Happiness is an emotional state characterized by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment. While happiness has many different definitions,it is often described as involving positive emotions and life satisfaction.
In general, happiness is understood as the positive emotions we have in regards to the pleasurable activities we take part in through our daily lives. Pleasure, comfort, gratitude, hope and inspiration, are examples of positive emotions that increase our happiness and move us to flourish. In scientific literature, happiness is referred to as hedonia, the presence of positive emotions and the absence of negative emotions.
Research in this field is booming, and new findings are coming out all the time. Here are a few of the most interesting facts and findings so far,
1. MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.
2. HAPPINESS HAS POWER OVER YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM.
Being happy doesn't just sound like a pleasant thing. It can be a pleasant thing for our bodies, too. As if it didn't already seem like happy people have it all, they're also less likely to get sick than unhappy people. Happiness has the power to boost your immune system and has actually been shown to make you less likely to contract the common cold. Just one of about a million reasons to put a smile on your face today.
3. HAPPINESS IS CONTAGIOUS.
We are all connected, what we feel affects the people we meet. Watch what happens when you smile at someone who passes you by on the street. If you make eye contact, they will probably smile back. You just delivered positive energy into the soul of another person.
4. SMELLING FLORAL SCENTS LIKE ROSES CAN MAKE US HAPPY.
How many times has someone said you to "stop and smell the roses"? Well, that may be a good advice when it comes to happiness. Some scientists believe that the smell that flowers give off was evolutionarily intended to induce positive feelings in those who smell them. The thinking is that if the smeller is happier, they are more likely to protect the flower. So go ahead, smell those roses. Seems like a simple enough way to boost your mood, if you ask me.
5. STOP TAKING YOUR HAPPINESS PULSE.
Measuring your happiness doesn't increase it. It's like getting on the scales everyday when you're on a diet to discover that you only lost 1/8 lb, you become discouraged. Make happiness an alternative lifestyle, like your new vegan diet.
6. BEING OUTDOORS CAN MAKE YOU HAPPIER.
The world outside of your office can be such a happy place. According to a study, being outdoors makes people happier. The ideal spot for happiness is an outdoor spot near the water, when the weather is warm, according to the study.
7. CERTAIN FOODS MAKE YOU HAPPY.
When it comes down to it, your mood is a result of your brain chemistry, and eating certain foods can help affect it. Tryptophan is a chemical found in foods like nuts, cheese, soy and chicken, and it can help boost your brain's production of another chemical called serotonin, which induces calm and happy feelings.
8. HAPPY PEOPLE ENJOY DEEP CONVERSATIONS.
9. DANCE TO THE MUSIC.
Dance is powerful. JL Hanna, states that dance strengthens the immune system, eliminates stress and its effects. A study suggests that you can put yourself into a good mood by listening to positive music. Researchers divided subjects into two groups; one that listened to positive sounding music and one that listened to nothing. After the experiment, the music group's mood was higher than the non-music group's.
10. RELATIONSHIPS ARE MUCH MORE CONDUCTIVE TO HAPPY LIFE THAN MONEY.
Sometimes I wonder if money can really buy happiness after all. It seems relationships outshine money, though, according to science. If you're in the pursuit of happiness, make sure that you don't leave the people in your life behind as you try to get better and better pay. Your relationships with people have a much stronger effect on your happiness than the money in your pocket, and not spending enough time with friends and family is one of the top five deathbed regrets.
11. BRIGHT COLORS CAN BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY.
According to a study, bright colors go hand in hand with happiness. This is especially true of yellow, the study found, as happier people favor that color. Oppositely, gray was most closely associated with anxiety and depression in the study.
12. RAINY DAY BLUES.
The weather outside can have a strong effect on your emotional well being. Things like Seasonal Affective disorder (SAD) can make people disproportionately sad in the wintertime, but its also reported that people who live in places with more temperate weather- that is, not too hot and not too cold- report higher levels of happiness.
13. HAPPY ARE THOSE ON HOURLY WAGES.
Yet another interesting fact- According to a study those who are paid by the hour at their job versus making a set salary report being happier. Why? The researchers theorize this could be because employees are able to better focus on the worth of their time in each paycheck,thus promoting happiness. (however, these findings are limited, so take them with a grain of salt!)
14. IT'S ABOUT WHAT'S INSIDE, NOT WHAT'S OUTSIDE.
We like to think that we'd be happy if we just had that car, or that house, or what have you, but it seems as though that's not the case. External circumstances like material goods, actually have a relatively small effect on overall happiness compared to internal factors like genetics and attitude.
15. DOING GOOD FOR OTHERS MEANS, DOING GOOD FOR YOURSELF.
When it comes to happiness, by making others happy, we can make ourselves happy,too. According to a study, performing good deeds is one of the fastest ways to get some happiness into our own lives. The outlet noted multiple studies have shown people who donate to charities, for instance will feel happier, thanks to a trigger of feelings of reward. The studies go on to find the brain is then also encouraged to do more good things.
16. THE GOOD OLD DAYS.
We all get a little nostalgic now and then, but looking back on good times can actually make you happier in the long run. Researchers have found that thinking about positive memories can help people gain improved self worth and a more positive outlook on the future.
17. HAPPINESS IS A LIFE LONG PURSUIT.
Awards, achievements, and celebrations are temporary happy moments. 'Happily ever after' is hard work that never ends. Live each day as happy as you can. A day lost in misery is gone forever.
18. THINKING ON YOUR FEET.
19. HAPPINESS CAN HELP ALLEVIATE PAIN.
Happiness as a pain reliever? Yup, According to the study, those who experienced more positive emotions- happiness, enthusiasm, etc... were less likely to experience pain.
20. HAPPY PEOPLE ARE SUCCESSFUL.
Most people think success makes you happy.But according to Sonja Lyubomirsky, happiness creates success. Happy people are confident, optimistic, energetic and sociable. "They are more likely to have fulfilling marriages and relationships, high incomes, superior work performance, community involvement, robust health and even a long life."
Feeling stressed after a long day of work? Treat yourself to a bubble bath. Feeling blue? Treat yourself to a decadent dessert. Feeling frustrated after an argument with a friend? Skip your workout and have an extra scoop of ice cream.
The message is clear: If you want to feel happy, you should focus on your own wishes and desires. Yet this is not the advice that many people grew up hearing.
Happiness is simple: Start dancing, get a pet, chat deeply, and smile; you’ll live longer.
0 comments:
Post a Comment