July 31 – August 6 has been designated “Happiness Happens” Week, so Tidbits is delving into what makes us happy!
• According to the U.S. Declaration of Independence, we are all endowed with the right of the pursuit of happiness. Surveys reveal that the majority of people consider happiness more important than wealth and material goods.
• Science suggests that each person has a genetic fixed point of happiness, which they return to after both good and bad events. After a person achieves a valued goal, he or she experiences a euphoric sense of accomplishment, but it usually diminishes after some weeks, returning the person to his/her set point. Likewise, negative circumstances might bring a person to a new low, but that person generally adapts to the new situation as well, going back to the set point.
• If you think winning the lottery will make you happy, consider the study of 22 people who won major lotteries, and after one year, were back to their baseline set point, and some were even less happy. People tend to return to it in spite of life’s ups and downs.
• Does that mean a person can never be happier? Not at all! Experts tell us that we can all boost our levels by using constructive strategies to improve our quality of life. Having close ties with family and friends improves our level. Studies indicate that social isolation can be as damaging to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day!
• Practicing forgiveness impacts the happiness level. Letting go of grudges frees a person from the unhealthy emotion of hate.
• It seems that engaging in charitable activities heightens happiness more than engaging in personal pleasurable activities. Research suggests that acts of kindness toward others gives people a purpose beyond self and boosts happiness levels. Individuals who do volunteer work seem to experience greater happiness and higher self-esteem.
• The practice of gratitude greatly enhances a sense of well-being. Taking time to be thankful makes a person more aware of the positive things in life, and shifts the focus away from the negative.
• An annual poll analyzes data to determine the happiest country in the world based on gross domestic product per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity of the population, and perception of corruption level. Finland has been named #1 five years in a row, followed by Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. It should be no surprise that Afghanistan is the least happy country, along with Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda.
• What are the characteristics of happy people? They indulge life’s simple pleasures, appreciate beauty in ordinary things, and smile a laugh a lot. They are open to learning new things and set and attain goals to give meaning to their life. Happy people are humble and patient, compassionate and generous. They have fewer expectations and no sense of entitlement, and you won’t find them “playing the victim.” They “go with the flow” and ignore small annoyances. They’re quick to notice excellence in others. Most of all, they share their happiness with others!
• “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” — Mahatma Gandhi
