Things We've Learned About Happiness

Here is some information found in a wonderful article on the Huffington Post:

The 8 Most Important Things We've Learned About Happiness http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/23/science-of-happiness_n_7154918.html

1.    We get happier as we get older.

Although we tend to focus on the downsides of aging, a robust body of research suggests we’ve got a lot to look forward to as we get older. Duke University researchers found that 70-year-olds tended to rate themselves as being happier than 30-year-olds.  Why?  Greater appreciations for life’s little triumphs and acceptance of life’s trials likely play a role, as well as lower stress levels.

“As we age, we have the opportunity to accept who we are, instead of focusing on who we feel we need to become.  We relax into being ourselves,” says psychoanalyst Ken Eisold.

2.    You can rewire your brain for happiness by focusing your attention on positive experiences and emotions, says neuropsychologist Rick Hanson.  When you linger on a positive experience, it becomes encoded in your neural chemistry.  “The longer the neurons fire, the more of them that fire, and the more intensely they fire, the more they’re going to wire that inner strength- that happiness, gratitude, feeling confident, feeling successful, feeling loved and lovable,” Hanson said.

3.    Happy mind, healthy body.  We know now that cultivating a positive state of mind isn’t just good for your mental health- it can also keep your body healthy and protect you from disease.

4.    Social connection is key.  “Over a given period, people who have strong ties to family, friends, or coworkers have a 50 percent greater chance of outliving those with fewer social connections,” says Dr. Sanjay Gupta.  “If our relationships can have such an effect on our overall health, why don’t we prioritize spending time with the people around us as much as we do exercising and eating right?”

5.   We can thrive in the face of life’s challenges.  The field of post-traumatic-growth, which investigates how people not only survive but come to thrive in the wake of adversity- is one of the most exciting in all of psychology right now, says Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania.

“I believe we need to move beyond positive emotions and incorporate trauma and anxiety, and investigate how these “negative” emotions can lead to greater personal growth and well-being” Kaufman said.

6.    We’re happier when we are helping others.  Being kind and helping others is an effective way to combat feelings of disconnection in our online world.  Volunteering makes people happier and boosts their longevity.

7.   Lasting happiness is born of purpose.  “Happiness cannot be persued; it must ensue,” wrote Holocaust survivor, Victor Frankl in his 1946 manifesto Man’s Search for Meaning.  “One must have a reason to be happy.”

In recent years, psychologists have demonstrated what Frankl long held to be true:  Happiness doesn’t just come from chasing pleasure or positive experiences.  As mounting research has demonstrated, sustainable happiness and good health comes from having a deep sense of purpose in life.

8.    Mindfullness is a gateway to happiness.  “You don’t have to be a yogi or a meditating monk to make yourself at least 10 percent happier through a mindfulness practice,” says ABC anchor Dan Harris.  Studies have shown that meditation boosts positive feelings and psychological well-being in addition to warding off stress, depression and anxiety.

It seems to me that SilverSneakers had already figured most of this out!  We help to keep our participants fit through "Fitness, Fun and Friends!"

Thank you, Rick Barlow, for sharing this article with Google+!

The postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent SilverSneakers' positions, strategies or opionions.