Wed Oct. 6, 2010For quite a while, scientists have largely understood happiness to be fairly static. Yes, your happiness would jump when you won the lottery, but a few years later, you'd be back to your genetically-determined "set point" happiness level. But this week, scientists from Netherlands, Germany, and Australia co-authored a paper (PDF) published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science that says life choices can cause permanent changes in happiness levels. Scientists had a number of findings that you might find useful. For example, women who are unattached but thin are happier than women who are obese but partnered; working more hours than you want to is better than being underemployed; people who prioritize family or altruistic goals are happier than those who pursue materialistic or self-centered goals.
Read the whole article.The Value of Connecting With Others for True Happiness
Gretchen Rubin - Writer, The Happiness Project
Posted: September 30, 2010Every Wednesday is Tip Day.
This Wednesday: 9 reasons why starting a happiness-project group will boost your happiness.A few days ago, I posted about happiness-project groups -- for people who want to launch or join a group for people doing happiness projects together. My new and improved starter kit is ready, for those who are interested (just email me at grubin at gretchenrubin dot com if you want a copy).
If you're wondering whether being a part of such a group would indeed boost your happiness, I believe the answer is yes: in two ways.
First, making and keeping a happiness-related resolution will make you happier. Feeling in better control of our circumstances, cultivating an atmosphere of growth, making an effort to ensure that our lives reflect our values -- these steps will make you happier, and a happiness-project group will help you accomplish this.
Read the whole post.The Problem with Happiness
Todd Kashdan - Clinical psychologist, scientist, professor of psychology at George Mason University
Posted: September 30, 2010Asked what is the fundamental objective of life, the vast majority of people answer quickly and definitively -- happiness. Their lives are organized around trying to be happy. Sounds good, right? Sounds even better when you read about the scientific benefits linked to happiness. Compared to less happy people...
- Happy people have stronger, more intimate friendships.
- Happy people are more likely to be in satisfying romantic relationships.
- Happy people sleep better.
- Happy people are more creative.
- Happy people spend more time helping other people (altruism, generosity).
- Happy people are viewed positively by other people whether it is likability, social skills, intelligence, physical attractiveness, confidence or samurai swordsmanship.
- Happy people extract more pleasure and meaning when working, socializing or playing.
These findings are from cross-sectional, experimental, observational, longitudinal and experience-sampling studies. Thus, we can be confident that the findings are not flukes. And yes, many of these relationships go both ways. For instance, the quantity and quality of sleep affects our happiness and loneliness sucks the marrow out of living. But for now, let's just focus on a central point. Happiness is not just a sign that things are going well, the experience of happiness helps produce positive outcomes.
But there is a not-so-hidden problem.
Read the whole post.The Pursuit of Happiness: Developing Empathy for Others
David Nichtern - Senior Shambhala Buddhist teacher
Posted: September 30, 2010I had a major epiphany a few weeks ago while playing with our family's chocolate toy poodle, Leroy Brown. I realized that he's just trying to be happy. Sometimes when he's trying to be happy, he makes me happy -- like when I go to the grocery store and come back and he acts like he hasn't seen me for weeks. He's so excited to see me that he jumps up on me and we just really have a love-off and have fun together. Other times, when he's just trying to be happy he is annoying to me -- like when he's already eaten his meal and my wife and I are trying to eat ours. He comes to the edge of the table and whines and barks as if to say, "what about me ... I want your food too!" It may seem obvious, but it is now clear to me that he is actually not trying to annoy us at all -- that is not his intention.
When we see and feel life from somebody else's point of view, I think we can realize that for the most part other people are just trying to be happy in their own life in their own way.
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