Understanding Well-Being:A Practical Approach

Research on well being has become very prominent area in psychology and other social sciences. This paper presents a review of historical background of well being, starting from the work of Aristotle to the present day. The paper is divided in two sections. Section 1 presents a historical background of well being and section 2 presents practical approach to understand and enhance well being. Carol Ryff identified five aspect of well- being: autonomy; environmental mastery; positive relationship with other, purpose in life and self acceptance. Keys (2002) has used the terms "flourishing and languishing" as scientific concepts of well being. Martin Seligman (2011) father of Modern positive psychology has identified five elements of well being that are building blocks of flourishing life; Positive Emotion; Engagement; Relationship; Meaning; and Accomplishment. At last the paper presents two practical dimensions of well being: l. Feeling good or happiness, 2. Doing good or sense of meaning in life and self worth. A detailed description of ways of feeling good or doing good have been presented.