Clearly, happiness is hard to define and measure. It’s a feeling of contentment that arises from the daily flow of your life and your overall values and goals.
For example, if you are satisfied with your life but not overly excited about it, you would be in the happy range.
1. It’s a good feeling
Researchers have discovered that happiness isn’t a luxury, but rather a basic human need. Happiness is a good feeling that helps us function well and even prevents health problems. For example, one study found that when people rate themselves as happy, their hearts work better (Bhattacharyya, Whitehead, Rakhit & Steptoe 2008).
Other studies show that happier people have less sickness and are around half as likely to catch a cold, less likely to suffer from heart disease, and tend to be more financially responsible than unhappier folks. Happier people also are more satisfied with their jobs, and companies that make employees happy have higher profit margins.
To boost your happiness, try smiling and laughing as often as possible. Spending time with friends and family is another great way to lift your mood. Even helping someone else makes you feel good—it releases the chemical oxytocin, known as “the love hormone,” that promotes trust and caregiving behavior, which in turn lowers your stress levels (Sin, Moskowitz, & Whooley 2015). Try texting a friend or planning something fun to look forward to for an instant happiness rush.
2. It’s a safety measure
Studies have shown that happiness is good for the economy, business, and health. Customers are more likely to do business with happy companies, and workers are more productive when they are happy at work. Happiness also makes a great marketing tool, and studies have found that communities where people pull together for each other are happier. Studies have also shown that happiness levels are not affected by the things we buy, and that volunteering and helping others make us even happier.
3. It’s a good way to save money
There’s no doubt that having enough money to meet your basic needs is good for happiness. But after that, it’s really about how you spend your money and what you prioritize in life.
People who value time over material things may feel happier. Dunn notes that in a study where working adults were given $40 to spend, those who spent it on a time-saving purchase (like an evening at the library instead of a bar) reported greater happiness than those who spent it on something material.
Saving money can also increase happiness by producing a feeling of security, especially when you use it to pay off debt and build an emergency fund. It’s also a good idea to save for experiences, like a vacation or new wardrobe. Just make sure to prioritize those purchases based on your core values. For example, if you’re an extrovert, you might be happier buying a pair of tickets to a movie rather than a book.
4. It’s a good way to show off
Happiness is a good way to show off your personality. Research has found that happy people are more attractive and more likely to be well-liked. This is because happiness triggers the right brain, which reveals a more confident, relaxed and friendly demeanor.
The bad news is that a lot of external circumstances that make you happy aren’t under your control (such as the weather). So, it’s important to focus on internal things that can change, such as habits and the way you think.
The best way to do this is by spreading joy to others, as the energy you put out will be returned tenfold. This can be done by focusing on flow, or the state of complete immersion and engagement in an activity.