It is said that the richest man in the world is the one with the happiest heart. But what factors lead us to happiness? There are so many different definitions of happiness but, I prefer to think of it as a way of life. To me, happiness is living life with no regrets.
While we can learn a lot about the science of happiness from past philosophers, our modern world is much more complicated. There are literally thousands of variables that impact our happiness and each person is affected by them differently.
I'm going to start off by explaining some of the factors that contribute to happiness. Then I'll give some examples that show how you can apply the findings to your own life.
What leads to a fulfilling life?
Happiness has been studied for many years. Researchers from all over the world have tried to identify the factors that make us happy. One of the first scientists to discover the link between happiness and money was Dr. Martin Seligman.
Dr. Seligman developed a measure to assess depression called the "Depression Scale." He found that people who scored high on this scale also suffered from symptoms of anxiety and social phobia.
Another researcher was John Dollard. He discovered that happy people reported having more friends, felt more secure, were more trusting and felt happier overall than people who felt unhappy.
We all know that happiness is connected to relationships. In fact, many people will say that they are happiest when they are with their spouse, children and family.
Social connections can be a key factor in determining our happiness, especially if we feel that we need someone to lean on. One study even showed that being surrounded by positive people actually changes our brain chemistry.
Research has shown that happy people tend to be optimistic and hopeful.
As a result, they are more likely to believe that they will achieve their goals and overcome obstacles.
Some people seem to get a lot of joy from helping others, which again relates to relationships. People that engage in volunteer activities are more likely to be happy.
People who regularly exercise and have a good diet also tend to be happier. Exercise and a balanced diet are a great combination. They don't have to be expensive or difficult to follow, but it's a good idea to follow some healthy guidelines.
Happiness and the Brain
Researchers have discovered that many of the chemicals in our brains change as we age. Some of these changes can affect our moods, so it's important to be aware of them.
A growing body of research suggests that our brain chemistry impacts our emotional health. This is why certain medications have a negative impact on our happiness. If you are currently on antidepressants, your emotions could be affected.
It seems that the chemical balance in our brain is very sensitive. We can see the effects on it in patients with mental illnesses, such as depression and schizophrenia.
One important thing to understand is that the chemicals in our brain are not all the same. Each person has a unique set of chemicals, and there is no