Happiness is not a feeling of pleasure, a quick hit of excitement, or the satisfaction from getting something you want. It’s more like a full tank.
While you may not be able to control your genetically acquired gloominess, research suggests that more than half of your happiness depends on things that are within your control.
It’s good for your health
Happiness feels good, boosts your confidence, helps you maintain healthy relationships and can even help you succeed at work. It can also create a chain reaction of positivity that benefits everyone in your life, including those closest to you as well as the people you interact with on a daily basis – store workers, your bus driver and complete strangers.
However, it’s important to note that happiness doesn’t just mean feeling happy, but also being satisfied with your life and appreciating what you have. Studies have shown that those who feel content are healthier and more likely to take care of their body. They are more likely to exercise, eat well and be financially responsible.
Try to avoid putting too much pressure on yourself to be happy and positive all the time, especially if you are not naturally those kinds of people. In fact, forcing yourself to be happy may have the opposite effect. Trying to force a smile on a gray day can be as stressful as trying to breathe through a straw (choppy and fast) instead of a full breath (calm and relaxing). Research from Bhattacharyya, Whitehead, Rakhit & Steptoe (2008) showed that those who rated themselves the most happy, when tested for heart health, had a better pattern of heart rate variability than their unhappier counterparts.
It’s good for your relationships
It takes time and effort to cultivate happiness in your life. However, this work pays off over the long term as a strong support system of family and friends contribute to a sense of meaning in your life. It also contributes to good mental health and lower stress levels (Bailey et al, 2017).
People who have strong relationships live longer and are healthier. They are more satisfied with their lives and tend to have higher self-esteem. They are more likely to have a positive outlook on life and be better at coping with difficulties (Campos et al, 2016).
A decades-long Harvard study concluded that good relationships are the key to lifelong health and happiness. Ali Rogin speaks with the study’s director about how to nurture your relationships in a way that benefits both you and those closest to you.
It’s good for your environment
Research shows that societies and individuals who practice sustainability are happier than their less environmentally-minded counterparts. Happier people also tend to be more focused on acquiring experiences and relationships rather than material possessions, which can generate a cycle of happiness that benefits the environment and society alike.
Studies like the Mappiness app, which asks users to report their feelings while also recording their precise geographical location, suggest that the more a person cares about the environment and engages in sustainable activities, the more they feel good about themselves. Victor Zelinksy, a professor of psychology at the University of Sonora in Hermosillo, Mexico, agrees. He has found that the more pro-ecological, altruistic, frugal, and equitable a person is, the higher their sense of subjective well-being.
Zelinksy has also analyzed data from the same smartphone apps to find that being closer to nature boosts happiness, too. The simple act of walking outside is associated with two percentage points in happiness, and gardening, nature watching, and sporting activities add another 1.5 points.