Make up your mind to be happy
In the 1990's researcher Ronald Inglehart published the results of a massive ‘happiness survey’ involving 170,000 people from 16 countries. The participants were asked questions like, "How happy are you?" and "Are you satisfied you with your life?"
Who do you think were the most miserable? The teens? The mid-lifers? And who do you think were the happiest? The results for each age group were almost identical! About 79-81% of people indicated they were ‘pretty happy’ with their life, irrespective of their age. Other research has shown that happiness knows no gender – there is a less than one percent difference in happiness between the sexes. Nor does wealth produce happiness. A survey of the Forbes 100 wealthiest found that the privileged aren’t much happier, overall, than average people.
So why is it that some people are happier than others? Researchers have pinpointed a number of things that people do that produce happiness. Happy people tend to savour the moment and experience the moments of joy in each day – the satisfaction of helping a friend, the smile of their child, the pleasure of reading a good book. They also tend to take control of their time, set themselves goals, and then break them down into parts they can achieve each day. Happy people tend to take steps to keep their negative emotions in check by accentuating the positive.
People with close friends and partners tend to cope better with major stresses like bereavement, illness and trauma. People who could name five close friends are sixty per cent more likely to be very happy than those who can’t name any. Whilst relationship conflict is an important factor in most people’s unhappiness, people tend to be happier attached than unattached. Most people in relationships are less lonely than singles and enjoy more supportive relationships.
Experiments show that those people who make an effort to act happy really do tend to feel better. It seems that the facial muscles used to smile actually trigger positive feelings in the brain. Happy people are also involved in activities. When people are pursuing a passion or interest they tend to be more positive. Aerobic exercise like walking, bike riding or swimming also tends to produce increased well-being and is often prescribed as a helpful antidote to depression and anxiety. Happy people also find time to rest, sleep and have space by themselves.
People with spiritual beliefs tend to be happier and are also less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, to divorce, or commit suicide. Of course, spiritual beliefs or the principles outlined above can’t ensure you will be immune from sadness. But applied together, they can improve your sense of overall well-being and happiness.
Happiness tends to come about from a number of choices with which we are faced each day. It is an attitude we can cultivate. As Abraham Lincoln said, “Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be”.
Ken Warren is the Director of Positive People Solutions - a speaking and consultancy business which helps:
- Managers and their teams - to have great working relationships, enjoy their work, and perform at their best
- Education, health, and welfare professionals - to achieve better outcomes with challenging clients and feel more satisfied with their work
Subscribe to his free newsletter through www.positivepeoplesolutions.com.au and receive 3 e-books on building a happier and more productive workplace.
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