Life coaching and increased happiness

Recent research, particularly in the fields of psychology, sociology and economics, has brought to light an apparent paradox at the core of our experiences. Most people want and strive for more money, yet as Western societies have got richer, their citizens have become no happier. On the contrary, most reliable research shows us that with respect to general levels of happiness, we are becoming increasingly dissatisfied and uneasy about our lives. Within the field of psychology, a new discipline has emerged, Positive Psychology, which seeks to understand positive emotion and, while acknowledging the significant role of genetics, asserts that you can learn to live within the upper reaches of your set range of happiness (Seligman, M. 2002).

I believe that life coaching can help people who are seeking to bring more happiness into their lives. It can help them understand themselves better and reach a level of self-acceptance that will enable them to make smart choices based on who they really are. I don't think life coaching (or therapy, for that matter) should be about trying to change people. I think people have the capacity to change the way they think about and react to people and circumstances, but they cannot change who they are at their core. If they try to do that, they fail and feel miserable and thwarted.

I do not consider that trying to increase your happiness is a selfish, vacuous pursuit. I think we can give more to others when we are living a life that is most closely aligned to who we really are. In doing so, we can also give others the confidence to be themselves and be more accepting of themselves and others.