TOM RATH

Pursuing happiness for loved ones or for your community is a worthwhile goal. But trying to create happiness for yourself can have the opposite effect.

The more value you place on your own happiness, the more likely you are to feel lonely on a daily basis. Seeking your own happine...

• People who spend money on experiences are happier than those who spend on material things.
• People who spend on other people end up happier AND it makes someone else happy too.
• Share the things you are planning with other people because anticipation increases well being. Give ...

• These moments — which usually involve an exchange with another person — give your days a positive or negative charge. 
• Even brief interactions count, such as exchanging a smile or greeting while passing someone on the street.
• You absolutely can control your next interaction w...

The result of trying to be busy is a poorly managed life. If you are busy throughout the day and bouncing from one thing to the next, you’re probably not focusing on constructive activity.

You are also probably not giving your full attention to the things ...

Three key conditions differentiate days when you have a full charge from typical days:

•  Meaning: doing something that benefits another person.
• Interactions: creating far more positive than negative moments. 
• Energy: mak...

Doing things for others and living a life of meaning is important. But without energy, you can’t do your best work.

If you want to make a difference for years to come, you have to put your health and energy first.

The best way to produce sustainable increases in well-being is to appreciate what you already have and to continue creating new positive experiences with the people who matter most. 

When you value what you already have, not only will you grow, you won’t fe...

• You should be able to spend some time every day engaging in activities that energize and recharge you; it takes only a few moments to make a day more productive and fulfilling.
• Even in the worst situations, you can find opportunities for growth. The ...

Creating meaning is an evolutionary process that grows by the day, as opposed to a grand purpose that suddenly falls in your lap. 

Small wins generate meaningful progress. You might create a small positive charge for one of your customers today or work ...

• Extrinsic motivation is when you do things primarily to receive a reward. You might take a new job because of the higher pay and better benefits package.
• Intrinsic motivation — or deep internal motivation — is much richer. You are driven by what you ...

One of the downfalls of the “follow your passion” advice is that it assumes that putting your own passion and happiness at the center of your world is what leads to meaning, fulfillment and joy. That is often not the case.

Those who make a profound difference, in contrast, begin by asking w...

We need at least three to five positive interactions to outweigh every one negative exchange. Bad moments simply outweigh good ones.

Whether you’re having a one-on-one conversation with a colleague or a group discussion, keep this simple shortcut in mind: At least ...

• The average worker loses 28 percent of each day to distraction.
• Only one in five workers report having the ability to focus on one thing at a time during a workday. 
• On average, people spend about half of their time thinking about something other than what they are doing at a...

While there is some overlap, the differences have clear implications for how people spend their time. 

• Those who pursue happiness are what psychologists call “takers.” 
• In contrast, people leading meaningful lives get a lot of joy from giving to others.