10 Scientific Facts Behind Creating Happiness
The poor say that money isn’t a source of happiness because they’re poor, yet they’re happy.
The rich say lack of money isn’t a source of happiness because they’re cash-rich and happy.
Judging from these two statements, neither having money nor lack of it is a source of happiness.
Scientists have tried for many years to study this emotion and have come up with ten conclusions that I’ll be discussing with you today.
Make sure you read up to the end because the tenth conclusion will completely boggle your mind.
Here are ten scientific facts behind creating happiness in your life in short:
- Exercising Makes You Happier
- Performing Random Acts of Kindness Will Make you Happier
- Married People Are 10% Happier than Unmarried People
- Practicing Self-Love Will Result in You Being Happier
- Being Religious Can Make You Happier
- Where you live can Dictate your Happiness Levels
- Consumerism can Suppress Your Happiness
- A 20 Minute Walk in Nature Can Boost Your Happiness Levels
- Practicing Acts of Gratitude Can Make you Happier
- Find This One Out by Reading the Whole Article Because it’s the Most Important Fact
In full:
- Exercising Makes You Happier
We’re all tired of the song doctors always sing to us to exercise, yet we neglect the advice. Exercise is one of those prerequisites you need to live a healthy
life.
It helps to release proteins and endorphins into your body which make your brain happy.
Exercising is not only for the body but also for the mind. Meditating helps to train your mind to focus on the present rather than the past or future.
University of British Columbia Prof. Elizabeth Dunn, a psychology professor, doubled down on my words by saying, “Be present and don’t judge your emotions, but recognize them.”
- Performing Random Acts of Kindness Will Make You Happier
A study done by Positive Psychology shows us that performing random acts of kindness will make you happier. Also known as prosocial behavior, engaging in acts of kindness has proven to reduce anxiety levels and feelings of depression.
Examples of these acts can be:
- Opening the door for your colleague at work
- Or giving a beggar some money on your way to the mall.
The acts don’t have to be huge – just sincere.
Prosocial behavior taps into the natural human instinct to help one another, which results in attracting happiness into your life.
- Married People Are 10% Happier than Unmarried People
“Two is better than one,” so they say. This statement might have some truth to it.
Married people always have someone to lean to when stressed, in financial turmoil, fired, or lonely.
Single people only have God or their children to lean on. That’s why the Bible or other religious books are so adamant about marriage.
Jesus was single and fulfilled when he lived on earth, proving to you that single people can also live fulfilling lives.
- Practicing Self-Love Will Result in You Being Happier
You cannot love anything else unless you love yourself first. People, especially here in the west, have a culture of self-critiquing and criticizing themselves to improve.
That may be good in the short term, but if you continuously bring yourself down, you’ll end up depressed and stressed.
To implement self-love practices into your life, you’ll need three things:
- To live in the moment.
- Understand that setbacks are lessons.
- And cultivate a supportive inner voice.
- Being Religious Can Make You Happier
Showing love to a God that you have no proof exists shows an attribute from which happiness stems.
Studies show us that 42% of people who go to church are happier than 22% of people who don’t.
People who have hope of an afterlife have a reason to live and die. People who don’t believe in anything tend to live life for the sake of living. They mask their worry of the afterlife behind their egos.
Living like that for an extended period can secretly stress you and reduce your overall happiness levels.
- Where You Live Can Dictate How Happy You Are
Studies show that people who live in the Scandinavian part of the world are the happiest (Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland.)
These countries are doing something other countries should try and mimic.
- Consumerism can Suppress Your Happiness
The internet has made the buying process so easy that we’re constantly buying new items every day.
We tend to buy material things to increase our happiness levels which rarely works.
Studies show us that we should value experiences more than material things because they can increase our happiness.
- A 20 Minute Walk in Nature Can Boost Your Happiness Levels
The elements that make a human being are the same as the ones in soil. That’s why when someone dies, they decompose until they become soil.
You and earth are one. Taking a walk under the warm sun for about 20 minutes can make you happier, says a study by Psychology Today.
- Practicing Gratitude Can Make you Happy
We live in a very competitive world where everything is a competition. At home, we compete with our neighbors with a bigger house or better car.
At work, we compete over positions and salaries. At church, we compete over who has the best attire. These are all petty things that put us under unnecessary pressure for no reason.
Take a few minutes every day and think of two reasons why you’re grateful. Make it a ritual, and watch as your mood starts getting better and better.
Studies show that you’ll become healthier, more energetic, and your sleep will be sweeter than that of a baby.
- Embracing Community and Relationships Can Help You Live Longer and Happier
Now the pinnacle of creating happiness in your life, “relationships.”
Being connected to someone other than yourself has proven to be the secret to happiness and longevity.
Studies show us that loneliness is as damaging to the body as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Start embracing relationships with your kids, coworkers, neighbors, and once in a while strangers because it might just save your life.
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to creating happiness in your life. You have to fit different pieces of the puzzle and hope for the best.
So which fact surprised you the most?
Comment down below because I would love to hear from you.