The secret to being happy

Real happiness is something that comes from within - and it stands the test of time.

“Happiness is a personal thing. There’s no one-size-fits-all description.”

Think about what would make you happy. New pair of jeans, a smart tablet, a designer bracelet? Perhaps. But smiles raised by consumer items often fade quickly. Real happiness is something that comes from within – and it stands the test of time.

UNDERSTANDING HAPPINESS

Let’s start by trying to define happiness. This is tricky because happiness is a personal thing. There’s no one-size-fits-all description. What makes you happy might prompt a bemused shrug of the shoulders from your peers. Past experiences, culture, environment and relationships with family, friends and even teachers all contribute to how happiness is interpreted and felt. Some would say that the definition is fluid – it changes from person to person and from time to time. Perhaps, however, the key lies in how long it lasts. The ‘wow’ effect from the delivery or purchase of a new phone tends to be a short-term, fleeting pleasure. It doesn’t last. The inner contentment experienced when you feel satisfied and fulfilled sticks around. It’s what makes you smile for no real reason.

HAPPINESS = HEART + BRAIN

If happiness is different for everyone, how can we all look for the same thing? Many people think happiness is found in the heart. ‘My heart is going to burst!’ and ‘My heart is filled with joy!’ are common exclamations of happiness. Yet the organ that’s actually responsible for happiness is the brain. It releases chemicals that carry messages, some of these are happy, others are more sombre. The good news is that you can encourage your brain to keep sending more of the happy messages, much in the same way you might add a smiley emoji at the end of a WhatsApp message. Read on to find out how…

THE SCIENCE BEHIND HAPPINESS

This is where neuroscience (the science of the brain) comes in handy. There is still much we have to learn about the brain, but several studies are now exploring how it affects a person’s wellbeing. Some are exploring if people are simply born happy (or not). In other words, does the answer to whether or not someone will be a happy person lie in their DNA – the complex chemical structure that carries their genetic information? The evidence suggests it might be a factor and that there could be a genetic connection. But it’s not the whole story. For while you can’t change your DNA (for now, anyway), you can affect your environment and the way you react to it.

TRAIN YOUR BRAIN

Science has shown you can control your happiness by ‘forcing yourself’ to feel positive emotions. How? You create more positive experiences. There are several ways to do this:

1. POSITIVE THINKING

Repeating upbeat, optimistic phrases such as ‘I will succeed’, ‘I’m not afraid’, ‘I am intelligent’ and ‘I am beautiful’ can lead to more happy thoughts.

2. MINDFULNESS EXERCISES

Practise being fully aware of your environment and the activity in which you are engaged. From mindful observation (noticing and appreciating the tiniest aspects of your environment, say, a raindrop splashing onto a window) to mindful immersion (paying close attention to an activity, be it drawing, reading, even cleaning your bedroom), focusing  your thoughts in this way can help to lower stress and anxiety.

3. GRATITUDE

Keeping a gratitude diary where you say thank you for all the small things in life that make you happy can help to reduce negative emotions such as envy, frustration and regret.

4. PHYSICAL EXERCISE

Team or individual, structured or unstructured, sport and general physical activity is shown to boost energy levels and improve your general sense of wellbeing. Outdoor pursuits are especially beneficial as natural light is scientifically proven to enhance your mood.


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