The Secrets Of Happiness, According To Science

Happiness is possible, according to science. In fact, despite being a relatively new field of study, much scientific research suggests that every human being can be happy, even in difficult times. What are the secrets of happiness?

It is understandable that we feel bad amid a pandemic, but there are many opportunities to celebrate our existence. We can always find ways to be happy, even in the most difficult situations in life.

What exactly is happiness?

Engineer Mo Gawdat proposes a rather interesting vision. He is a former Google worker who went through a very difficult situation. His son died while undergoing appendicitis surgery due to medical negligence. Based on his own suffering, Gawdat established a mathematical formula in which he explained human unhappiness.

According to him, we suffer because we reject the bad things that happen to us. We do it because we expect it to be different. For example, people who oppose the isolation measures suffer much more than those who simply agree to stay home and make the most of it.

The same thing happens in other difficult situations in life. The pain caused by an event, such as not accepting that our partner has left us, that we have been fired, that there is illness or death, leads to excessive suffering. Thus, we are moving away, no doubt, from the concept of happiness – at least according to science.

Effects derived from happiness, according to science

Some effects of maintaining a positive attitude are:

• Our thoughts are more creative.

• Our answers are more adaptable.
• We are more selfless.
• We are more resilient to adversity.

Moreover, science has found that positive and negative emotions are not mutually exclusive, but are relatively independent (Avia and Vázquez, 1998). Thus, we can feel negative emotions in seemingly positive situations. Instead, we can experience positive emotions in particularly difficult times, such as anxiety and exposure to traumatic situations.

The secrets of happiness, according to science

What are the secrets of happiness?

• Joy
• Satisfaction
• Prevention of depression

Therefore, it is important to incorporate into our lives moments full of humor and distraction. We can do this by rediscovering our favorite series, watching a movie that made us laugh non-stop, listening to a funny podcast, or simply reading a chapter in a book that makes us smile.

Listen to music

Endorphins act on the central nervous system. They motivate and energize us. Thus, we are happier and more optimistic.

Create a playlist of your favorite songs and listen to them while doing sports or cleaning. A daily dose of cheerful music can make anyone feel better!

Practice mindfulness meditation

However, we do not have to be a Zen master to practice meditation. All we need to do is focus on what we do.

E.g:

• Focus on every action you take when cooking: watch the ingredients. Feel their texture with your fingertips. Pay attention to their smell and any sounds they make. Notice how the consistency of the dish changes as you cook it.

Do more enjoyable activities

Thus, we can practice many pleasant activities that will bring us happiness (for example, a hot bath when we are frozen or a shower to cool off during the summer). We also get pleasure from learning new things and from singing, writing, painting and dancing, among others.

Any activity that makes us feel good activates our neural circuit. They produce a feeling of pleasure and significantly reduce our stress level. Thus, we must devote time to any of these actions, especially in difficult times.

As Eduardo Punset stated in his book The Journey of Happiness: A Scientific Adventure, the expectation of an extremely desirable situation far exceeds the happiness produced by the event itself. Specifically, happiness is often hidden in the “waiting room” of happiness.

This is due to the reward circuit. This circuit, which alerts the sources of pleasure and happiness, is activated especially during the search and not necessarily during the act itself. You wouldn’t expect that, would you ?! Dopamine is activated by the simple expectation of pleasure, even if it does not materialize.

So, the thought of our favorite ice cream, getting the much desired job, planning an idyllic vacation, or the thought of a conversation with someone we love will often bring us greater satisfaction than the act itself. The secrets of happiness are accessible to all!

The secrets of happiness, according to science: things to remember

Generating positive moods in complex situations is not an easy task. However, if we follow the actions described above, we can approach a solid and lasting feeling of well-being.

Remember that most negative emotions have a function and a purpose. It would not exist if it were not necessary throughout human evolution. It is important to learn to listen to what they are trying to tell you, to understand them, to transform them and to leave them behind.

There are times when negative emotional states do not go away easily. This can happen even when we apply each of the tips described above – and many more that we already know. Sometimes the discomfort persists even when we play sports, read or have an interesting conversation.

Therefore, if your negative emotions are too hard to bear despite the positive attitude and you simply do not know how to manage such suffering, it is a good idea to consult a specialist in the field. There are psychologists who specialize in these types of cases. They will be able to help you.