People spend a lot of time and money in the pursuit of happiness, but can you really learn how to be happy? New research says you can, but it’s not just as simple as learning how to be happy. You have to actually practice the habits that lead to happiness for long lasting results.
There’s even a class, the Science of Happiness course at the U.K.’s University of Bristol, where students study the latest scientific research on “what really makes us happy.” Students learn that actions like talking to strangers, walking in nature and giving gifts can improve happiness, along with gratitude, exercise and meditation. And those who’ve taken the class report a 10 to 15% boost in mental health and wellbeing afterwards, proving it’s possible to “teach” people happiness.
But researchers who’ve studied those in the course and those who’ve left it have found that the boost they feel will only last a little while unless they continue doing those habits long-term. The key to achieving lasting happiness is making those practices part of your everyday life. “It’s like going to the gym - we can’t expect to do one class and be fit forever,” explains senior study author Professor Bruce Hood. “Just as with physical health, we have to continuously work on our mental health, otherwise the improvements are temporary.”
Source: Talker
Scott's Thoughts:
- So we can’t just take a class, pass a test and be happy for the rest of our lives?
- I am a happy person, for the most part. But it takes effort.
- Have you gone from being a glass half-empty to a glass half-full person? What changed you?