You may want to handle the negative things in life as coolly as possible, but scientists are convinced that this very skill is essential for a happier life.
What are the skills for a happier life? This question often remains unanswered, but according to the latest research, scientists have found at least one that will help you live a fuller and more satisfying life.
It's pretty easy to be happy when everything is going according to plan. Road without traffic. Great. Career advancement. Joy. But the key to a happier life is not to enjoy great happiness every moment. Happiness lies in how you act when you find yourself in less than happy situations.
A recent study by researchers from the University of Toronto confirms that our happiness is best determined by how we process negative emotions. For the study, scientists used a series of three experiments to analyze the connection between general well-being and how people perceive negative emotions.
A skill for a happier life
For the first experiment, about 1,000 volunteers filled out surveys about their attention, life satisfaction, symptoms of depression, symptoms of anxiety, and the number of stressful events they could list in their lives. The team found that those who accepted their negative emotions had better psychological outcomes on average. Many people would think that a life with less stress is more satisfying. But it turns out that what makes us more satisfied and happier is the ability to cope with negative feelings and moments. No judgement.
When it comes to happiness, your ability to handle negative moments in life is more important than the number of these events.
In another experiment, researchers gave 160 women, half of whom had experienced significant life stress in the past six months, a stressful task. The results, which were the same as the previous experiment, were similar. Women who accepted their stressful feelings were found to be mentally healthier.
For the final test, the scientists asked 222 participants to keep diaries every night for two weeks, writing down the stressful events they had experienced. They were also asked to rate their feelings of 12 negative emotions. Including sadness, loneliness, hopelessness, shame and guilt. Again, participants who willingly accepted their negative thoughts and feelings reported feeling happier overall.
