Pursue peace with God and man as first priority. We could draw the same conclusion as nations have drawn: wealth and happiness have very little correlation.
Connection & Belonging
∙ Security
∙ Friendships
∙ Family
∙ Romantic love / intimate partnership
∙ Community and a sense of belonging
Purpose & Growth
∙ Meaningful work or a calling
∙ Creative expression
∙ Learning and mastering new skills
∙ Contributing to something larger than yourself
∙ Achieving goals you worked hard for
Inner States
∙ Peace
∙ Gratitude
∙ Self-acceptance
∙ Autonomy — feeling in control of your own life
∙ Flow states (being fully absorbed in an activity)
Everyday Life
∙ Physical health and vitality
∙ Time in nature
∙ Play and humor
∙ Rest and stillness
∙ Simple pleasures (good food, music, beauty)
Deeper Meaning
∙ Spirituality or faith
∙ Legacy — feeling like your life mattered
∙ Forgiveness (giving and receiving it)
∙ Wonder and curiosity about the world
Research in positive psychology (Seligman, etc.) suggests that the most enduring happiness tends to come from relationships, meaning, and engagement rather than pleasure or material comfort — which fades quickly through a process called hedonic adaptation.
SystemOrEcosystem.com
