Finding your happy space
While there is no
real cure to help you stay happy forever, certain lifestyle changes can slowly
and steadily get you there
Imagine a ladder, with steps numbered from zero at
the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible
life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst. On which step
of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time? This
so-called happiness ladder is famously used as a way to measure and compare
happiness across the globe.
The scale is intended for use at the public policy
level, but there are lessons to learn at the personal level as well. Find a
sustaining and satisfying job; do your best to live in a happy place; surround
yourself with social support; take care of your health; and be generous (in
spirit, time and money) in order to pave your own personal road to happiness.
Good things happen in the
bedroom
A lot of potential for happiness happens in the
bedroom. It’s the place where we sleep, have sex and retreat for quiet
contemplation — all of which are activities that can improve happiness. As a
result, many people who study and write about happiness encourage people to
focus on life in the bedroom. A “living well” index created by British
researchers found that the two strongest indicators of wellness were sleep and
sex. People who feel rested most of the time are happier than people who don’t.
The same can be said for people who are happy with their sex lives — they are
happier overall than people with less-than-satisfactory sex lives.
Do’s and don’ts
So, as you think about your living space and how it’s
affecting your happiness, make the bedroom a high priority: Turn your bedroom
into a luxury hotel suite. Think of the feeling you get when you escape to a
nice hotel on vacation. Capture that in your home every day.
Invest in comfort. Buy comfortable sheets, pillows
and bedding and a quality mattress.
Don’t skimp on window treatments. Blocking out light
will help you sleep better.
Remove the television. Bedrooms are havens for sleep
and contemplation, not screen time.
Be generous
Generosity makes people happier. Generosity is one of
the six variables found to consistently influence happiness in the World
Happiness Report. And several studies have found that people who behaved
generously were happier compared to people who made selfish decisions. In fact,
just thinking about being generous and kind triggers a happiness reaction in
our brains.
Pets can make you happy
Psychologists conducted a series of experiments to
determine the role that pets play in our happiness. They found that pet owners
were happier, healthier and better adjusted than non-owners. Pet owners said
they received as much support from their pets as they did from family members.
And people who were emotionally closer to the pets also had deeper ties to the
humans in their lives.
Dog owners who felt a strong connection to their pets
were happier and healthier. And in one expressive writing exercise, writing
about pets was just as effective as writing about a friend when it came to
staving off feelings of rejection, according to the report published by the
American Psychological Association.
—THE NEW YORK TIMES
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