The Dolce Vita Lifestyle

My Dear Friends, Followers, Readers and Former Students,

I write this with great affection to thank those of you who have supported my work throughout the years and have valued my existence in the world. I appreciate you more than words can say.
As 2024 comes to an end, we tend to reflect on the ups and downs; the joys and heartaches; the personal moments of glory and the dark tunnels of loss, whatever those losses entailed.

Yet here we are. We have survived masterfully and found our footing again. We have discovered our inner resilience. The art of letting go. Our capacity to once again believe in good; knowing all moments are temporary, and as long there is life within us, there is hope anew. 2025 calls out to us to let go of the toxic emotions that keep us trapped in a self-imposed prison of anger, hurt, and disappointment. Life is never perfect, and neither are we. Yet a fresh new year invites us to turn the page and redefine what really matters to us. It gives us a chance to forget about those tired resolutions we make year after year and never keep. Instead, what if we focused on self-care and tended to the areas in our life that enrich us and promote happiness?

The RICH theory comes from of one of my unforgettable graduate school professors, the late Tom Kehle. RICH is an acronym for Resources, Intimacy, Competence, and Health. They are the four elements that define psychological health, which is synonymous with happiness. And while genetics predict much of the variance in happiness, working on the four elements of RICH gives us at least some control over our own well-being.

So instead of a repeat of last year’s resolutions, why not examine these four areas as they pertain to you, and see if you can come up with a plan to gain control over individual sub- areas within each one. I like to divide a sheet of paper into four quadrants, and have each quadrant represent R, I, C, and H. From there you can brainstorm some ideas plan out the steps to achieve them. Really, all four are quite interrelated.

Examples of RICH questions you ask yourself:
R—Resources–How can I better manage my time and money in order to achieve more personal freedom and a sense of independence? Find ways to make more money? Ask for a raise? Stop wasting time on passive activities that don’t propel you forward toward your goals?
I—Intimacy–What can I do to maintain or acquire close friendships and relationships with others? Get out and attend more activities that interest you? Join a special interest club? Build more community among your neighbors or religious congregation? Adopt a pet?
C—Competence–How can I deepen my ability to get even better at what I do, or become good at something new that I’d like to do? Take an online course? Practice more? Apprentice with someone who has the skill you want to acquire.
H–Health—What are some ways I can take better care of my health this year? Need more sleep? Less stress? Healthier diet?

That is the basic RICH concept. My hope is that taking even very small steps within each category will get you closer and closer to a life of more happiness and personal satisfaction, no matter what your situation or current stage in life.

Felice Anno Nuovo! Happy New Year!
Raeleen
©Raeleen D’Agostino Mautner, Ph.D.
Reference:
Kehle, T.J. and Bray, M.A. (2004), RICH theory: The promotion of happiness. Psychol. Schs., 41: 43-49. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.10137