The best place to start is with happiness

Apart from the obvious fact that we feel a lot better, what other advantages does happiness offer? Happiness appears to have many other advantages. Our immune systems get stronger, we like ourselves and others more, we get better at handling conflict, and we become more outgoing and selfless. This results in happier lives, healthier relationships overall, fewer illnesses, and greater Vigor and enthusiasm for life.

Given the numerous benefits of happiness, what are the best strategies for achieving and, more crucially, maintaining happiness?

In his new book, 59 Seconds, Professor Wiseman examines a number of popular self-help theories to see which ones pass the scrutiny of peer-reviewed scientific studies. He is the sole professor of psychology for the public in Britain.

Money doesn’t equal happiness

First, he dispels the myth that most people hold that having more money will make them happier. According to research on individuals who experience unexpected financial gains and surveys that compare happiness scores to the average GDP. This direct association vanishes once a nation reaches a small GNP, even though citizens in really impoverished countries are not as happy as those in wealthier countries. Additional research on the relationship between pay and happiness has revealed that a pay rise does not always translate into increased happiness once the needs of life are within reach.

According to Wiseman, studies have shown that a person’s genetic makeup accounts for about half of their pleasure. As a result, happy parents are more likely to have happy kids. Nevertheless, 50% is still within each person’s control. Just 10% of this seems to be influenced by external factors like education, money, marital status, etc., while the remaining 40% is influenced by our everyday actions and attitudes toward other people and ourselves. We therefore have a constant chance to significantly increase our level of happiness.

Small pleasers count

It seems we rapidly acclimatize to just about everything in our lives – including new things as well as constant sounds, images and smells – so much so that they virtually disappear from our awareness. The pleasure of obtaining a new dress, car or even house soon fades as we become quickly accustomed to our new possessions. The pleasure from the smell of freshly baked bread or brewing coffee soon ceases as we become acclimatized and no longer register these smells.

Everyone has things to be appreciative of, but we are so accustomed to friends, family, health, a job, a home, a car, enough food—that they no longer actively contribute to our happiness. Usually, it is only after we have lost something that we realize how valuable it is. Why wait, though? By keeping a regular gratitude notebook, we can relive the joy of being thankful for what we have, much as we can relive the delicious smell of baking bread or brewing coffee by leaving the room for a few minutes before returning.

Write it down

It has been proven that spending a few minutes each week writing down five things for which we are thankful improves our long-term happiness, optimism, physical health, and impulsive exercise.

Finally, most people are ignorant of the importance of expressing their love, even though they are aware that being in a romantic relationship is beneficial to their physical and emotional well-being. Happiness, stress, and even cholesterol levels can all be significantly improved by setting aside a short period of time each week to write down the reasons you love someone.

As our thoughts are typically less ordered, structured, and clear than written words, it appears to be crucial to put these ideas down on paper. I’m going to express my gratitude for finishing this article ahead of my deadline tomorrow to add to my personal happiness. As I write, my enthusiasm for life is increasing. Thank you.