Is there a key to happiness? It’s one of humanity’s greatest questions, and one we still don’t fully know the answer to. Although scientists are getting closer to identifying certain factors that can increase happiness, there are several reasons why finding a universal formula is not easy.
Happiness is a complex phenomenon that is difficult to objectively define and measure. Sam Jahara, a psychotherapist at Psychotherapy in Brighton and Hove, UK (opens in a new tab), told Live Science that happiness is usually associated with joy, lightness, and gratitude. Happy people often have a positive outlook on their lives, past and present and despite negative circumstances, and look forward to the future, he said.
But happiness is not the same as life satisfaction, said Maurice Duffy (opens in a new tab), a mindset coach and visiting professor of innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Sunderland in the UK.
“When we describe happiness, we say that our mental state is happy,” he told Live Science. “When we describe life satisfaction, we’re making a value judgment about something we control and whether we see it benefiting us or harming us or making us better or worse.”
According to a 2016 review published in the journal Current Opinion in Psychology (opens in a new tab), understanding the science behind happiness is also difficult because the meaning and significance of happiness varies across cultures. Americans tend to define happiness in terms of pleasure and view happiness as generally positive, while East Asian and Middle Eastern cultures may see happiness as socially disruptive and are more ambivalent about whether it is a good thing, the review suggests.
The way happiness is measured—mostly through questionnaires and happiness scales—is also not precise enough to draw firm conclusions about the formula for happiness, noted a 2021 review published in the journal Synthese (opens in a new tab).
But despite these challenges, happiness research shows that there are common themes that suggest the key to happiness may still be within science’s reach.
Exercise
There is growing evidence that physical activity can be central to a person’s sense of well-being across the lifespan. A 2020 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (opens in a new tab) measured the physical activity and happiness of 2,345 young, middle-aged and older adults. This may interest you : The Jacksonville International Food Trail promotes local diversity. Highly and moderately active individuals reported significantly higher levels of happiness than inactive participants, regardless of their age group.
But physical activities that affect happiness may involve more than just exercise, a 2017 study published in the journal PLoS One found. In the study, more than 10,000 participants tracked their happiness and physical activity levels on a smartphone app that collected information about their movements from an accelerometer. The results showed that people who were more physically active (either exercising or not) had higher self-esteem. Examples of non-exercise activities are walking to work, mowing the lawn or gardening.
Dr. Ioannis Liakas (opens in a new tab), a researcher at the Royal College of Physicians and an honorary senior lecturer at the UK’s Queen Mary School of Medicine, told Live Science that there are several reasons why physical activity can increase feelings of happiness.
“Exercise is good for our bodies, but it can also lift your mood and help you deal with depression and anxiety,” she said. “Activity releases chemicals in your brain [including serotonin and endorphins] that make you feel good — boosting your self-esteem and helping you focus, as well as sleep and feel better.”
Social connections
A 2018 review published in the journal Nature Human Behavior (opens in a new tab) suggests that the relationships we have with other people—our social connections—may be crucial to our sense of happiness. On the same subject : Trailer helps woman bring books to Clear Lake readers. That’s because good relationships with others give us a sense of belonging, meaning, purpose and acceptance, Jahara said.
“Humans are relational creatures,” he said. “Through others, we feel seen, heard and recognized. Giving to others in turn brings us a sense of satisfaction and self-fulfillment, and also makes us happy. Without good relationships, we always feel alone and isolated, which leads to poor mental health.”
According to a 2018 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology (opens in a new tab), doing acts of benevolence toward others in particular can increase people’s levels of happiness, while a 2019 study published in The Journal of Social Psychology (opens in a new tab). map) found that the more acts of kindness a person performs (defined as activities designed to benefit others, such as volunteering for a charity or helping a lost stranger reach their destination), the happier a person tends to be. The research revealed that it takes seven consecutive acts of charity to positively influence happiness.
Psychological wellbeing
A person’s ability to maintain a state of happiness also depends on how they cope with stress and adversity, Jahara said. To see also : Secretary Antony J. Blinken At a Press Availability – United States Department of State. People who practice self-compassion (a positive and caring attitude toward oneself in the face of failures and individual shortcomings) and gratitude (gratitude) may be happier, he said.
“Self-compassion and gratitude are ways to develop a positive view of ourselves, others and the world around us,” Jahara said. “Our negative bias can lead us to develop self-defeating thoughts and a bleak worldview. This then becomes our reality as we constantly look for things to confirm that view.”
Instead, a balanced perspective and understanding that things are not always good or always bad may be important to happiness, Jahara said.
“A healthy mind is defined by the ability to maintain a balanced perspective on life and hold both positions at the same time,” he said. “Therefore, cultivating a chain of positive thinking instead of a negative one affects our ability to feel happy.”
Digital media
How we use digital media can also be an important factor in happiness, Duffy said, as smartphones and social media are double-edged swords.
“There are several links between digital media use and happiness,” he said. “One focuses on the social connection it enables—which can be positive or negative—and in turn affects our level of happiness accordingly.”
According to a 2019 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication (opens in a new tab), digital media that focus on direct interaction between users, such as phone calls and texting, may increase happiness the most. The researchers noted that social media can both increase and decrease happiness, and the effect may depend on how a person uses it. Communication, self-presentation, and entertainment were associated with better well-being, while passive content consumption (without interacting with other users) was associated with poorer well-being.
Money
According to a 2016 review in the journal Current Opinion in Psychology (opens in a new tab), whether or not money can buy happiness may depend on what—or on whom—the money is spent. Spending money on yourself doesn’t tend to make people happy, the researchers suggested, but people can feel happiness both from spending money on others and from acquiring experiences instead of wealth.
A 2010 review in the International Review of Economics (opens in a new tab) also found that leisure may be the only component of consumption that can increase happiness. Researchers found that spending money on activities like hiking, books or travel may be more important to happiness levels than buying a house or a car.
Nature
Spending time in nature can also increase feelings of happiness, Duffy said.
“The study (opens in new tab) suggests that ‘nature connectedness’ [people’s subjective sense of connection with the natural environment] has clear happiness benefits,” he said.
According to a 2014 meta-analysis published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology (opens in a new tab), there is a “small but significant” link between being connected to nature and happiness. In terms of measures, the strongest correlations were between happiness and “nature involvement,” a measure that expresses a person’s connection to the natural environment and the belief that the environment is an important part of one’s self-concept.
Being in nature can also have a beneficial effect on mental health, Liakas told Live Science.
“Nature can help us feel happier, feel more valuable in our lives, and reduce levels of depression and stress,” she said.
Is happiness a choice?
If happiness is a state of mind, as Duffy suggested, can one choose to be happy? Research shows that happiness can be cultivated through conscious life choices in areas such as relationships, movement and surroundings. However, a person’s happiness can depend on their ability to make these choices, especially when considering financial barriers and mental health.
Perhaps the first step to feeling happy can be to improve your general well-being, Jahara said.
“It means having an appropriate emotional response to different situations,” he said. “There are different ways to develop emotional literacy, psychotherapy is just one example. So you could say that there is a choice when it comes to improving your own happiness and the feelings of others.”
Anna Gora is a health writer for Live Science who has previously worked for Coach, Fit&Well, T3, TechRadar and Tom’s Guide. He is a certified personal trainer, nutritionist and health coach with almost 10 years of work experience. Anna holds a BA in Nutrition from Warsaw University of Life Sciences and a MA in Nutrition, Physical Activity & in Public Health from the University of Bristol, as well as various health coaching certifications. She is passionate about empowering people to live healthy lifestyles and promoting the benefits of a plant-based diet.
What did Einstein say was the key to happiness?
What did Einstein say about being happy? Albert Einstein wrote: “A quiet and unassuming life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success with constant restlessness.” His quote on paper sold for $1.3 million.
What quote did Albert Einstein say?
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. It’s important not to stop questioning.†“Anyone who can no longer wonder and stand in awe is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.â âThe happy man is too content with the present to dwell too much on the future.â
Did Einstein say the miracle quote?
“Live your life as if nothing is a miracle or everything is a miracle.†– Albert Einstein.
What was Albert Einstein’s motto?
“Try not to become a successful man. Rather become a valuable man.â
What are the 3 things that make people happy?
Three things we all need for a happy life
- Someone to love.
- Something to do.
- Something to look forward to.
What are the 3 most important things in your life? Without hesitation, the three most important things in my life are faith, health and family. The list goes on with friends, happiness, hope, positivity, security, comfort, and compassion.
What three 3 actions make an individual happier?
Some strategies to increase happiness in your life: Take time to do random acts of kindness. Respond actively and constructively by celebrating when others share good news with you. Pay close attention to others and practice compassion and empathy.
What are the 3 components of happiness and why are they important?
Happiness has three aspects: positive emotion, connectedness, and meaning, each of which feeds into life satisfaction and is measured entirely by subjective report.
What is the scientific reason for happiness?
What makes us feel happiness, closeness and joy? Brain chemicals! There are four main chemicals that can create the positive emotions you feel throughout the day: dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins (sometimes called D.O.S.E.).
What makes a person happy? Diener identifies five factors that contribute to happiness: social relationships, temperament/adjustment, money, society and culture, and positive thinking styles. Happy people have strong social relationships.
What is the science behind happiness?
While there is no single answer to what chemical makes you happy, serotonin is an important piece of the puzzle. Some researchers even call serotonin the “happy chemical” because higher serotonin levels increase feelings of well-being, confidence, and belonging.
What is the neuroscience of happiness?
Moving toward a neuroscience of happiness requires a neurobiological understanding of how positive and negative affect are balanced in the brain. Thus, according to most modern views, pleasure is an important component of happiness.
