It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and lose sight of what makes you happy. Really happy. But making sure your happiness meter is giving optimal readings can provide many health benefits.
Happy people have younger hearts, younger arteries, and a younger RealAge. Happy people recover more quickly from surgery, cope better with pain, have lower blood pressure, and have longer life expectancy than unhappy people.
Studies also suggest that happy people may have stronger immune systems -- they're less likely to get colds and flu viruses. And when they do, their symptoms tend to be mild.
Not surprisingly, happy people are better at looking after their health, too. When people's happiness levels improve, so do their health behaviors. They exercise more, wear sunscreen, and go for regular checkups.
How to Get There
Everyone wants to be happy, and the benefits are clearly plentiful. But the fact is that people aren't always great at predicting what will make them happy. If it's long-term happiness you're after, you may need to learn a few new tricks.
What Is Happiness?
We all know when we're happy and when we're not. But ask a roomful of
people what makes them happy and you're likely to get a wide range of responses, from \"watching the sunset\" or \"spending time with good friends\" to \"finding a great shoe sale\" or \"winning the office football pool.\"
Defining happiness is no simple feat.
In an effort to narrow the definition, researchers have devised a series of questionnaires to measure life satisfaction, positive mood, and subjective well-being. Some scientists are even beginning to use brain imaging to better understand the physiology of happiness. And economists have jumped on the happiness bandwagon, too, hoping to calculate the value of happiness within a sociopolitical context.
So what have they discovered? What makes for a happy life?
It's Partly Your Genes
Your level of happiness is not entirely predetermined by your genes, but genes do play a part, just as they play a part in your general health. Some researchers estimate that as much as 40% to 50% of a person's capacity for happiness may be genetically predetermined. And although that means some lucky people may start off with a greater propensity for happiness, it's no guarantee they'll lead a charmed life. Fortunately, evidence suggests that even the gloomiest of us can learn to be happier.
And learn we must. Left to our own devices, we tend to focus our energies on things that will give us the greatest instant pleasure. Even when we know better.
Test Your Happiness Know-How
Think you know the secret to happiness? Check the happiness accuracy of some of these common answers. You might be surprised.
• A Massage and Pamper Day at the Spa?
• Aahhh, yes. A day at the spa is not only pleasurable, it's also a great de-stressor. And keeping your stress levels under control will have a positive effect on your physical and emotional well-being.
• Winning a Million Dollars
• Winning a million bucks will make you instantly wealthy, that's for sure. But happy? Not so much. Read on to find out why money won't buy you bliss.
• Renting a Beach House for a Week with Your Closest Friends?
• Spending quality time with good friends is one of the key components of a happy life. And taking time off to relax will also keep your stress levels low. But don't wait for rare opportunities like this to get together with your friends.
• Losing 10 Pounds?
• It's important to your health and happiness to maintain a healthy weight. But yo-yo dieting and lose-weight-quick scams are likely to starve you of the happiness you're after.
• World Peace?
• A noble aspiration, but you might want to start small—setting unrealistic goals may be a happiness deterrent. Do your part for peace by getting involved with an organization that promotes nonviolent conflict resolution or another peace-promoting issue you feel strongly about. Helping others and feeling a sense of purpose in life is linked to greater happiness.
• Finally Getting the Garage Organized
• It may not be glamorous but it certainly is gratifying. Cleaning out the clutter and creating a usable space will give you a sense of achievement that's guaranteed to boost your well-being.
• Having Superhero Powers?
• Superhero powers would be super cool, without a doubt. But they might cause more stress than happiness. Plus, it's never going to happen. By focusing on more attainable goals, you'll be more likely to make them come true and that will make you happy.
• A Long Walk (or Run) in the Park?
• Physical activity is a great way to instantly increase your sense of well-being. And by incorporating exercise into your daily routine you'll be both healthier and happier in the long run.
• A Sharp Rise in the Value of Your Investments
• It's wise to invest in your future but not so wise to link your happiness to the stock market. Contribute emotional capital to your relationships and personal growth and you may see a steady rise in your happiness levels.
Read on to find out more about what makes people happy, what doesn't, and what you can do to live a full and happy life.
Health and Happiness
Studies show that a person's health is one of the strongest predictors of happiness. But the link between health and happiness is complex. Research shows little correlation between a person's objective health -- as defined by medical assessment -- and happiness. It's our subjective health -- how we view our health -- that affects our well-being. So is happiness all in your head?
Not necessarily. For example, adverse changes in health do have a negative impact on happiness levels, at least temporarily. Poor health has the potential to
significantly affect almost every aspect of your life: your independence, your self-image, your personal relationships, your ability to work and carry out basic daily activities. So it's no surprise that when your health takes a hit, your happiness does as well.
But people are resilient. We become accustomed to new life circumstances, good or bad. We adapt. Within a month or two of an adverse health event, most people have gravitated back toward the level of happiness they enjoyed before their health took a turn for the worse.
When the change in health status is severe, however -- for example, involving chronic pain or multiple disabilities -- the impact on happiness can be long lasting.
And both physical health and emotional health influence happiness. Mood disorders diminish quality of life even more than chronic physical ailments, such as arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes.
What You Can Do
Do all that you can to maintain a healthy lifestyle and you'll be well on your way to a long life rich in happiness.
Be your healthiest and happiest by eating a balanced diet with lots of fruit and veggies, keeping stress levels to a minimum, getting regular checkups, wearing sunscreen, laughing often, moderating alcohol intake, getting plenty of exercise,
and not smoking. Your RealAge Plan will provide more personalized detail on this.
Exercise not only helps keep you healthy but also keeps you happy. In general, increasing the amount of physical activity in your life increases well-being, whether it's yoga, weight training, or daily walks around the neighborhood. One study of nearly 7,000 men and women revealed that walking, jogging, or running between 11 and 19 miles per week was optimal for improving emotional well-being.
But don't overdo it or underdo it. Moderate exercise offers the biggest boost in happiness.
And if you think you may be living with a mood disorder, get it treated. Appropriate treatment can help reduce your symptoms, increase your sense of well-being, and get you back on track to a happy life.
Social Side Up
Developing your social side is crucial for well-being. Studies show that people who are socially active, who are compassionate, and who are emotionally generous have higher levels of happiness and live longer than people who lead a more solitary life.
Research also shows that people who have strong interpersonal skills rank in the highest levels of happiness, and those who are socially isolated have substantially lower levels of well-being.
Social skills are just one part of this happiness factor, though. People who maintain good personal relationships also fare better than people who are socially inactive. Open, trusting, intimate relationships are essential building blocks for a happy life.
And it isn't only receiving support that makes us happy; it's being able to give support to others as well.
Perfect Pairs
Of course, many see marriage as one of the ultimate social relationships. But studies on marriage and happiness are somewhat conflicting, and the causal relationship between the two is unclear. On average, people who are married tend to report higher levels of happiness than people who are not married. Unmarried people in committed relationships also tend to be happier than people in casual relationships.
But it's not clear if this is because people who are predisposed to being happy are more likely to marry, or because marriage itself makes people happier, or if there is still some other yet-to-be-discovered dynamic at play between marriage and happiness. Although observational studies clearly show an association between well-being and relationships, there is no evidence to prove that one causes the other.
One theory for the correlation between happiness and marriage is that,
compared with married people, people who aren't married tend to experience lower levels of social approval as well as fewer financial and social benefits. These factors may play a role in the lower levels of personal well-being reported by people who are not married.
What You Can Do
When important personal relationships come to an end, it can have a lasting negative impact on happiness. So use your energies to nurture the relationships that mean the most to you. Not all relationships are meant to be, of course, and getting out of a destructive relationship can do more for your health and happiness than staying in it. But if it is within your power to make a good relationship work, you have every reason to try.
Keep all of your other personal relationships healthy, vibrant, and strong by spending quality time with friends and family. Make a standing date with the people you love -- it'll give you something to look forward to and help relieve stress levels.
And while you're appreciating the people who are already near and dear, don't forget to welcome new friendships into your life.
Happiness and the Meaningful Life
According to the founding father of positive psychology, Martin Seligman, a
happy life is one that is pleasurable, engaging, and meaningful. And the more engaging and meaningful, the better. Seligman suggests that people who focus their energies on leading an engaged and meaningful life are more successful at achieving lifelong happiness than those who focus on the transitory feel-goods of pleasure.
Research appears to support his theories. A study revealed that participants' subjective well-being was directly affected by the fulfillment they derived from the activities they spent most of their energy on, whether that was raising children, working, or volunteering. Research on aging shows that being actively involved in life is linked to increased levels of happiness.
What You Can Do Spend more time doing what you love. Engaging in activities that are in line with your values and interests can improve your sense of well-being. If you feel as though you've lost touch with what those activities might be, think about what captivates you so entirely that you lose yourself in the moment and forget about your stress.
It's likely to be something you're good at that also provides you with a bit of a challenge or some kind of emotional reward. Some examples might be gardening, writing, painting, surfing, cycling, volunteering, or playing a musical instrument.
If you can make your activities social, all the better. Whereas personal hobbies,
such as knitting, have been linked to an increase in happiness, social activities have been associated with an increase in both happiness and life expectancy.
As you focus on bringing meaning to your life, be sure to set realistic, attainable goals. People who do so report being happier than people who focus on grandiose long-term goals. Being able to realize goals that reflect your personal values and interests can help reinforce your sense of autonomy, purpose, and achievement. This has been shown to contribute significantly to overall well-being.
3 More Ways to Get Happy
1. Forget the Joneses
Social comparison is a natural part of human behavior, and it can be a healthy source of both motivation and affirmation. But taken to the extreme, social comparison can become an unhealthy, unhappy competition. Try not to compare your successes to others. Happiness researchers identify this as a key detractor to life satisfaction.
It can be especially harmful if you are making material comparisons. Some studies show that placing too much importance on material wealth can make people very unhappy.
Just as people adapt to bad situations, they also adapt to good ones. With each new pay raise or purchase, aspirations also increase.
People get used to the good life. Once the initial thrill of extra income and the latest luxuries wears off, they want more. Another raise, a faster car, a bigger house.
It becomes a never-ending cycle that leaves people feeling perpetually unsatisfied.
2. Share Your Skills
Giving back to the community and helping others is linked to greater levels of happiness, particularly for people who are retired or not employed. Volunteering in your community can provide a valuable social interaction, increase your sense of purpose, and, yes, make you happier.
Check out the Network for Good Web site to search a database of volunteer organizations by zip code and area of interest.
3. Do Your Happiness Homework
Seligman and his happiness colleagues have devised and tested a number of exercises to help boost well-being. Here are several activities that have been found to be most effective:
• Take note of what's good in your life. Literally. Studies show that people who spend a few minutes every evening writing down what went well each day show a
significant increase in well-being.
• Give gratitude. Write a letter of thanks to someone who has been particularly good to you or has had a profound impact on your life. Once the letter is written, deliver it personally to the recipient. If your gratitude letter has a long distance to travel, call the recipient to make sure it was received and tell the person on the phone how much you appreciate his or her presence in your life.
No More Mystery
There is no mysterious magical formula that you have to follow exactly in order to achieve happiness. Happiness is a personal journey of self-discovery. What makes you happy is not necessarily the same as what makes your friend, your partner, or your son or daughter happy.
Experimenting with key happiness factors will help you find the combination that works for you. Just be sure to take stock now and then to see how your emotional health is doing. It's worth your time and attention. Not only does your health benefit from it, but there's nothing like a contented smile, a look of ease, and a few sexy laugh lines to make you look -- and feel -- years younger.?
它很容易会陷入日常生活的喧嚣和忽略是什么使你快乐。真的很高兴。但要确保你的幸福感给予最优读数可以提供许多健康益处。
快乐的人有年轻的心，年轻的动脉和年轻的足足。快乐的人从手术恢复得更快，更好
地应付疼痛，有降低血压，以及比不快乐的人寿命更长。
研究还表明快乐的人可能会有较强的免疫系统 — — 它们不那么容易感冒和流感病毒。当他们这样做，他们的症状一般都很轻微。
不足为奇的是，快乐的人是在照顾自己的健康，也更好。当人们的幸福水平的提高时，所以做他们的健康行为。他们多做运动、 涂抹防晒霜，和定期体检。
如何到达那里
每个人都想要快乐，和的好处是显然丰富。但事实是人们并不总是很擅长预测什么会让他们快乐。如果它是长期的幸福你后，你可能需要学习一些新的技巧。
幸福是什么？
我们都知道当我们很高兴，当我们不是。但是问一屋子的人是什么使他们快乐，你可能会得到广泛的响应，从\"看日落\"或\"时间和好朋友一起消费\"到\"寻找伟大的鞋品销售\"或\"赢得办公室足球池\"。
幸福本身的定义就是不简单的成就。
在努力把定义收窄，研究者们设计了一系列的问卷调查来衡量生活满意度、 积极的情绪，以及主观幸福感。一些科学家甚至开始运用脑部成像技术来更好地理解生理的幸福。经济学家有跳幸福的潮流，也希望能计算幸福在社会和政治背景下的价值。
所以他们发现了什么？是什么让幸福的生活？
这部分是你的基因
你的幸福水平不是完全由你的基因，预先确定，但基因做起到的作用，正如他们在你的全身健康发挥作用。一些研究者估计高达 40%到 50%的幸福的一个人的能力可能是由遗传决定的。这意味着一些幸运的人可能会开始更倾向于快乐，虽不能保证他们会带着令人陶醉的生活。幸运的是，有证据表明即使是最悲观的我们可以学会更快乐。
并了解我们必须。留给我们自己的设备，我们倾向于将精力集中在将给我们最大的即时快感的事情上。甚至当我们更好地知道。
测试你的幸福的诀窍
认为你知道幸福的秘密吗？检查幸福精度的一些这些共同的答案。你可能会惊讶。
一个按摩和水疗纵容的一天
算计，是的。一天在水疗中心不仅是令人愉快，也是一个极大的消除压力。并且保持你控制下的应力水平会正向影响你的身体和情感福祉。
Winning 100 万美金
赢得 100 万块钱会让你立刻身价百倍，这是肯定的。但幸福吗？不太多。阅读找出为什么金钱买不到你幸福。
Renting 海边的房子因一周你最亲密的朋友
和好朋友共度美好时光是幸福生活的关键部件之一。并休息一段时间来放松还将保持您的压力水平较低。但是不要等到像这样难得的机会与你的朋友相处。
Losing 10 磅
它是重要对你的健康和幸福，保持健康的体重。但溜溜球节食和失去重量快速诈骗可能饿死你后你的幸福。
World 和平
崇高的理想，但你可能想要从小事开始 — — 设置不切实际的目标可能是一种威慑的幸福。做你的一部分，和平得到参与促进非暴力的冲突解决组织或促进和平的另一个问题，你强烈的感受。帮助别人并感觉到一种生命的目的被链接到更大的幸福。
Finally 获取组织的车库
它可能不是迷人但它肯定是令人欣慰。清理杂波和创建的可用空间会给你一种成就感，并保证其提升你的幸福。
Having 超级英雄的权力
超级英雄的权力将超级酷的毫无疑问。但是他们可能会导致更多的压力比幸福。另外，它永远不会发生。关注更多的可达到的目标，你会更有可能使梦想成真，那会让你幸福。
在公园里的监听长走路 （或跑步）
体育活动是一个伟大的方式来即刻提升你的幸福的感觉。并纳入你的日常锻炼你就会更健康、 更快乐长远来看。
监听您投资的价值急剧上升
它是明智的你的未来作出投资，但不是那么明智链接你的幸福，到股票市场。你的人际关系的情感资本和
监听您投资的价值急剧上升
它是明智的你的未来作出投资，但不是那么明智链接你的幸福，到股票市场。你的人际关系和个人成长的情感资本和您可能会看到你的幸福水平稳步上升。
阅读找出更多关于什么使人快乐，什么不是，和你可以做什么来充实和快乐的生活。
健康和幸福
研究表明一个人的健康是幸福的最强预测因子之一。但是健康和幸福之间的联系是复杂的。研究表明一个人的目标健康 — — 小相关性医疗评估 — — 和幸福所界定。它是我们主观的健康 — — 我们如何看待我们的健康 — — 这会影响我们的福祉。所以你的脑海里全都是幸福吗？
倒也未必。例如，健康不利变化没有负面影响对幸福水平，至少暂时。健康不佳有可能极大地影响你的生活几乎每一个方面： 你的独立，你的自我形象，你的个人关系，您能够进行基本的日常活动和工作。因此毫不奇怪当你的健康将受到打击，你的幸福也是。
但人民是坚强的。我们习惯于新的生活环境，好还是坏。我们适应。在一个月或两个健康的不良事件，大多数人都被吸引回幸福他们享受他们的健康采取转坏之前的水平。
严重健康状态中的更改时，然而 — — 例如，涉及慢性疼痛或多重残疾 — — 对幸福的影响可以长期持久。
身体健康和情绪的健康影响的快乐。心境障碍甚至比慢性疾病，如关节炎、 心脏疾病和糖尿病降低生活质量。
你能做什么
做所有你可以保持健康的生活方式，你会踏上你通往长，生活富裕幸福。
是你的健康和幸福的摄取均衡的饮食与大量的水果和蔬菜，保持到最低限度，应力水平定期进行检查、 抹防晒霜、 经常笑，缓和酒精摄入量、 大量的锻炼，和不吸烟。你足足计划将对此提供更多个性化的详细信息。
运动不仅能够让你保持健康，而且也使你感到快乐。一般情况下，在你生活中的物理活动量增加福祉，无论是瑜伽、 重量训练或在附近的日常散步。近 7,000 的男子和妇女的一项研究显示步行，慢跑，或运行之间 11 和 19 英里，每星期最适合于改善情绪化的福祉。
但不要过分信赖于它或麻风它。适度的运动在幸福中提供最大的推动力。
如果你认为你可能患有情绪障碍、 生活得到它治疗。适当的治疗可以帮助减少你的症状，增加你的幸福感，感，让你重回正轨的幸福生活。
社会面朝上
发展你的社交方面的福祉至关重要。研究表明那些社交活动、 谁是善良的和那些情感上慷慨的人有高层次的快乐，比过着更加孤独的生活的人活得长。
研究还表明有较强的人际交往能力等级水平最高的幸福，和那些社会上感到孤立无援的人有显着较低级别的福祉。
社交技巧虽然是因素的这幸福，只是因素的其中一部分。保持良好的个人关系的人也是社会上不活跃的人，比好。开放、 信任、 亲密的关系是幸福生活的基本构建块。
它不只接收支持使我们快乐 ；它能够以及给其他人的支持。
对完美
当然，很多人将婚姻视为终极的社会关系之一。婚姻和幸福的研究某种程度上是矛盾的而两者之间的因果关系尚不清楚。平均来看，都结了婚的人倾向于报告高层次的快乐，比那些没有结婚的人。未婚的人，在承诺的关系也往往要比在随意的关系的人更幸福。
但尚不清楚，如果这是因为易患幸福的人更有可能结婚，或者是因为婚姻本身让人更快乐，或者在戏剧在婚姻和幸福之间仍有一些其他尚未发现的动态。观测研究清楚地表明了福祉和关系之间的关联，虽没有证据证明一个人对其他的原因。
一种理论的幸福和婚姻之间的相关性的是，与已婚人士相比，那些没有结婚的人倾向于较低级别的社会认可，以及较少的金融和社会福利的经验。这些因素可能在起作用较低级别的个人我们
一种理论的幸福和婚姻之间的相关性的是，与已婚人士相比，那些没有结婚的人倾向于较低级别的社会认可，以及较少的金融和社会福利的经验。这些因素可能起作用在低水平的个人福祉报道由那些没有结婚的人。
你能做什么
当重要的个人关系走到尽头时，它可以对幸福持久的负面影响。所以用你的精力培育对你最有意义的关系。并不是所有的关系，目的是要当然，和走出破坏性的关系可以做更多为你的健康和幸福而住在里面。但如果是你的力量，使工作的良好关系，你有充分的理由去尝试。
通过和朋友和家人共度美好时光，所有你其他的个人关系保持健康，充满活力，和较强。使固定的约会，与你爱的人 — — 它会给你东西，期待着并帮助减轻压力水平。
虽然你很欣赏那些已经在附近和亲爱的人，别忘了，欢迎新的友谊，进入你的生活。
幸福和有意义的生活
根据积极心理学，马丁 · 塞利格曼，建国之父着幸福的生活是一种令人愉快的动人的和有意义。和更多参与和有意义，那好。塞利格曼建议集中精力于领导参与和有意义的生活的人更成功地实现比那些专注于快乐的短暂的感觉货物的终身幸福。
研究似乎支持他的理论。研究表明，参与者的主观幸福感直接受到他们来自他们花，其能量的大部分活动，是否这养育孩子，工作，或者做志愿者的实现。老化研究表明积极地参与生活中链接到提高的幸福水平。
你能做什么
花更多时间做你所爱的。从事符合你的价值观和利益的活动，可以提高你的幸福的感觉。如果你觉得好像你已经失去了与这些活动可能是什么，想想什么完全在此刻迷失了自己，忘了你的压力使你着迷。
它很可能会令你很擅长还为您提供一点挑战或某种情感的奖励。一些例子可能园艺、 写作、 绘画、 冲浪、 骑自行车、 做志愿者，或演奏乐器。
如果你可以使你的活动社会，一切的美好。而个人的兴趣爱好，如针织、 已获得增加挂钩，在幸福中，社会实践活动已与幸福和预期寿命增加相关联。
当你专注于带给你生活的意义，一定要设定现实的、 可达到的目标。所以报告比那些专注于宏伟的长期目标的人更快乐的人。能够实现目标，反映出你个人的价值观和利益可以有助于加强你的自主权、 目的和成就意识。这已被证明的整体福祉的贡献。
3 更多如何得到快乐
1.忘了周围的人
社会比较是人类行为的一个自然部分，它可以激励和肯定的健康来源。但考虑到极端情况下，社会比较可以变得不健康、 不开心的竞争。试着不去比较你对他人的成功。幸福研究人员确定这是关键的弊端，对人生的满意度。
如果你正在制作材料比较，它可以特别是有害。一些研究表明在物质财富上放置太多的重要性可以让人很不开心。
正如人们适应不良的情况下，他们还适应比较好。随着每个新的加薪或购买，愿望也增加。
人们习惯于美好的生活。一旦额外的收入和最新的奢侈品的最初的兴奋消退，他们想要更多。另一种提高，更快的车，更大的房子。
它成为无休止的循环，让人感觉永远都不满意。
2.分享你的技能
回馈社会、 帮助他人被链接到更高水平的幸福，特别是为退休或不被雇用的人。在你的社区做志愿者可以提供有价值的社会互动，增加你的目标，感，是，让你更快乐。
签出好的 Web 站点的网络搜索数据库由 zip 代码的志愿者组织和感兴趣的领域。
3.做你幸福的家庭作业
塞利格曼和他的幸福同事已经设计和测试大量的练习，以帮助提高福祉。以下是已被认定为最有效的几项活动：
Take 注意到你生命中最美好的是什么。从字面上。研究表明，人花几分钟写下什么去做好每一天每晚在福祉中显示显着增加。
Give 的感激之情。写一封感谢信有人一直特别好对你或对你的生活产生了深刻影响。一旦写了这封信，亲自把它交给收件人。如果你的感激之情的信已经长途旅行，打电话给收件人，请确保它被接受了，在电话里告诉的人，你是多么欣赏他或她的存在在你的生活
中。
没有比这更神奇
那里是你必须要坚持到底要实现幸福没有神秘神奇的公式。幸福是个人自我发现的旅程。什么使你快乐并非什么让你的朋友，你的伴侣，或你的儿子或女儿快乐一样。
尝试与幸福关键因素将帮助您找到适合你的工作组合。只是一定要股票，现在然后，看看你的情绪健康怎么样。它是值得你花时间和注意力。不仅你的健康并受益于它，还有什么能像露出满意的微笑，一脸的轻松和几个性感的笑纹，使你看起来 — — 感觉 — — 岁。
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