The science of happy
By Maya Borgueta
When it comes to the search for happiness, it seems like everyone has something to say on the matter. Spiritual leaders and soft drink manufacturers alike claim to hold the elusive key.
The reasonably thoughtful person recognizes that not all of this "wisdom" is created equal. The Dalai Lama's message of compassion and simplicity rings truer than Pepsi's 2007 ad campaign suggesting its cola makes consumers "More Happy." At the same time, the roar of conflicting messages about the path to happiness can be deafening. How do you sort through the noise, and apply the best of this wisdom to your life?
One answer can be found in the budding positive psychology movement, where researchers have begun to apply scientific principles to learn about happiness and well-being. Happiness, they have found, comes from attaining a balance between pleasure, engagement and meaning in one's life.
Pleasure, of course, is what most of us think of first when we think about happiness - the enjoyment we feel when we dance, have a good meal or fall in love. But even more important is the sense of engagement we feel when we are truly present in the moment. This is often experienced as a state of flow, or that sense of timelessness that athletes describe as being "in the zone." Meaning is the third crucial piece of the happy life, providing a sense of purpose, and a connection with something greater than ourselves.
The specific ingredients that combine to create this happy trinity vary by individual; with our values, tastes and personal strengths all playing a role. However, positive psychologists have identified some common factors, such as a sense of gratitude and an ability to savor small pleasures, that contribute to happiness in most people. They've also identified ways to help people build these skills for use in their everyday life.
Their prescriptions often come from folk wisdom that has been put to the empirical test. For example, renowned positive psychologist Martin Seligman at the University of Pennsylvania invited volunteers to participate in an online study to "count their blessings," literally listing three good things that happened to them every day for a week.
The results were impressive; not only were participants happier than a placebo control group one month later, but they continued to become increasingly happier at three and six month follow-ups.
The simple yet profound nature of such exercises has a great deal of relevance to the lives of college students who are often seeking tools and guidance on how to live happy and meaningful lives, but are short on the time that they might dedicate to such a prospect.
The interested student may refer to Seligman's "Authentic Happiness" or Sonja Lyubomirsky's "The How of Happiness." These self-help books are unique in that they are written by leading positive psychologists, and the exercises they recommend are based upon scientific research.
For those more inclined toward a real-world experience, CAPS and the Wellness Center are co-sponsoring a six-week workshop called "Get Happy." This seminar will meet weekly beginning Oct. 18 to practice happiness-inducing exercises and help students incorporate these tools into their everyday life.
Regardless of how your life is going today, we all have room to add a little more pleasure, engagement and meaning to our lives.
Maya Borgueta, M.A., M.S., is a psychology intern at Counseling and Psychological Services.