The science of happiness: 5 things happy people do that you should do too

It’s no surprise that happy people are not necessarily the ones that own the most stuff or that aim for gathering the more significant amount of material goods. Happiness, as real-life tends to prove over and over again, cannot be found nor come from without, it exists within us. For this reason, the ways we can aim to feel happy and enjoy the state of joy derive from inner transformation.

In an old and successively confirmed study from 1978, developed by Northwestern University in the US, it was stated that happiness was unrelated to external events. Two test groups were used for this study, the first with lottery winners, the second with victims of serious accidents. The results showed that when questioned about the amount of pleasure they got from everyday activities, the lottery winners actually had less pleasure – and were overall less happy - than the accident victims.

Our typical quests for more money or promotions may actually be the wrong objective if the final plan is to find happiness. So how can we find happiness? By looking at what happy people do. Here is our ultimate list of 5 things happy people do that you should do too. 

Find the time:

Meditation is the straight route to finding inner peace, build a dialogue with yourself and be able to invite happiness into your everyday. It is this state of wellbeing that will offer the key to feeling complete and balanced within the world, just by being comfortable in your skin. Meditation is an exercise, so you need to take some minutes of your day to train your brain. See here three simple ways to include meditation in your daily schedule.

Be Thankful:

Every day we have small encounters, experience little moments that could be extremely meaningful but that get buried under the number of events that constantly demand our attention in a fast-paced life. If you can’t take the time to enjoy them when they happen at least revisit them later on the day when you have some quiet time to yourself.

Belong:

Having a sense of belonging is probably one of the most gratifying human experience. That is what leads us to search for like-minded people. Going to a place where you find people with similar interests, such as taking yoga classes, training or swimming, is a way of feeling the connection between what moves us all. Of course, there are other places you can go, and activities you can enjoy for this sense of being part of a community.

Pleasure:

Pleasure may just be a part of the experience of feeling happy, but it is a huge one. When you complete your training, and you have really sweated and felt physically tired, your brain will offer you a reward. The release of endorphins is the ‘feel-good moment’ that has some people naturally addicted to running or exercising. For this reason, consistently working out will train the brain to expect the natural chemical reward and your body and health will thank you for it.

Habits:

Creating habits is a way to feel there is certainty and security in our everyday lives. For many, this offers a feeling of comfort that is associated with happiness and contentment. Another variation of happiness, filled with thrills and enthusiasm, will occur precisely when we break the routine. Experimenting and enjoying new things is a great way to keep happiness in our days.

Looking for a way to implement new habits and routines in your life? Here are some tested tips.