I watched an amazing movie last night, a documentary called “Happy.” 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?
- Physical activity, especially novel activity, causes the release of Dopamine, the main neurotransmitter associated with happiness. Move your body and change it up.
- Social support. Tending to our friendships and building community has a huge impact on our happiness. Feed and nourish your connections!
- 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.
- Do activities that get you into “the zone.” Doing the things that fully engage us in the present moment and creative process. Like playing an instrument, making art, cooking and gardening.
- Giving to others. There were many studies that showed the increase of service and offering compassion to others increases our happiness.
Here’s what the movie also makes clear. All the energy we put into making money and having status has little impact on our happiness. Once our basic needs are met having more money does not make us happier. Studies show that while there IS a big difference between someone who makes $5000/yr and someone who makes $50, 000, there’s little difference between someone who make $50, 000 and $50 million!
Can we let go of our need for more and enjoy what we have?
Right now, I’m writing this post from Hawaii on a family trip and I’m enjoying applying these new principles of happiness to the experience. It’s been raining all week and the forecast expects more rain to come. These variables are not necessarily supporting my happiness.
But come on!! I’m in Hawaii with the people I love having a completely novel experience!
So it comes down to a choice. What am I going to do to support my own state of being? Focusing on things I can be grateful about, enjoying connection and time with supportive family, getting in the zone as I dive into waves, making my mom a great dinner, taking a walk in the rain. It’s amazing how active, powerful and seductive my thoughts are of powerlessness and irritation and I can see how I could easily given in to those thoughts and feeling and not enjoy my trip. Happiness, as a practice, has never been more evident.
I know what choice I’m going to make. How about you?
In what ways can you increase your state of happiness?
If you could pick one of the activities/choices I listed above what would you pick?
Is there an ineffective way you are trying to seek happiness you could give up?