How to Choose Happiness in Your Life

Happiness is joy, pleasure, well-being, leading better life, prosperity, freedom from suffering, and many more. We always want happiness to occupy us. Even positive thoughts make one happy. But, what is it exactly? Are we born with it? Can we study it? Can we make ourselves happier? What makes us happy? Who are happy? 

Researchers are learning more and more answers to the above questions.

Sources of Happiness:

Happier people are expected to live longer and more likely to be healthier, tend to be more successful, and more socially engaged than people who describe themselves as less happy. But can we change into happy life? And what causes happiness?

Researchers have discovered three basic sources of happiness: (1) genetics, including personality and temperament; (2) life circumstances, such as health and wealth; and (3) our own choices.

We often think if we get a better job, have more money, or fell in love, then we would be happier. At times, we underestimate how much control we have over our own happiness. A psychologist who has analyzed the study states that 50% of our happiness is set by our genes, 40% by our own actions, and remaining 10% by life circumstances beyond our control.

Though genetic factors like personality and temperament play a great role, an equal amount of role is under our own control. For, we have the capacity to decide options that can lower or higher our set point.

Psychologists find that positive emotion (such as gratitude, serenity, joy, interest, pride, love, amusement, hope, inspiration, awe) is also the symbol of a happy person. Now they are researching how positive emotions actually cause one to be happier.                                       Read more....