At last we have arrived at the juicy part of "Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zone Way," by Dan Buettner-- what is the take home lessons for us all? What insights can we integrate into our lives to make ourselves more happy and less stressed? How can we improve the quality of our life and therefore our health?
Buettner has found six domains in life that can improve or shape our chances of finding happiness. He calls them Thrive Centers. The six areas that he identified are community, workplace, social life, financial life, home and self. The more these are interconnected in healthy ways, the higher the level of happiness people will achieve and maintain during their lifetime.
Let’s take a look at each starting with community. Community is not just the place you live but it includes the environment of economic freedom, employment rates, tolerance of your citizens, quality of your government in your municipality, the amount of community spaces available for family activities and exercise, access to the arts, and safety. These are all areas that need to be considered before you move into a community because they influence your happiness and your health.
In general people spend half of their waking hours at work so having the right parameters for your work life hugely impacts happiness. When considering work make sure you have the right job for you to bring you satisfaction, avoid long commutes, take your vacation time, work with people that you would socialize with outside of work and then do so.
Social life can take on many forms--some that create health and happiness are joining a club, connecting with people who share your faith, marrying the right person for you and understanding the joys and complications of relationships including those with your children.
Financial thriving comes from having enough to make sure your basic needs are met, so implement a savings plan, and avoid unnecessary credit card or other debt.
Activities in the home include spending time with the people you love, reducing the electronics and TV interaction in the home, getting pets, creating quiet meditation spaces, having a family room and using it, growing a garden, making your home spaces look pretty, and getting enough sleep.
Finally, for yourself look at your gifts, passions and values and make sure everything in your life reflects what is most important to you. These are your secrets to finding health and happiness.
Live Vibrantly,
Dr. Dae
Dr. Dae's website: www.healthydaes.com
Dr. Dae's book: Daelicious! Recipes for Vibrant Living can be purchased @ www.healthydaes.com
Dr. Dae's Bio:
“Dr. Dae" (pronounced Dr. Day) Daemon Jones is a Naturopathic Physician who treats the whole person using safe and effective combinations of traditional and natural methods to produce optimal health and well-being in the lives of her patients.
Add a Comment4 Comments
I appreciate you taking time out of your day to share your thoughts about the book.
November 29, 2011 - 1:59pmThis Comment
I am reading this book now. I am a nurse-practitioner (nurse-midwife), positive psychology wellness coach . . . and a wellbeing junkie. I love this book and think your review is an excellent synopsis. I like his Thrive areas - it reminds me of the Gallup book called Wellbeing. The areas they carve out for wellbeing are similar to these. I really enjoyed the work section on your write-up! Great job.
November 6, 2011 - 8:05pmThis Comment
Thanks for your comments! I agree community is so important!
March 15, 2011 - 4:06pmThis Comment
I like that this article gives hearty mention to community in its role in happiness. The topic of community is often neglected here in the United States, where there's a strong individual ethic. But the community in which a person lives and the communities a person is connected into have such a huge influence on all aspects of our lives.
You mention community spaces for for family activities and exercise, and these are really important. For younger people, having nearby businesses or public spaces for socializing can also be really important.
I recently wrote about the importance of neighborhood and community gathering. I think that these spaces can not only improve your quality of life directly, but they can lead you to become more connected to others in your community, which can have benefits both in terms of your social life and your business, financial health, and career.
March 13, 2011 - 7:25amThis Comment