When you ask someone what their main goal in life is, you would expect them to say “to become rich” or “to become famous”. While this may be a common answer, many others have the goal to achieve happiness. The choice to be kind can open up your options in life and help you on your journey to self-actualization. Volunteering, forming communal relationships, and acts of altruism can all contribute to your overall happiness and satisfaction in life.
Expressing gratitude to the people in your life is a kind gesture that benefits both you and the other person. Expressing gratitude can be as small as thanking someone for what they’ve done for you, or as big as buying them a gift, writing them a long letter, or doing them a favor. There are also more benefits from expressing your gratitude, such as, making us healthier, boosting our careers, increasing our resilience to stressful situations, and expanding our social networks.
MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
Abraham Maslow, an important idealist in the field of psychology created the hierarchy of needs theory. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a theory of human behavioral motivation. The levels of the hierarchy (in order) include “physiological”, “safety”, “belonging and love”, “esteem”, and “self-actualization”. To move up the hierarchy, the person must achieve the needs in order, starting with the lowest level. An obstacle people face is changing their current thought process from a negative mindset into an positive, selfless mindset. Our specific ways of thinking and acting can strongly impact our sense of happiness and peace of mind. By being selfless and showing kindness we give ourselves more happiness in our current lives which will help us get over the mental obstacles we face.
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