Be optimistic.
In the seventies, researchers followed people who'd won the lottery and
found that a year afterward, they were no happier than people who
didn't. This
hedonic adaptation suggests that we each have a
baseline level of happiness. No matter what happens, good or bad, the
effect on our happiness is temporary, and we tend to revert to our
baseline level. Some people have a higher baseline happiness level than
others, and that is due in part to genetics, but it's also largely
influenced by
how you think.
So, while this article will help boost your happiness, only improving
your attitude towards life will increase your happiness permanently
Have something to look forward to, always. It's
important to work toward a goal you'll achieve by getting up every
morning. Having something to look forward to makes you see the "big
picture" and you won't feel as if you are just working every day towards
nothing. Do something for someone else; when you are working on
something bigger than yourself, you will find that inspiration naturally
comes to you
Follow your gut.
In one study, two groups of people were asked to pick a poster to take
home. One group was asked to analyze their decision, weighing pros and
cons, and the other group was told to listen to their gut. Two weeks
later, the group that followed their gut was happier with their posters
than the group that analyzed their decisions.
Now, some of our decisions are more crucial than picking out posters,
but by the time you're poring over your choice, the options you're
weighing are probably very similar, and the difference will only
temporarily affect your happiness. So next time you have a decision to
make, and you're down to two or three options, just pick the one that
feels right, and go with it. Never regret the decisions you make,
though. Just live by the 3 C's of life: choices, chances, and changes.
You need to make a choice to take a chance, or your life will never
change.
Make enough money to meet basic needs:
food, shelter, and clothing. In the US, that magic number is $40,000 a
year. Any money beyond that will not necessarily make you happier.
Remember the lottery winners mentioned earlier? Oodles of money didn't
make them happier. Once you make enough to support basic needs, your
happiness is not significantly affected by how much money you make, but
by your level of optimism
Stay close to friends and family:
Or move to where they are, so you can see them more. We live in a
mobile society, where people follow jobs around the country and
sometimes around the world. We do this because we think salary increases
make us happier, but in fact our relationships with friends and family
have a far greater impact on happiness. So next time you think about
relocating, consider that you'd need a salary increase of over $100,000
USD to compensate for the loss of happiness you'd have from moving away
from friends and family.
But if relationships with family and friends are unhealthy or
nonexistent, and you are bent on moving, choose a location where you'll
make about the same amount of money as everyone else; according to
research, people feel more financially secure (and happier) when on
similar financial footing as the people around them, regardless of what
that footing is.
Have deep, meaningful conversations.
A study by a psychologist at the University of Arizona has shown that
spending less time participating in small talk and more time in deep,
meaningful conversations can increase happiness.
