If you would like to feel more happiness in your life, try the following things that even science has proven to make us feel happy.
It might surprise you, but a British study found that as much as 50 percent of our sense of happiness is determined by our genes and the environment in which we grew up. Those who are well equipped with luck are at an advantage especially in stressful situations, when their "inherited" stock of happiness comes to the fore. The good news for the rest is that the remaining 50 percent is completely in our hands. And what can we do to feel more happiness? Science says that…
1. Let's do what we are good at and what makes us happy, and do it as often as possible
Research has shown that artists are happier, even though they are often not well paid for their work. The excellent book The Happiness Advantage teaches us that happiness does not come with success. On the contrary – success comes when we are happy. Of course, it doesn't happen overnight. But we can start by doing what we are good at and what makes us happy.
2. Let's invest in good friendships
Studies have shown that doubling the number of good, true friends raises feelings of happiness more than a 50 percent higher salary. Let's create friendships and make time for them. A lot of time. Our lives will be fuller in no time.
3. Let's express gratitude and praise
Praise and thanks should not be hard to say. By making others feel good about themselves, the good feelings come back to us. We also often remember what we can be grateful for. Research has shown that people who write down 5 things every day feel 25 percent happier after ten weeks. Happy people focus on what they have, not what they don't have.
4. Let's plan a vacation or break - even if we can't afford it financially or in time
A study published in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life showed that we are happiest when we plan a vacation because we feel anticipation. The excitement escalated for 8 weeks, and after the holidays, the level of happiness dropped to its previous level. Perhaps we can also consider a different career path from which we will be happy to return to work.
5. Let's set clear goals
Dreaming about goals is not enough. Let's set them clearly, write them down, let's go towards them. The author of the book 100 Simple Secrets of the Best Half of Life, David Niven, writes that people who have clear goals are 19 percent happier, and their self-esteem is 26 percent higher. To-do lists (this to list) can be extremely effective at this. Set yourself the steps and dates that will lead you to your goal.
6. Let's help others
Indians often say: Would you like to be happier? Make another happy. And it's true. How good we feel when we do something good for someone else. Research has shown that supporting others can make us happier than having others support us.
7. Money is not everything, memories are also important
Of course, money is important and can enable us to do many things. But from a certain point on, it no longer brings us happiness. If we are financially well-off, the pursuit of more money is unnecessary. Quality time will make us happier, studies show. Materialism and materialistic satisfaction have even been proven to be associated with negative feelings. New things make us happy only for a short time, beautiful memories last a lifetime.
8. We exercise every morning for 20 minutes
An American study showed that those who exercised every morning for 20 minutes at a heart rate of 114 beats per minute were in a better mood for the next 12 hours. Exercising in the morning also wakes up the body, speeds up the metabolism, and we immediately feel good because we have done something for ourselves.
9. We live life our way
When patients who had only a few months left to live were asked what they regretted the most, the most common answer was: "I wish I had the courage to live according to myself and not according to what others are expected of me.” It's true, many people spend their whole lives thinking about what other people think of them, only to realize in their old age that others didn't think so much of them. So let's be honest with ourselves, do what we love to do, and tell others honestly about our feelings. This has a positive effect on our mental as well as physical health.
Read: 24 lessons from a centenarian for a better life
Adapted from a more comprehensive article by Jeff Haden.
