by
Carl Hampton
10/17/2006
Sometimes we get so caught on in our own
problems that we often forget the smaller
things in life. We invest in technological
devices or even a luxury car but do those
things really make us happy? And if so, for
how long?
Academic studies have shown that material
things do not create a consistent sense of
happiness. If this is so, what will keep us
happy? It is very easy to fall into the
following routine, wake up, go to work, go
home, relax, eat and go to sleep. Then wake
up the next day and do the same thing.
Research has shown that if you make more
time for your family and friends you will
create a good level of happiness. When we
are in the presence of other people we like
certain parts of our brain produce a
stimulant that triggers happiness. Being
with family and friends can make us more
active and energetic. So try making your
family and friends a priority.
Try to stop stressing out over the money. As
Americans we are always concerned about
making more money and keeping up with the
Jones. We work that much harder in the hope
of getting promoted or getting a pay raise.
Most Americans when they achieve that goal
admit they still want more, we are never
satisfied. Experts call this obsession
“hedonic adaptation” or the “hedonic
treadmill.”
What we should be doing is keeping and
cherishing what we already have. Research
has shown that once we reach a comfortable
standard of living we are only really happy
when we receive more money or move to a
bigger house or to a better neighborhood. As
weird as this may sound some people are
happy when they know that their neighbors or
friends have less money than they do.
Here are some things that may help you reach
a lasting happiness. Try not to commute to
far, rush hour traffic does not make anyone
happy. Moving into a better neighborhood
might be nice but if you have to drive an
hour to get to work maybe you should rethink
the living situation. Is the commute to a
nice area worth your leisure time? Probably
not.
Eat right. I know you are probably hearing
that a lot lately with all those diets or
diet plans advertised on our TVs. Besides
the physical aspect eating right makes your
emotions better. Eating satisfies a very
basic need and you should enjoy it. Along
those lines some form of activity is also
very good for us. We all know being active
can be a challenge but research has shown
that the more active one is, the more
happiness they will experience.
Become a volunteer, it really doesn't matter
what your passion is volunteering is a very
rewarding activity. It makes you feel
valuable and lets you see others doing good
deeds. It allows you to see the world as a
good place and that will help you feel
better about yourself and others.
Make time to do things with your family and
friends. Try doing the simple things like
eating dinner at the table, turn off the TV
and talk to each other.
We Americans like to have everything now we
just can't wait, well life's not really like
that so you will need to give these things
some time to work. Emotional changes aren't
that drastic at least when you're trying to
move towards happiness. That shift is going
to be gradual it could take months or even
years to reach full and complete happiness.
Just give it time!
Have an opinion or a question you would like
me to answer, then write me!
http://www.CarlHampton.com
