3 secrets to being happy, learned from the greatest scientific studies on happiness
Happiness, if I want it? Not enough. Positive psychology is based on a theory that 50% of our emotional well-being is actually shaped by our genetic heritage. This also includes the 10% influence that comes from external factors such as income, relationships or even living conditions, so, if a large part of our happiness is controlled by factors we do not control, we It must conclude that we are guilty. In fact, researchers have revealed that 40% of our happiness is in our hands, through what they call “voluntary activities,” the habits that become such beneficial life lessons.
“When we experience very positive events, our happiness levels temporarily peak,” explains Lara Aknin, a professor of social psychology at Simon Fraser University in Canada. from expert magazine bbc science focusThe researchers, with the help of other experts in the behavioral sciences, have compiled life lessons to be learned from the largest scientific studies on happiness. Here are some for daily inspiration.
Know your real needs
By worrying about seeing the glass half full, denial of happiness makes us feel guilty about not being happy. So much so that we often fall into the trap of making resolutions at the beginning of the year and not sticking to them. Behavior that creates a permanent feeling of anxiety and failure. This phenomenon, called “impact bias” by psychologists Dan Gilbert and Timothy Wilson in 1998, describes our tendency to overestimate the magnitude and duration of a future event’s impact on our emotions. “The impact bias causes us to think that achieving our goals will make us happy for the rest of our lives,” explains Dr Christian Ehrlich, Professor of Behavioral Science, to our colleagues at BBC ScienceFocus. “Fundamentally, our brain is not a reliable tool for assessing how happy things will actually make us. » Goal Setting Yes, but it is our true intention that takes priority! Why make this life change? Is it for its own sake or because we are victims of yet another taboo for happiness, which has become a consumer commodity that must be acquired. “It is the action, not the achievement, that really matters,” the researcher underlined.
So he recommends you write down your objectives, then analyze which objectives are motivated by personal satisfaction and which are based on external incentives or fear of sanctions. By prioritizing efforts guided by deeper motivations, we actually give ourselves a chance to achieve rewarding goals along the way.
Free yourself from money-related reactions
Money does not buy happiness but contributes to it. This statement is not unanimous but reflects our sometimes unhealthy relationship with money. Rich or poor, “Everyone has a complex relationship with money,” assures Bradley T. Klontz, a psychologist at the University of Kansas and professor, expert in finance psychology. The idea is to ensure comfort without indulging in excess. In short, find this famous balance that is in great demand. In particular, according to various behavioral studies conducted in the United States, it has now been proven that money does not buy happiness, an idea that was previously thought to have been , but which has now been scientifically proven. Dr. Richard Ryan, of the University of Rochester, explains in an article published in Social Psychology Bulletin People who primarily pursue materialistic goals such as money, fame, or physical beauty are more prone to anxiety and depression. The pursuit of these so-called “external” goals is detrimental to psychological well-being.
“For people with very low incomes, a significant increase in wealth can translate into higher levels of well-being, because it provides stability and predictability,” explains Lara Aknin. “But once people are in a comfortable living situation, the data shows that more money can’t buy much additional happiness. According to the expert, money makes us happy to some extent: it is compensated by our time, which is an excellent currency of happiness. Spending all your free time on projects aimed at earning more money may prove counterproductive. Psychologists warn, “Social relationships are an important indicator of happiness, so if you exchange your weekend for work while your loved one could be spending time with friends and family, you are likely to feel less happy.” Let’s take risks.”
Increase your daily activities
10,000. This is the number of hours of practice required to master an activity. This iconic figure, popularized by author Malcolm Gladwell, may not be as tireless as he seems. According to researchers cited by our colleagues at The Atlantic, sticking to repetitive training routines may prove less conducive to personal development. Reason: They risk causing boredom. When we engage in the same activities every day, whether it’s working out at the gym or learning a new language, boredom can quickly set in, altering the enjoyment we get from the exercise.
“Regularity and routine are always important when it comes to fitness, but practicing a variety of exercises allows for more variability. This avoids the adaptation effect, meaning we are less likely to get bored and dissatisfied,” explains Lara Aknin. To solve the problem, experts suggest we create a workout routine that includes a variety of activities. So that we don’t feel bored. I am alrightYou have to learn to occupy your brain effectively without ever boring it.