Happiness. Have you ever wondered what makes a person happy, or what defines happiness? For some, it is a seemingly common characteristic usually registered when we see a simple smile, some blushed cheeks, or even when we hear a genuine belly-laugh. While these are all basic indicators of happiness they represent so much more than just an emotion, they represent a science. Now before I lose anyone, the science I’m speaking of is not the science of numbers, outputs and other, usually boring, sciencey things. The science I am speaking of is the science behind happiness.
Happiness, much like depression is studied through psychology and is defined as an emotional or mental state of well-being which can be experienced by joy, positive emotions and contentment. While research in this emotion is a fairly newer area of psychological study, it is not the only time it has been studied. Many could even argue that our evolving brains have been studying the concept throughout evolution arguably becoming masters of the emotion. While this may sound very odd, it is true. I mean think about it. Throughout time our brains have evolved to recognize the emotion through human interaction and arguably, have mastered the science of happiness, with the ability to make someone laugh, smile, and feel joy.
As beings with a need for social contact we crave happiness, but it does not always come so easily. Happiness is a broad term and is usually a product of many factors, such as; fulfillment, satisfaction, jobs, success and relationships. With the stresses of everyday life our happiness is often put on the backburner and before we know it we can find ourselves, lost, depressed and anxious. It is at this point that many people (myself included at one point in my life) begin searching for happiness in all the wrong places through money, material possessions, and even drugs or alcohol, all with the hope of fulfillment. But unfortunately, study after study shows that these things do not help. The results prove that those who turn to positive influences such as; faith, hobbies, creative outlets, friends, or by broadening their horizons with new challenges, often show signs of being more happy and content with life as a whole. Some may even argue that the reason this happiness is more fulfilling is because we are seeking to create our own happiness by diving into new challenges or things we are passionate and interested in.
However, even after trying to invest in their passions people may suffer from depression and find themselves unhappy. But don’t think all hope is lost. Studies have shown that there are different techniques that you can implement into your everyday life that have been proven to build happiness. It can be a struggle finding joy and happiness, even in the fun moments for fear of when these moments will end. In situations like this, it is important to try and “savor” the moment as much as possible. According to Dr. Fred Bryant, a professor at Loyola University Chicago those who “frequently savor,” experience more satisfaction and contentment within their lives. This concept of savoring moments is done by turning your fear into optimism by firstly, putting down anything that may be distracting (like your cell phone) and taking a moment to appreciate and enjoy where you are or what you are doing. This mindful practice is known to boost optimism and reduce stress and negative emotions by forcing people to focus on the good things, giving satisfaction and contentment by making enjoyable experiences last longer.
Another technique to increase happiness is done through the simple acts of thanking and giving. The act of identifying and then showing appreciation can increasingly boost other people's self-confidence, as well as our own. This is done by acknowledging the presence that other people have in our lives and ensuring that we are fully present in theirs by giving praise and showing gratitude. Showing something as simple as gratitude has immediate effects on an individual's happiness and also can immediately provide a release of depressive symptoms through releases of the hormone serotonin which is known to increase mood, social behavior, and function. In a 2006 study on compassion and altruism, it was also found that through the acts of giving, our overall well-being is enhanced. From our physical to our mental health, our quality of life increases when we show gratitude. We empathize more, have increased satisfaction rates, are more self-aware, experience increases of serotonin, and can even delay mortality.
Lastly, the most important technique to ensure happiness is to aspire and be hopeful. I get it. When life continues to keep kicking us down it can be so hard to stay optimistic, but when we aspire to achieve something and give us a purpose we can feel more excited about the future and exercising our potential. When we practice being hopeful we are also opening our minds up to use our imaginations which allows us to be creative and dream. All these things, if used consistently, will eventually become habits and before you know it, it will be a regular part of your happy life!
