The world renowned Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who founded analytical psychology.
His work has been influential not only in psychiatry but also in anthropology, archaeology, literature, philosophy, and religious studies. He worked together with the world famous founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, and for a time the two men conducted a lengthy correspondence and collaborated on an initially joint vision of human psychology.
Jung pioneered research into the psychological process of individuation: the lifelong psychological process of differentiation of the self out of each individual’s conscious and subconscious elements. Jung considered individuation to be the main task of human development.
Finding happiness is something we all strive for, and it often comes down to understanding and accepting our own psychology.
In 1960, journalist Gordon Young asked Jung, “What do you consider to be more or less basic factors making for happiness in the human mind?” Jung answered with five elements.
Carl Jung Said These 5 Factors Are Crucial For Living A Happy Life
1. Good physical and mental health.
Maintaining a health body and mind is Jung’s #1 recommendation for living a happy life. Eating healthy, exercising on a regular basis, getting enough sleep, and doing everything possible to relax and reduce stress are sure to bring balance and happiness with it.
When we exercise, our bodies release endorphins that can lead to general feelings of happiness. We also become healthier when spending a bit of time on our physical bodies, so it’s a win-win.
2. Good personal and intimate relationships, such as those of marriage, the family, and friendships.
Dozens of studies have shown that people who have satisfying relationships with family, friends, and their community are generally happier, have fewer health problems, and live longer.
Spend time learning valuable and healthy ways to communicate with your loved ones, such as Nonviolent Communication where we express observations, feelings, needs and requests, all without judgment and criticism, and where both people feel heard and happier after understanding each other.
Each person we encounter has the potential to make our lives happier. Remember to be kind to those you meet each day, and you’re on your way to living a happy life.
3. The faculty for perceiving beauty in art and nature.
If you’ve taken a walk or a hike in a beautiful place and stopped for a minute to just enjoy how beautiful everything is, then you understand this point by Jung. Nature has a wonderful effect on our minds and bodies, as we take in fresh oxygen, see fresh vegetation that likely signals deep instincts of having found a good place to stay for eating and survival, and as we are able to consciously enjoy the beauty of flowers, trees, animals, the sky, everything.
Art can have a similar effect that brings us happiness, as we engage the creative side of our minds and find beauty in the expression of others.
Take a minute today and just appreciate something beautiful, no matter how small it may be.
4. Reasonable standards of living and satisfactory work.
Studies have shown that living in poverty dramatically increases stress levels and leads to unhappiness, while having our basic needs met decreases stress and provides a foundation for happiness. It’s important to earn enough to get by, and it’s also important to love what you do.
If we go to a job we don’t like each day, chances are it will be difficult to be happy during the time there. Listen to your heart and ask what it is you would truly love to be doing, then make a step in that direction. It may seem scary at first, but once you start taking little steps towards a career you love, you’re on your way to happiness, and yes, you CAN do it.
5. A philosophic or religious point of view capable of coping successfully with the vicissitudes of life.
The universe is a big place, one can see this simply by going out at night and looking at the seemingly infinite space above. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, so why would life end after the body passes away?
Spending time thinking about the deep meaning of life, and searching our hearts for the truth can help us to figure out our own ideas as to what is going on in the universe, and what the meaning is of our lives. It’s important to reflect on these things if we want to be happy according to Jung, as having a sense of it can help us cope with the many struggles and changes in life.
You are loved.