"This is the best day ever." "This ice cream is the best I've ever had." "I can't believe it's so pretty- this totally makes my day." "I love adventures- this is the most fun I've had."
All of these phrases are things that I say on a daily basis. If there's anything that I want to be, it's to be happy. Not just content (where I like to sit back and watch life happen) or being over involved, (where I can't enjoy what's happening around me), but happy. Happy, for me, can be measured as a level of activity, and an amount of work, because it's something to actively pursue and be.
There are many different ideas about how to make yourself happy, and the "keys to happiness" are everywhere. I'm fairly certain that There are certainly times when we're not happy and it's truly out of our control. I personally understand that feeling of losing control of happiness, and that's when I see someone. But otherwise, the concept of how to achieve happiness is a broadly explored topic with google searches pulling up "traveling" and "finding yourself", or "don't go to bed angry" and "go to bed angry". There are frustrating inconsistencies on how to actually be happy, so I decided to help you ditch the google search for happiness and give you some of the explanations on what happiness is, why we are or aren't happy, and what we can do to be happy.
What is happiness?
Happiness is defined as feeling or showing pleasure or contentment. The science of happiness appears simple: chemicals in our brain move to their receptors, and we're either happy or we aren't. I don't think it's that easy to actually make it happen, but it's a start.
How does it work?: The Happiness Halo, by Lippencott
"To better grasp the three interconnected influences on happiness"
The Happiness Halo is an explanation for happiness that combines anticipation, experience, and memory. Those three ideas all connect to each other and form a circle/halo around you. We anticipate good things that will happen. Then the actual experience occurs.
That experience itself is sometimes difficult to process. I know I have stood at a celebration, and just paused and asked: "Am I happy?" The answer is incredibly difficult to discern, but it's really useful to reflect on.
Memory is the third component to this breakdown of happiness. The concept is that the memories we have are what help us decide what happiness means to us. This breakdown of happiness is one way of analyzing the process that happens when we're happy.
What can I do to be happy?
1) In a TED Talk by Dan Gilbert, he analyzes why we're happy, and how the science of happiness is a very contradictory beast. Looking at our psychological immune system, he explains how we can still be happy under the worst of circumstances.
2) Watching TED talks makes me happy, and this video is one of the best because it discusses the habits of happiness. For some, habits are very rewarding tools. Happiness can become a habit, or at least we can train our minds towards happiness.
3) The book On Becoming An Artist by Ellen Langer, she discussing using creativity as a way to opening up yourself to finding and creating happiness. There are many things that we can make out of what seems to be nothing, so why should happiness be any different?
4. Do good things for other people. This is a proven fact. It doesn't take long to help pack a family member's lunch, hold the door for someone, pick up a friend's coffee, make a special card, or do something to make someone else feel better.
5. Find your joy triggers. There are a select few things that cause us inexplicable joy, and those are the things you want to keep near and dear to your heart. Whether it's your favorite coffee, time watering plants, or just hanging out with your dog, make sure you find your joy triggers.
The list on "what can I do" can also extend to: dogs, cats (sometimes), coffee, mountain scenery, writing, frozen yogurt, quality time with friends, learning something new, and anything else that brings that dopamine to its receptor.
Find your triggers for joy, and relish in your happiness.
