Functional Happiness

a Model for an Inspired Life

Walking Into the Light

www.WalkingIntoTheLight.com
 Table of Contents

Introduction ............................................................................ 1

What is Functional Happiness? .................................................... 1

The Paths to Happiness ............................................................. 1

Functional Happiness Equation.................................................... 2

Model of Functional Happiness .................................................... 2

Self-Generated Inspiration ................................................ 3

Reduction of Suffering ...................................................... 5

Elements of the Model ...................................................... 6

An Integrated Approach............................................................. 6

Conclusion .............................................................................. 7

About Walking Into the Light ...................................................... 7

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 Introduction

There has been a great deal of study, research and thought regarding happiness: what it is, why we want it,
and how we can have more of it. Yet it can still remain an elusive goal. The question often arises – Is happiness
something that is attained or is it something that we simply are? As this can be determined through
philosophical inquiry, a more important question is how do we incorporate and foster happiness in our daily
lives?

It is not the purpose (or possibility) of this paper to define happiness for each person. Instead, it will examine a
methodology for incorporating happiness into our daily lives and add to the collective knowledge about
happiness and our pursuit to simply be happier.

What is Functional Happiness?

According to the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary, happiness is defined as: a state of well-being and
contentment. As such, the term happiness has been used to describe many aspects of life. However, new
information has emerged that helps shed some light on incorporating happiness into our daily moments.

Functional Training became a term in the health and fitness industry to describe what is defined by Wikipedia
as: a classification of exercise which involves training the body for the activities performed in daily life.
Examining this further, functional is “used to contribute to the development or maintenance of a larger whole.”

Thus, if something is functional, it must be applicable and able to be incorporated for the purpose of improving
or enhancing. Therefore, if a state of well-being (i.e., happiness) is functional, it can be applied to our daily
lives in contribution to the larger – our lives as a whole.

Functional Happiness Defined

For our purposes, the term Functional Happiness has been developed in order to illustrate that the pursuit of
happiness is applicable, relevant and − most importantly − realistically achievable in our lives.

Functional Happiness is a state of well-being that exists, flourishes and is fostered in daily life.

Using this definition as a basis, we can effectively explore how to “achieve” happiness from a functional
standpoint. To do this, we must first understand the paths to happiness.

The Paths to Happiness

Functional Happiness is based on the understanding that ultimately there are two paths to happiness.

The First Path

The first path incorporates the goal itself with us beginning by simply choosing to be happy regardless of our
current events and status in life. This by design means a reduced level of suffering, which would otherwise
prevent us from attaining this state. Being happy also inspires and empowers us to pursue the goals in life that
we choose. This in turn motivates us to create change in our lives and to actually set the goals and direction in
which our life will lead. Thus, the steps in the first path follow as such:

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 1. Attain a State of Well-being/Be Happy
2. Inspiration & Suffering
o Suffering is Automatically Reduced
o We are Inspired & Empowered to Pursue Goals
3. Create Change/Set Goals

The Second Path

The second path to happiness focuses on incorporating a positive, empowered lifestyle while minimizing
suffering and stress. On this path, we begin by first creating change by setting both inspirational goals and
those to reduce suffering. This then allows for happiness to flourish and for us to be able to possess a state of
well-being. Thus, the steps in this path are as follows:

1. Create Change/Set Goals

2. Inspiration & Suffering
o We are Inspired & Empowered to Pursue Goals
o Suffering is Reduced
3. A State of Well-being is Attained/We are Happy

While each path is complementary and offers a synergistic approach to happiness, it is often difficult for us to
simply begin by being happy. For this reason, this paper primarily focuses on the second path described above
to demonstrate how it can lead to functional happiness.

Functional Happiness Equation

As the end result is to be happy, there are elements in life that can assist by providing inspiration and others
that can hinder, thereby causing suffering. The Functional Happiness Equation illustrates the connection
between inspiration and suffering as it relates to happiness:

Increased Inspiration + Decreased Suffering = Increased Happiness

This equation states that happiness is directly proportionate to the level of inspiration and suffering in our
lives. If we increase our inspiration, which assists in fostering happiness, and decrease our suffering, which
impedes happiness, we will inevitably be happier. Thus, the more inspired we are and the less suffering we
endure, the happier we are. The reverse of this equation also holds true. The happier we are, the more
inspired we will be and the less suffering we will experience. This serves as the foundation for the Model of
Functional Happiness.

Model of Functional Happiness

The Model of Functional Happiness serves as a practical approach to achieving happiness in our daily lives. It is
comprised of two parts:

o Self-Generated Inspiration
o Reduction of Suffering

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 Each part of the Model focuses on three areas of our lives. The arrows illustrate the
connection between Happiness and the two parts in the following fashion:
o The direct relationship between Happiness and Self-Generated Inspiration.
o The direct relationship between Happiness and the Reduction of Suffering.
o The direct relationship between Self-Generated Inspiration and the
Reduction of Suffering, which together have a direct relationship with
Happiness.

Through this, we can see the Functional Happiness Equation visually displayed − by
choosing to generate inspiration and/or reduce suffering, happiness is directly
impacted. We will see this further explained as we explore each part of the Model.

Self-Generated Inspiration

Inspiration is a positive feeling of joy or elation. In the Model of Functional Happiness, Self-Generated
Inspiration quite literally means inspiration that we generate ourselves.

There are three areas of focus within Self-Generated Inspiration:

o Development of Self
o Life Passions
o Dream Goals

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 Each of these areas alone can generate a significant amount of inspiration and increase our overall level of
happiness. However as they are all interconnected, focusing on all three areas creates a solid foundation for
continued inspiration within our daily lives.

Development of Self
Development of Self is defined as improving ourselves in any area
of our lives whether it be physically, mentally, emotionally,
socially or spiritually.

Examples include:
o Improving Physical Fitness
o Career-oriented Pursuits
o Acquiring a New Skill

Overall Goal
Growing into the next version of ourselves.

Life Passions
Life Passions are the areas and activities in our lives that we are passionate about and greatly depend on the
individual. These are often in the form of what can be mistakenly viewed by others as simply hobbies or areas
of interest. However to us, life passions generate intense levels of inspired moments and happiness.

Examples include:
o Creating a Work of Art
o Increasing Knowledge of a Subject Matter
o Experiencing New Cultures
o Helping Others

Overall Goal
Incorporating our passions into daily life.

Note: Life Passions can become Dream Goals.

Dream Goals
Dreams in and of themselves are a great source of inspiration. However, without the ability to put them into
practical terms, they will not become reality. Thus, Dream Goals are dreams that incorporate the critical and
realistic aspects of goal setting required to achieve them.

Examples include:
o Competing in the Olympics
o Starting a Business
o Living an Inspired Life

Overall Goal
Pursuing our dreams.

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 Reduction of Suffering

Suffering is a pain or distress that acts as a strong inhibitor to our

happiness. Suffering can be caused by a multitude of actions or
events in our lives and create sometimes unbearable mental or
emotional anguish. From a functional happiness standpoint, the
less suffering that exists in our lives, the happier we will be.

In order to reduce suffering, two options exist:

o Eliminate the source of the suffering

o Shift our perception from the suffering to positive aspects

With this in mind, the Reduction of Suffering focuses on three

areas:

o Perceptive Awareness
o Acceptance of Truths
o Elimination of Roadblocks

Perceptive Awareness
Both perception and awareness play a large role in the quality of the moments in our lives. Only by having a
clear perception and acute awareness will we be able to identify and understand the suffering in our lives as
well as shift our perception to positive facets, which are those areas contained within Self-Generated
Inspiration. It is important to note, however, that this is not the equivalent of ignoring suffering, specifically
that which can be reduced or eliminated through our measured actions.

Examples include:
o Recognizing the Existence of Stress
o Being Grateful for Your Health

Overall Goal
Being aware of the suffering in our lives and shifting our perception to positive aspects.

Acceptance of Truths
In order to reduce suffering, we must be able to accept key truths about ourselves and our lives. These truths
relate not only to our current reality, which is a critical prerequisite for accurate goal setting techniques, but
also the truths about the causes of our suffering. Often times we can reduce the amount of suffering in our
lives solely by accepting the truths about those causes.

Examples include:
o Accepting Responsibility for the Consequences of Your Actions
o Coming to Terms with the Death of a Loved One

Overall Goal
Accepting the truths about ourselves and our lives.

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 Elimination of Roadblocks
A roadblock is anything that inhibits our progress along our path. Roadblocks can exist in many forms from
those that are self-made to external factors and influences. Roadblocks − in addition to blocking our ability to
pursue inspiration initiatives and overall happiness − have the compound effect of acting as stressors in our
lives, thereby increasing suffering. Thus, eliminating roadblocks has the dual benefit of allowing us to move
forward in our pursuits and reducing our overall suffering.

Examples include:
o Conquering a Fear
o Finding a New Method for Completing a Previously Impossible Task

Overall Goal
Eliminating roadblocks that directly block our path.

Elements of the Model

Whether we are pursuing inspiration initiatives or reducing the suffering in our

lives, there are three key elements that assist in the pursuit and achievement of
each step along our path to happiness.

o Goal Setting
In order to pursue any aspect of our lives, effective goal setting is
required. This includes defining each step, planning appropriately, having a realistic timeframe and
accurately measuring progress. Goal setting also includes knowing the why − the reason for the pursuit
– which may be the most important contributor of success. For the Goal Setting Worksheet, visit the
2nd STARTTM section at www.WalkingIntoTheLight.com.

o Problem Management
The second key element of the Model falls heavily within the Reduction of Suffering. While the
elimination of all suffering is not a realistic goal, the ability to manage our problems and reduce their
negative impact on our lives is a practical pursuit. Thus through problem management, we can reduce
the hindrance problems cause and the overall effect they have on our level of happiness.

o Belief
In order to achieve a goal that has been set, we must have the belief that our current reality and the
reality we envision can become one in the same. Without this, we will not possess a key requirement
needed to overcome obstacles when faced with adversity to the goals we have chosen to pursue.

An Integrated Approach

The Model of Functional Happiness incorporates an integrated approach in that one action or choice can have
multiple positive effects. And while in many cases balance can be a measure of effectiveness, it does not mean
that there is always equal focus placed on both Self-Generated Inspiration and Reduction of Suffering
initiatives. The amount of emphasis on each area is greatly determined by each individual and our goals at a
particular time in our lives. For instance, we may pursue multiple initiatives of Self-Generated Inspiration and a
select amount that focus on the Reduction of Suffering. At another point, we may decide to place more focus

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 on reducing the suffering in our lives and less on inspiration initiatives. Regardless of the specific breakdown,
the overall goal is to incorporate the Model of Functional Happiness in its entirety in a fashion that best
creates a state of well-being in your life.

Conclusion

Functional Happiness is based on increasing the actions and moments that generate happiness as well as
identifying and reducing those that hinder it. To this end, the Model of Functional Happiness serves as a
practical application to effectively increase our overall happiness by increasing inspiration and reducing the
suffering that exists in our lives.

As such, it is important to understand that happiness is not the equivalent of a life without suffering. The
Model of Functional Happiness is most effective when we pursue goals to reduce suffering and generate
inspiration, but remain focused on our overall purpose. After all, we cannot spend all of our moments pursuing
happiness in the hopes of attaining it without spending time actually being happy.

About Walking Into the Light

Through education and programs that foster positive change, Walking Into the Light serves as a guide to
inspire us all to live a life of inspiration and happiness. Learn more at www.WalkingIntoTheLight.com.

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