4 Easy Ways to Live a Happier Life - Positive Psychology

I am a huge fan of Positive Psychology and theSpend time with people you care about, connect
study of happiness, something you'll will be hearingwith community programs, volunteer, get involved
about more and more in the news. The reason Iwith a religious community, visit with others, plan
want to share this with you is because there's somefamily nights. It is so simple, yet many of the children
really great information you can use in your life toand adults I see feel isolated and alone. If you get
positively impact you and your family. The Europeaninvolved with others and are willing to be open and
Network for Positive Psychology describes it asreceptive to have a positive relationship, you will feel
researching optional functioning, moving towardshappier!
what is right, rather than traditional pathology2. Gratitude Visit:
orientation of what is wrong (Pointon, 2006). TheWrite a letter to someone you are thankful for
emphasis of Positive Psychology is to move towardsexpressing how they have contributed positively to
happiness, affecting physical well-being, decreasingyour life. Go and deliver this letter in person. The
symptoms, increasing coping skills and adding to aresearch by Park et al., 2005 suggests you will feel
longer, quality filled life.happier for a month upon doing this.
American Psychologist, Martin Seligman, and his fellow3. Three Good Things in Life:
researchers (Park et al., 2005) emphasize threeWrite down three things you are grateful for each
routes to happiness: pleasure (enjoyment),day. I know it sounds trite, but the research
engagement (active pursuit of hobbies, work, family),suggests that this intervention reduced depressive
and meaning (using strengths for larger good). Theirsymptoms and increased happiness for six months
research suggests that individuals who purse a life of(Park et al., 2005). How simple, yet how effective!
all three, with emphasis on engagement and meaning4. Using Signature Strengths in a New Way:
are those that claim to be most happy.Signature Strengths are the things that you like doing
It's interesting to note that we have a bit moreand you are good at doing. Seligman suggests there
control over our happiness than we might imagine.are 24 Character Strengths. You can visit University
The research suggests that 50% of our happiness isof Pennsylvania's Positive Psychology Center's
biological, that means 50% can be changed by ourwebsite to measure your signature Strengths. When
behaviors and thoughts. Interestingly enough it's NOTyou find out your strengths, if you use them in a
the external things like money and a nice car thatnew and novel way you'll likely yield long-term change
make us happier. In fact research by Edward Diener,in affect (you'll be happier) for up to six-months (Park
suggests that wealth, education, age, marital status,et al., 2005).
and weather had little influence on overall happiness.Now that's something to happy about!
Those who reported increased levels of happinessMore about Positive Psychology:
were those with social and relationship ties, includingPark, N., Peterson, C., Seligman, M. E., & Steen,
religious community and personal relationships.T.A. (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical
So what's the take away? We have much morevalidation of intervention. American Psychologist, 60,
control over our happiness than we could ever410-421.
imagine and after getting our basic needs met,Pointon, C. (2006). Positive Psychology. Therapy
STUFF really doesn't make us much happier.Today, 17, 4-7.
Here are 4 things you can do to live a happier life:Wallis, C. (2005). The New Science of Happiness.
1. Form Relationships:Time Magazine.