In Pursuit of Happiness

I was flicking through the channels the other night and noticed a W-5 documentary that caught my eye. It was called "In Pursuit of Happiness". "Can we learn to be happier? The experts think so. Follow some simple rules and you could have a much more satisfied life" it promised.

The show was very interesting! It was based on a happiness survey that thousands of Canadians took where they rated themselves on how happy they were. Some people actually scored 28/28, so the hosts of the show travelled the country to interview these people to find out their secrets.

According to research by positive psychologists, there are 7 keys elements to a happy life and these people who scored highly on the test seemed to have them. These people were all:

-Optimistic
-Had gratitude for what they had
-Were spiritual
-Had close ties with friends and family
-Had clear goals for their life
-Savoured life (lived in the moment)
-Were helpful to others

One of the most fascinating statistics mentioned on the show was that studies show that happiness depends 50% on your set point (genetics, the way you are born), only 10% on life circumstances (whether you are famous, rich, poor, experience loss etc), and that the other 40% is dependent on things that you can change. For example, chosing to be more positive, more helpful, more spiritual etc. That's pretty cool! In essence, happiness is a CHOICE. We can choose to be happy!

One man who scored 28/28 on the test was a funeral director. He talked about the fact that happiness depends on 'things' and that JOY does not, it is deeper. For people that believe in God, it's the Joy of the Lord that gives us strength. Sometimes I forget that I actually have control over my emotions and feelings. I can play the victim at times, letting negative feelings take over and get me down. One of the women in the show talked about how she had to learn to stop those non-productive, negative feelings that can sometimes run through your brain like a tape recording. It's hard work to stop those feelings that come so naturally. I'm determined to work at it!

Some other notes I took from the show:

-Newfoundland scored low on economic rating, but highest on social rating with the lowest divorce rate, violence rates and the highest scores for community closeness
-Sing...it can cause happiness
-generosity = happiness
-self-absorbed, focusing on your own needs = less happy
-happy people are more creative and self-confident
-savour the moment!! (don't you find in all the business that this is so difficult to do?!).
-people are happier when they help other people
-our society values possessions over peace of mind

There was a lot of thought-provoking information in that one hour show. It gave me some things to consider working on in my own life.

A quote that I loved from the show by Gloria Lovitt:

"Every now and again take a good look at something not made with hands; a mountain, a star, the turn of a stream. There will come to you a wisdom, and patience, and solace, and above all the assurance that you are NOT alone in the world"

Sometimes that's what keeps me going in those not-so-happy moments. Knowing that I'm not alone. I've got my Creator right there beside me through the good and the bad. He understands every struggle with self-esteem, every feeling that comes up, every mistake that I've made and loves me no matter what. Now that's JOY.

Mel