Strategies For Growing Happiness

In the past, little research has been
conducted to discover what makes
people happier. That’s because this
was considered an impossible quest.

For many years, the prevailing theory
was that individuals have a genetically
determined happiness set point. In
other words, scientists believed that
each person could temporarily experience
more happiness (depending on
circumstances, relationships, and life
events), but would then slide back to
his or her “pre-programmed” level of
happiness. In fact, just a decade ago,
one researcher was quoted as saying,
“It may be that trying to be happier is
as futile as trying to be taller.”

In contrast, current research in the
field of Positive Psychology indicates
that people can become happier and
that the change can be long-term. For
example, Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D.
(University of California) writes, “My
colleagues and I believe that sustainable
increases in happiness are possible
through the execution of intentional
cognitive, motivational, and behavioral
activities that are feasible to
deploy, but require daily and concerted
effort and commitment.”

Lyubomirsky received a grant from
the National Institute of Health to identify
specific ways individuals can sustain
higher levels of happiness. She is
currently testing four strategies that
demonstrate great promise:

1. Expressing gratitude (i.e., keeping a
journal in which one “counts one’s
blessings”)
2. Practicing optimism (i.e., visualizing
the best possible future for oneself)
3. Engaging in positive thinking about
oneself (i.e., reflecting, writing, and
talking about one’s happiest life
events)
4. Practicing altruism and kindness
(i.e., routinely committing acts of kindness)
Therefore, the crux of the matter is
this: “growing” happiness requires
intention and diligence. The real question
boils down to, “Is happiness worth
the effort?” Is there more to happiness
than just feeling good?

The answer is a resounding, “YES!” A review
of recent research indicates that happiness
is correlated to:

1) greater productivity and higher quality
of work,

2) more satisfying and longer marriages,

3) more friends and richer social interactions,

4) more energy and better physical
health, and

5) longer lives.

The findings of happiness research also
suggest that happy individuals are more
creative, helpful, charitable, and self-
confident. In light of the many benefits of
happiness, we cannot overlook our role
and responsibility in creating the level of
happiness we desire. In a recent interview,
Ed Diener, Ph.D., psychologist and
happiness researcher, provided this sage
advice:

“Happiness is the process, not the place.
So many of us think that when we get everything
just right, and obtain certain goals
and circumstances, everything will be in
place and we will be happy. ...But once
we get everything in place, we still need
new goals and activities.”

Sources: “Don’t Worry, Be Happier” by
Malcolm Ritter, Associated Press, November
27, 2006; http://www.faculty.ucr.edu;
http://www.authentichappiness.org.

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