Happiness

David Myers, in a postscript to the chapter on social psychological insights to the clinician, offers a view on happiness. What correlates with happiness? He makes the salient point that happiness has no ready-made formula, but certain tendencies are often found with happiness. He gives a few suggestions:

1. Understand that happiness cannot be "made". Circumstances change, wealth may fade away (although a certain level is certainly necessary to relieve misery) - people adapt.
2. Enjoy the moment. He quotes Benjamin Franklin: "[Happiness] is produced not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen as by little advanages that occur every day".
3. Be in control of your time. Happy people, he says, feel in control of their lives [contrast with learned helplessness]. Mastering one's use of time is a huge step forward (I could agree with that). Apparently we tend to overestimate what we can do in a day, but underestimate what we can achieve in, say, a year (by consistently working at something I presume. my project managers at work will be delighted to know this!)
4. Act happy. The frame of mind that results, even temporarily, can make you feel better. And as research into self-confirming behaviour shows, can in turn lead to reciprocated behaviours from others, making it ongoing.
5. Find activities (both work and leisure) that involve your skills. Myers mentions "flow", the sense of being "in the zone" - a state more easily achieved by exercising one's skills than on some of the most expensive forms of leisure, such as sitting on a yacht.
6. Physical exercise - like aerobics - endorses health and energy, and can curb mild depression and anxiety.
7. Sleep well. Happy people have active lives but make time to sleep enough - and find soltiude to recharge their batteries.
8. Close relationships are priority. An intimate friendship with someone who really cares about you is one of the best antidotes to unhappiness. Resolve to nurture close relationships.
9. Take care of the soul. Meaning in life and a reason to focus beyond oneself all predict happiness. In addition, many studies find that religious people have a higher report on happiness, in part because faith provides a support community.

And on that note I am off to nurture my close relationship with meaningful sleep, a state of flowing happiness broken only by my clock cd player that, uhmm, allows me to start the day in control of my time ...