Subjective well-being: a definition of subjective well-being and happiness

April 27, 2011 - PRLog -- Subjective well-being (http://www.iswb.org/) includes our response, perceived satisfaction, and assessment of life. Subjective well-being is not a synonymous of happiness, even if the two are often used interchangeably. Subjective well-being is often assessed using scales and questionnaires. "Subjective well-being: a definition of subjective well-being and happiness " is a pamphlet based on the book "A course in happiness", available on http://www.amazon.com/Subjective-well-being-definition-subjective-happiness/dp/1456507575/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303939408&sr=1-2 and as eBook on Institute of Subjective Well-Being (http://www.iswb.org/).

The pamphlet format makes it more accessible, both in terms of time and money, to readers who are interested only in selected topics which are part of "A course in happiness". "Subjective well-being: a definition of subjective well-being and happiness " is based on the research, inspirations, tools, etc. described on http://www.iswb.org/

The book explores  why we should care about consciousness, even if we are not scientists. Consciousness is anything that we are aware of at a given moment; considering voluntary change starts with awareness, an understanding of consciousness greatly facilitate our subjective well-being. Consciousness is explored by branch of research like cognitive neuroscience and cognitive psychology, which have been developing at fast pace during the last years.  The book also offers ways to measure Subjective Well-Being.

Findings about subjective well-being include:
- Mindfulness: as reported by psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky, study participants who appreciate positive moments of their day, “showed significant increases in happiness and reductions in depression”.

- Money aren't everything: researchers Tim Kasser and Richard Ryan found that “The more we seek satisfactions in material goods, the less we find them there. The satisfaction has a short half-life—it’s very fleeting.”. Money-seekers also score lower on tests of vitality and self-actualization. These findings are consistent across nations and cultures.  

- Have meaningful goals: this has been a recurrent them along this book. “People who strive for something significant, whether it’s learning a new craft or raising moral children, are far happier than those who don’t have strong dreams or aspirations. As humans, we actually require a sense of meaning to thrive.” say Ed Diener and Robert Biswas-Diener. “Happiness lies at the intersection between pleasure and meaning. Whether at work or at home, the goal is to engage in activities that are both personally significant and enjoyable” according to Tal Ben-Shahar.

- Exercising matters: exercising delivers a sense of accomplishment, plus opportunity for interaction with people and environment, releasing endorphins and boosting self-esteem. And, under the supervision of a doctor, it may be very effective in healing depression.

- Positive outlook: “Happy people…see possibilities, opportunities, and success. When they think of the future, they are optimistic, and when they review the past, they tend to savour the high points,” say Diener and Biswas-Diener.

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"A course in happiness, meaning, motivation, and well-being" is a new book which offers tools to assess one's well-being, and approaches to live a happier, purpose-driven and flourishing life