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Happiness is Seeing the Best in Yourself

February 20th, 2010 | Author: Susan K Minarik

So, if you look at yesterday’s list of ten things our best friends can teach us about how to treat ourselves, how good are you at being a friend to yourself? Just take the first point: Our truest friends see the best in us. How much of the best in yourself do you see?

Do you know what your best strengths are? Your best traits, talents, skills and abilities?

Martin Seligman, founder of the positive psychology movement, and author of Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment, says, “The good life consists in deriving happiness by using our signature strengths every day in the main realms of living.” In other words, we find joy by doing the kinds of things we’re best at doing in as many parts of our lives as we can. How cool is that!

And that’s why you’re being a good friend to yourself when you let yourself see the best in you. One clue about how to identify your basic strengths is simply to ask yourself what kinds of things give you feelings of satisfaction and pleasure. Or you can buzz on over to the Authentic Happiness site (see the blogroll over to the right for a link) and take their free strengths survey.

Once you get some clarity about your best strengths, take a look at your life and see how often you’re giving yourself a chance to exercise them. How are you using them in your home life? On the job? In your relationships? In your social life and in recreation? Play with noticing them when you’re allowing them to surface in your everyday experience. Notice the way they make you feel and appreciate them for the joy and satisfaction they bring you.

That’s one way to be your own best friend. It will contribute to your awareness of the happiness in your life and give you a deeper sense of living well.