Every few years we hear anthems about happiness from Judy Garland's "Get Happy" in the 1950's to Pharrell Williams' current hit "Happy."
Since 2012 even the United Nations has been cheerleading happiness. The International Day of Happiness created through resolution of the UN General Assemby recognizes happiness as a fundamental human goal. Now science is beginning to weigh in on the matter. Is happiness as a goal realistic for all of us? Does happiness improve our lives or deliver lasting benefits?
Happiness has immediate and lasting benefits. An optimistic outlook appears to influence health by reducing inflammation, lowering blood pressure, improving blood profiles, lowering cardiovascular risk, and extending life span. Centenarians commonly attribute their positive outlook to enabling longevity. Look around your social network and notice how outlook relates to the well being or lifespans of people in your life.
Does happiness run "in a circular motion" as Donovan tells his audience in 1972? Maybe it does when we "let ourselves sing" but science knows now that genetics also play a role in our degree of happiness. They give us significant help in starting our day and making good health choices like exercising, eating balanced meals, and maintaining a strong social life. Happiness comes easier when our emotions are level and our outlook is upbeat thanks to genetic disposition but genes don't fully determine our happiness. We have at least 50% control over our satisfaction with life through our ability to maneuver ourselves into good external circumstances and to cultivate a life philosophy that supports happier living. How do we do that?
Our ability to control external circumstances is sometimes limited but our ability to control how we view them is unlimited. Our brains, science knows, are moldable even into our advanced age. That's how we learn new things. That "plasticity" also gives us considerable power to change the way we think of things such as good or bad interactions. "Passing mental states become lasting mental traits," neuroscientist Dr Rick Hanson tells a TED audience as he explains how we can use our brain plasticity to "rewire" the way we look at life and cultivate a happier outlook.
Or, maybe you'd like to follow a formula.
Free enterprise entrepreneur Arthur Brooks proposes a four pronged happiness formula: have a faith, embrace family, nurture friends and do good work.
Author Jodi Picoult writes happiness equals “...Reality divided by Expectations.” How's that ratio in your life? Positive?
Here's a 2003 formula published by the BBC after the first comprehensive research on happiness: Happiness = P + (5xE) + (3xH) where P=personal characteristics, E=existing health and stability, H=higher order needs. That's pretty abstract and it didn't get simpler the more we learned. Here it is ten years later : (Mx16 + Cx1 + Lx2) + (Tx5 + Nx2 + Bx33) . Known as the "feel good formula" this one advocates living in the moment (M), being curious (C), doing what you love (L), thinking of other people (T), nurturing your relationships (N) and caring for your body (B). All of these formulas describe a general direction to greater life satisfaction yet some people reject the notion that happiness is a good goal.
Blogger Vanessa Scotto writes that setting happiness as a goal can focus us on short term gains that move us away from greater life satisfaction. "Happiness," she says, "happens when you're living well. It’s a by-product of living a life that fits and inspires you." Oliver Burkeman, writing a New Year's commentary for Fast Company.com, had stinging criticism of the happiness and positivity industry in his rebuke of happiness as a goal. Fed up with positivity in all aspects of business philosophy he accuses the industry of profiting off predictable failure causing people to spend more and more money in pursuit of the illusion of positivity. "Doing meaningful work is challenging enough without the burdensome demand that you feel like doing it, too," he concludes.
Some people of faith also express skepticism about setting happiness as a goal. In a thoughtful commentary on happiness at Relevant Magazine author Tyler Ward notes that the pursuit of happiness takes us down many roads some sweet and some bitter. He writes, "The pursuit of happiness has become a guide to a post-modern society..." But he concludes that, "The key to finding happiness is to not let it guide you. It’s electing a better, more meaningful guide in life that will create a reason to be happy." In the video Dalai Lama's Guide to Happiness the Nobel winner and spiritual leader states that, "I usually describe happiness...not necessarily [as] some pleasurable experience but...[as a] neutral sort of experience that can bring great satisfaction...The ultimate source of satisfaction is within ourself." These thinkers agree that happiness/life satisfaction is a desirable place to find though chasing it as a goal or expecting it to be elating may not be the way to get there.
Whether you embrace a formula for happiness, reach it by rejecting it as a goal in your life, or have it in your life already its benefits are rich. Why are so many people talking about happiness? Because we know now that it's not only a positive emotion and enjoyable state of mind it's also a health benefit and a key to longevity. Hopefully we will all have the freedom and circumstance to reach a degree of happiness. As tenor Jan Pearce told America in the 30's and Jimmy Durante repeated in the 50's..."Life is sweet, tender and complete when you find the bluebird of happiness."
Update: Two studies on happiness and aging profiled in this article from Right At Home
Update Nov 28 This article in the Atlantic probes the happiness U curve and it's connection to aging. From the article: "What I wish I had known in my 40s (or, even better, in my late 30s) is that happiness may be affected by age, and the hard part in middle age, whether you call it a midlife crisis or something else, is for many people a transition to something much better..."
Update Feb 28 2015: A list of 10 simple things that will boost your happiness.
Update March 20 2015: How to find happiness in a hectic world.
Update March 20 2015: This is International Day of Happiness!
Update March 29 2015: Take the Blue Zones Happiness Quiz.
Update April 2015: According to this infographic about aging and happiness...emotional health is better after the age of 60.
Update April 2015: Not feeling happy today but want to? Try this article on How To Cultivate Happiness.
Update April 2015: Are you ready to help make the world a happier place? Take action
