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March, 2012

  1. CROWRIDER: Aloha Happiness

    March 8, 2012 by Laura Tabet

    I watched an amazing movie last night, a documentary called β€œHappy.” It addressed the true causes of happiness and included clips from many different cultures as well as the latest neuroscience and positive psychology research. It was really well done and meaningful. I highly recommend it!

    It seems that 40% of our happiness is up to us and the choices that we make.

    Only 10% has to do with circumstances like income level, weather or where we live, and a given genetic baseline makes up the other 50% of our capacity.

    The biggest focus of the movie covered the considerable amount of impact our choices, activities and consciousness have on our state of being.

    So what creates happiness?

    1. Physical activity, especially novel activity, causes the release of Dopamine, the main neurotransmitter associated with happiness. Move your body and change it up.
    2. Social support. Tending to our friendships and building community has a huge impact on our happiness. Feed and nourish your connections!
    3. Practice compassion and gratitude. A study where people wrote down a list of 10 things they were grateful for every Sunday created a big rise in happiness.
    4. Do activities that get you into β€œthe zone.” Doing the things that fully engage us in the present moment and creative process. Like playing an instrument, making art, cooking and gardening.
    5. Giving to others. There were many studies that showed the increase of service and offering compassion to others increases our happiness. (more…)