The Science behind Happiness: 25 Incredible Findings
Do happy people live longer, more fulfilled lives? What is the science behind it? How can I achieve that sort of happiness? Those are precisely the questions that are answered in these top 25 happiness findings, tools, studies, and tips.
The Five Key Goals to Happiness
As found by leading expert Dan Buettner, these were the five keys to happiness in Monterrey, Mexico, which was found to be the happiest place in North America.
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Family
People with the highest levels of happiness had close relationships to their families. This included parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, etc. They all live within a short distance from each other and visit together often.
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Religion
Belief in God has shown to be a major factor in happiness. Whether you attend church or pray regularly, keeping an active spiritual life can significantly increase happiness. For more help, check out the 100 Best Spirituality Blogs to learn more about religion and connect with others.
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Social network
Time with friends, church groups, sports, and others should take the place of extra work to make more money, especially if you don’t need it. If you need help getting started, try Volunteer Match to search over 68,000 organizations that can help you meet other people through volunteering.
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Humor
Whether a good or bad day, happy people always take the time to laugh. Try visiting Funny or Die, a new video website that is heating up thanks to its free and abundant videos to make you laugh.
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Hope
Remembering that bad situations can get better is key to living a happy life. Spend at least as much time hoping as you do worrying. Famous Quotes has tons of inspiring words on hope from such notable figures as Gandhi, Mother Theresa, and many others.
Other Essential Findings on Happiness
Collected from experts from across the internet, below are the top keys to finding and keeping happiness.
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Money
It’s not how much you have that makes you happy, but how you earn and spend it. People who are poorer but live within their means tend to be happier than those who make six figures a year but spend beyond what they make. Bloomberg.com has many free, online calculators to check up on your finances including an asset allocator, rent vs. buy, and should your spouse work?
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Friends
Because too much time spent alone can be poisonous to your happiness, friends can be a great way to pass the time and exchange stories. A great way to meet friends is to join a church group, sports team, or have one of your online social networking friends meet you IRL.
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Health
Because a sound body leads to a sound mind, taking care of yourself is essential to happiness. Exercise is a great way to get out of the house and meet people, while cooking a healthy meal for yourself or your family can also be satisfying. The Mayo Clinic has an entire section devoted to healthy lifestyle including exercises, information on different life stages, and even recipes.
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Living conditions
It might be difficult to believe, but you can be just as happy in a one bedroom apartment as you can in a lavish mansion. Taking the time to clean your home, clear the clutter, and personalizing it can make all the difference. Visit HGTV for tons of tips on decorating, home improvement, DIY projects, and even a sweepstakes.
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Optimism
It isn’t surprising that seeing the glass as half full can lead to happiness. It can even lead to a longer life. A 2009 study reported on by “Time” magazine of 100,000 women showed that optimists had a decreased risk of death.
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Setting goals
Studies have shown that people who set realistic, attainable goals and achieve them are more likely to be happy. They also take it upon themselves to seek out new challenges once the old have been completed. You can read more about this on the American Psychological Association’s website.
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Adjustment
When hardship happens, those who adjust better tend to end up happier. This can include spending less time worrying and complaining, while taking more time to appreciate what you still have. If you need help, Dr. Andrew Weil has excellent tips for Learning Not to Worry.
Things to Avoid to Remain Happy
Happiness is also achieved by avoiding what causes hardship and unhappiness. Read the below to see how avoiding them can lead to a better life.
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Materialism
Although keeping up with the Joneses can feel like setting and completing goals, this is actually toxic to happiness. The quest for material things can actually have negative consequences, as shown in this study from the APA. Its findings showed there was no real link between material wealth and happiness.
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Grudges
Holding onto a past wrongdoing can produce feelings of anger, bitterness, and even vengeance. However, forgiving someone can actually have more benefits for you than for whoever you are forgiving. Katherine Piderman is a staff chaplain at the Mayo Clinic and has more.
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Drugs
According to MedLinePlus, each year drug abuse results in around 40 million serious illnesses or injuries among families in the United States, resulting in massive unhappiness. Doing drugs can lead to depression, violence, and even suicide. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has more information on a variety of drugs and resources for those who need help.
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Being ungrateful
Those who do not take stock of the good things or people in their life are missing out on an opportunity to happiness. Doing simple things like writing a note or making a phone call can have a profound effect on happiness. In fact, an article in “Psychology Today” listed the many benefits of gratitude.
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Optimism
A double listing, optimism, when used in the wrong context, can actually be bad for decision making, productivity, and lead to decreased happiness. When optimism is used to ignore or avoid dealing with a problem, it tends to get worse. Harvard Business School posted an excerpt from an article detailing these findings.
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Stress
We all have it, and it can be a good thing, but too much can lead to decreased happiness. It comes in many forms and can effect your health, mood, and many other areas of your life. According to the Washington Post, stress can even increase aging.
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Getting what we want
Sound like something to strive for? Dan Gilbert doesn’t think so. In his 20 minute talk on TED, he discusses how the psychological immune system is key to feeling truly happy.
Best Tools for Happiness
Visit these sites to get more information on the science of findings or get help on finding happiness in your own life.
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The Blue Zone
Located all across the globe, these zones have populations that live longer, happier lives. See how they do it, get tips for your own life, and many other tools on this comprehensive site. You can read or view their scientific findings or even utilize the Vitality Compass to measure happiness in your own life.
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American Happiness Association
The AHA is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to educating the public on science and happiness. You can get loads of tools such as instant relief, tips for the unemployed, and personality.
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Ed Diener
Often called Dr. Happy, this University of Illinois psychologist has made some interesting discoveries on happiness. Visit his site to get more information and resources. You can also learn more about his award winning book, “Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth.”
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Paths to Bliss
This site has many inspiring and uplifting tools to help in the quest for happiness. There are articles, videos, and more focused on improving any mood. They also feature workshops and online courses if you want to learn more.
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How to Be Happy
Stop here for a free eBook by Michael Anthony that unlocks the keys to happiness. Chapters include Owner’s Manual for Human Beings, External vs. Internal Happiness, and Transforming Emotions. You can also get links to tons of other related resources.
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Happiness Habit
Michele Moore shows you how to turn happiness into a habit on her site. You can get information on happiness in hard times, at work, for families, and more. Be sure and check out the blog for more tips on happiness.
With scientific findings increasing everyday, stay ahead of the curve by checking out these 25 findings on happiness and start living a richer, longer life.
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