researchers have discovered a number of factors involving strengths that lead to a happier life. Even though the science on these questions is quite new, we do know some things from these empirical studies; it’s not just empty theorizing.

It’s true that some people who have many interests and can’t decide among them will delay commitment and may drift. But sometimes what looks like drift may end up being a very constructive process of discovering what really fits for you. In many cases just diving in before you’re 100% sure is a good way to find out whether the actual day-to-day activity in a certain job or career really suits you.

Not being able to decide what kind of work you really want to do is a particularly hard issue to study, even harder than most issues in scientific psychology, which are almost always complex and elusive. Decades ago, psychology was heavy on theory and light on solid evidence. That has changed, and there are thousands of people who understand some important body of scientific psychological research. This research gives us insights into the human situation just like any body of scientific knowledge does about its subject matter. There is also scientific psychological research that has tested whether some of these insights actually work when implemented in the real world. In any area that can be studied scientifically, you’re a lot better off if you know what the science says – certainly far better than just using the subjective analysis of your personal life experience alone.

]]> By: Nobi http://www.meaningandhappiness.com/three-strategies-for-being-happier-at-work-or-school/234/comment-page-1/#comment-541 Nobi Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:34:20 +0000 http://www.meaningandhappiness.com/?p=234#comment-541 Some people may not have any outstanding strengths but many interests and but can't decide to pursue just one activity. They drift here and there but at some point they need to make money to survive, so they must take on any job that is available. The world is not waiting for you to express your talents and you might not be able to earn money at all with your talent. Only if you have a well paid job as Harvard psychology professor then you can elaborate about things like that, but real life is different not just theorie. Some people may not have any outstanding strengths but many interests and but can’t decide to pursue just one activity.
They drift here and there but at some point they need to make money to survive, so they must take on any job that is available.
The world is not waiting for you to express your talents and you might not be able to earn money at all with your talent.

Only if you have a well paid job as Harvard psychology professor then you can elaborate about things like that, but real life is different not just theorie.

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