Many individuals give the standard response when asked what they would want for anything at all: money, good health, a happy marriage, etc. However, if we really consider it, having an optimistic outlook is among the things that most individuals desire above and beyond their current situation. Finding true happiness is one of life’s most valuable objectives, particularly in trying circumstances. Fortunately, this objective is doable.
The road to happiness begins within. In line with biblical wisdom advising us to look not only to our own interests but also to the interests of others and to love our neighbors as ourselves, research reveals the success of the same combination.
Pay attention to both yourself and other people:
Yunxiang Chen (2023) investigated the relationship between other- and self-focus in relation to interacting with others and reaching wellbeing. In order to compare the effects on happiness and life satisfaction, the study identified pro-sociality and autonomy as self-focused and other-focused forms of caring, respectively. Four main groups were distinguished by Chen: prosocial (low self-focused and high other-focused), flourishing (high self-focused and high other-focused), indifferent (low self-focused and low other-focused), and autonomous (high self-focused and low other-focused). The flourishing group had the highest levels of life satisfaction and happiness, according to the results, followed by the autonomous group, the prosocial group, and the indifferent group. Chen came to the conclusion that the most happy people are those who have a high degree of self-focus and a high degree of other-focused caring.
Pay attention to both yourself and other people:
Yunxiang Chen (2023) investigated the relationship between other- and self-focus in relation to interacting with others and reaching wellbeing. In order to compare the effects on happiness and life satisfaction, the study identified pro-sociality and autonomy as self-focused and other-focused forms of caring, respectively. Four main groups were distinguished by Chen: prosocial (low self-focused and high other-focused), flourishing (high self-focused and high other-focused), indifferent (low self-focused and low other-focused), and autonomous (high self-focused and low other-focused). The flourishing group had the highest levels of life satisfaction and happiness, according to the results, followed by the autonomous group, the prosocial group, and the indifferent group. Chen came to the conclusion that the most happy people are those who have a high degree of self-focus and a high degree of other-focused caring.
Liu et al.’s research suggests that self-focused behaviors are prompted by self-focused motivation, which may not come as a surprise. They go on to say that these kinds of behaviors are marked by a heightened sensitivity to instrumental rewards, deliberate relationship involvement, and selective relationship initiation, all of which lead to results that are essentially advantageous to the mentor. They point out that behaviors that are other-focused are a result of other-focused motives and lead to a wider range of positive outcomes for both individuals and the larger organization. These behaviors include a greater degree of inclusivity in relational initiation, a less calculated approach to relationship investment, and a lower sensitivity to instrumental rewards.
Having Self- and Other-Love
It is a truth that mentors and volunteers alike can attest to: when you are actively serving someone else, it is impossible to concentrate on your own issues. Joking aside, some philanthropically inclined individuals believe that focusing on others is a prescription for emotional well-being, even in the face of personal struggles. Therefore, if a little bit of both worlds makes up the perfect balance for personal wellness, then a recipe for success probably combines a good dosage of self-love with an altruistic emphasis on the needs of others.
