Happiness vs wellbeing

 






The difference between happiness and well-being lies in scope, depth, and sustainability:

Happiness

  • Typically refers to a momentary emotional state—feeling pleasure, joy, or contentment.

  • It is subjective, often based on external events or mood.

  • Think of happiness as the weather—it can change quickly.

Well-being

  • A broader, more comprehensive concept that includes happiness but also encompasses:

    • Life satisfaction

    • Purpose and meaning

    • Positive relationships

    • Personal growth and achievement

    • Resilience and mental health

  • It reflects the quality and balance of one’s overall life, like the climate, stable over time.

Martin Seligman, a key figure in positive psychology, proposed the PERMA model of well-being:

  • Positive emotions (including happiness)

  • Engagement (flow)

  • Relationships

  • Meaning

  • Accomplishment


So while happiness is one part of well-being, well-being is the richer, longer-lasting pursuit of a fulfilling life.


 “Happiness is a mood—a transient state that can rise and fall. Well-being, by contrast, is a construct. It is not just how people feel at a given moment, but how they build lives that are rich in meaning, deep relationships, accomplishment, and engagement. Happiness can be part of it, but it’s not the whole story.”

-Seligman’s PERMA model in Flourish

Happiness

Well-Being

Definition

A transient emotional state of pleasure or joy

A sustained state of health, purpose, and life satisfaction

Duration

Short-term, fleeting

Long-term, enduring

Source

Often external (e.g., success, praise, pleasurable events)

Internal and holistic (e.g., values, meaning, relationships)

Measure

Momentary mood or emotion ratings

Composite life satisfaction and fulfillment scales

Includes

Joy, pleasure, contentment

Positive emotions plus engagement, meaning, accomplishment

Model

Often equated with “feeling good”

Best captured by Seligman’s PERMA model

Example

Feeling happy after a compliment

Leading a life with purpose, rich relationships, and growth

Analogy

Weather — changing day to day

Climate — stable, defines the environment over time

Martin Seligman’s PERMA model is a foundational framework in Positive Psychology that defines well-being as composed of five core elements. Unlike transient happiness, PERMA emphasizes sustainable life satisfaction and psychological flourishing. Here’s a breakdown of each element, its key components, and evidence-based exercises to enhance it:

Examples:

Here are some clear, real-life examples that illustrate the difference between happiness and well-being:

Example 1: A Graduation Day

  • Happiness: You feel elated, excited, and proud when you walk across the stage and receive your diploma.

  • Well-Being: You’ve spent years cultivating knowledge, discipline, and resilience, building a life of purpose and accomplishment that continues after the event.

Example 2: Eating Dessert

  • Happiness: You feel joy and pleasure while eating your favorite chocolate cake.

  • Well-Being: You consistently make choices that nourish your body, foster healthy relationships, and align with your long-term health goals—even if that sometimes means skipping dessert.

Example 3: Volunteering

  • Happiness: You feel good and appreciated after a day of volunteering.

  • Well-Being: Over months or years of volunteering, you develop a deep sense of meaning, connection, and contribution to a cause greater than yourself.

Example 4: A Vacation

  • Happiness: You enjoy sunshine, relaxation, and adventure during a two-week trip.

  • Well-Being: You return to a life enriched by purpose-driven work, supportive relationships, and a sense of accomplishment—so the “good life” continues even after the vacation ends.

Here are some practical tools and tips to integrate PERMA (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment) into your daily life:

1. Positive Emotion (P)

  • Tip: Start your day by listing three things you’re grateful for. This simple practice helps shift your mindset towards positivity.

    • Exercise: Gratitude Journal: At the end of each day, write down three things that brought you joy. Over time, this will train your mind to focus on the positives in your life.

  • Tool: Mood Tracker Apps (e.g., Daylio, Moodpath) allow you to track and reflect on your emotional states, helping you identify patterns and recognize sources of joy or stress.

  • Tip: Practice mindfulness: Take 10 minutes each day to engage in mindfulness exercises like deep breathing, guided meditation, or simply being present in your surroundings to increase positive emotional experiences.

2. Engagement (E)

  • Tip: Identify your flow activities: These are activities where you lose track of time because you’re deeply absorbed (like reading, painting, coding, etc.). Make time for them regularly.

    • Exercise: Flow Journal: Each week, note down what activities made you feel “in the zone.” This will help you find and nurture your sources of flow.

  • Tool: Focus Tools (e.g., Pomodoro Timer, Focus@Will) can help you engage deeply with tasks, break them into manageable chunks, and boost productivity while avoiding distractions.

  • Tip: Challenge yourself: Find ways to challenge yourself in small, achievable ways. This could be learning a new skill, working on a project, or improving your performance in something you enjoy.

3. Relationships (R)

  • Tip: Practice active listening: When engaging with others, fully listen, validate their feelings, and show genuine empathy. This enhances the quality of your connections.

    • Exercise: Kindness Challenge: Each day, do something kind for someone—whether it’s a compliment, a thank-you note, or helping out. These small gestures strengthen your relationships.

  • Tool: Social connection apps (e.g., Meetup, Bumble BFF) can help you engage with like-minded people, build friendships, and maintain connections in a meaningful way.

  • Tip: Nurture meaningful relationships: Schedule regular check-ins with friends and family, make time for quality bonding, and support others during challenging times.

4. Meaning (M)

  • Tip: Align your actions with your values: Reflect on what truly matters to you and find ways to incorporate those values into your daily life.

    • Exercise: Purpose Reflection: Write down your core values and evaluate whether your daily activities reflect them. This helps guide your decisions towards meaningful actions.

  • Tool: Mindfulness or Journaling Apps (e.g., Journey, Day One) can help you explore your thoughts and reflect on what gives your life meaning.

  • Tip: Engage in activities with a higher purpose: Volunteer, help others, or get involved in causes that align with your values. Feeling part of something bigger contributes to a sense of meaning.

5. Accomplishment (A)

  • Tip: Set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). Break larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks to track your progress.

    • Exercise: Daily To-Do List: Each day, write down three things you want to accomplish, and feel a sense of pride and achievement when you complete them.

  • Tool: Task Management Apps (e.g., Trello, Todoist) can help you stay organized and visualize your progress, ensuring that you’re continually working towards your goals.

  • Tip: Celebrate your wins: Acknowledge even small successes, whether it’s completing a task or learning something new. Taking time to celebrate helps reinforce a sense of accomplishment.

Bonus Tip: Create a Daily PERMA Routine

  • Morning: Start with gratitude and mindfulness (Positive Emotion).

  • Throughout the day: Focus on engaging in activities that promote flow (Engagement) and connect meaningfully with others (Relationships).

  • Evening: Reflect on how your day aligned with your values (Meaning) and review accomplishments (Accomplishment).

Seligman’s PERMA model moves beyond a narrow focus on momentary happiness and provides a multi-dimensional roadmap for flourishing. It empowers individuals not just to feel good but to live well, cultivating deep satisfaction through practices that are personal, social, and purpose-driven.


Aristotle's good life/human flourishing: 

  • True well-being is found not in fleeting pleasures but in living virtuously and fulfilling one’s potential.

 Stoic:

  • Emphasizes living in accordance with reason, accepting what we can’t control, and developing inner peace and character.

Buddhism:

  • letting go of attachments and cultivating mindfulness, compassion, and wisdom.

  • Distinguishes between short-term pleasure (sukha) and enduring inner peace (nirvana or eudaimonia-like contentment).

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