The Proven Path To Happiness - You're Invited!
There is a proven path to achieving lasting happiness. How proven? Well according to an 85 year long comprehensive study conducted by researchers at Harvard that encompasses the lived experience of 724 people from adolescence to old age, the evidence is in.
So what did the longest in-depth study on human happiness ever done conclude? What is the most powerful vehicle that will carry us down the road to sustained happiness?
Is it Money?
Money increases our happiness up to the point that our basic needs are taken care of. After that getting more of it does not have much of an impact on our happiness at all. Yeah, I know. I too am willing to put this theory to the test but the research tells us the dollars won’t do it for you. Even lottery winners are found to return to their previous happiness point after the rush of new wealth wears off.
Is it Sensual Pleasure?
This is known as hedonic happiness. I would rather have pleasure rather than pain any day. My morning extra hot piccolo is a source of caffeinated joy that definitely contributes to, ok is damn near essential to, my quality of life. But because of a pesky tendency in the human brain called “hedonic adaptation”, basically the novelty of something new and fun eventually wearing off, sense pleasures can’t be relied upon to deliver us the enduring happiness we seek.
Is it Achieving Goals, Physical Health, Scoring A Parking Spot Exactly In Front Of Where You Need To Be In 2 Minutes?
All of these things are great and certainly lead us in the right direction for a happy life. But they are not the primary path. In fact our friends at Harvard found that the proven path to the deepest and most lasting happiness is…(no drum roll please, I haven’t had my coffee)…
...RELATIONSHIPS!
The researchers found that the happiest people they studied invested in their relationships and made nurturing social connections a main priority. This is called maintaining “social fitness”.
To walk or maybe even skip down the path of top level happiness we must connect with the people who matter to us, sharing quality time together along with our important thoughts and feelings, staying in touch regularly, being there for those we care about in those challenging times we all face, and of course having fun together.
The Harvard study found that quality of relationships was a stronger predictor of happiness, health, longevity and overall wellbeing than any other factor they analysed. More than income, social class, or even genetics.
Laughter is one of the most potent energies for building and maintaining life enhancing relationships. When we laugh the hormone oxytocin, know as the “love drug”, is released into our bloodstream. This causes us to feel a strong connection with those with whom we chuckle.
And when we are laughing with someone our brains’ mirror neurons are activated enabling us to feel each other’s emotional state creating even more closeness.
We at Feel Betterer want to do our part in keeping your social fitness in tip top shape. We are launching The Feel Betterer Club and you are invited!
The Feel Betterer Club is a a friendly online place where you can share the amazing power of humour, laughter, play, fun, and connection. Meet like-minded folks and be a part of something positive. Join a network of rewarding relationships and tread the proven path to happiness.
You will also receive priority access and discounts on our events and courses as well as fabulous freebies. And it's all totally free! We would love to have you on board!
FIND OUT MORE HERE
Betterer Wishes, Anthony
Anthony Ackroyd
CEO (Chief Enjoyment Officer)
