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<\/p>\nEveryone enjoys being happy, but keeping a positive state of mind isn\u2019t always easy. Do you need to switch careers, take a sabbatical, or buy a new car? Maybe you think you can\u2019t truly be happy until you\u2019ve found the right partner? It\u2019s important to be proactive about our mental health, but often the ideas we have about what we think will make us happy don\u2019t actually lead us to long-term fulfilment.<\/p>\n
Happiness research is a growing field of psychology that looks at the universal factors human beings need to improve their sense of well-being. In the past few decades, the scientific study of the topic has exploded and there are now countless research papers into the tools we need to construct a happier life.<\/p>\n
In a new book titled The How of Happy, public health expert David Conrad and comedian Ariane Sherine deconstruct the confusing world of happiness literature, setting out a clear path to feeling good. Rather than hoping for the right set of circumstances to magically show up, the authors believe that we can all take conscious steps to cultivate a more fulfilling life. Here, we spoke to Conrad about the proven things we can do today to harness more of life\u2019s happy moments.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s easy to promise yourself that you\u2019ll be happy \u2018if only\u2019 you could grasp that \u2018one thing\u2019 that\u2019s slightly out of reach, but according to Conrad, the conditions for happiness are slightly more complex.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe get into the trap of thinking that there’s one key to happiness, such as changing our job or leaving a relationship,\u201d he explains. \u201cFrom diving into 50 different research studies on happiness, what occurred to me is the vast range of factors that can have an influence on our level of happiness. Often, there can be tiny things that affect our happiness that we\u2019re not even aware of.\u201d<\/p>\n
While big achievements like promotions and engagements can contribute to our sense of self-actualisation, Conrad says that a defining happiness solution is a myth. In reality, it’s a mix of lots of different things. In fact, focusing on one single driver to deliver lasting happiness will only lead to inevitable disappointment.<\/p>\n
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Acts of kindness don\u2019t just make the world a happier place – studies have found that they can have a major effect on our sense of optimism. They can increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve our mood.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can be easy to think of the pursuit of happiness as a very individualistic and selfish endeavor,\u201d Conrad explains. \u201cWe almost feel guilty about pursuing our own happiness as it leaves us feeling as though we\u2019re not thinking about others.\u201d<\/p>\n
Want to do one single thing to improve how you feel? Conrad says that a random act of kindness is – scientifically – your best bet. \u201cThere’s some good studies that have shown that acts of kindness towards other people can have an influence on your own happiness too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Handily, they don\u2019t have to be major voluntary projects or acts of self-sacrifice either. Simply helping someone with their bags, making a round of tea for colleagues or leaving a positive review for a small business can do the trick.<\/p>\n
In the age of social media, we can have thousands of connections across multiple different platforms. It can often feel like we\u2019re never alone, but what truly makes us happy is the quality of our friendships.<\/p>\n
\u201cHappiness research makes the importance of building positive and valuable relationships clear,\u201d says Conrad. \u201cIt\u2019s almost a bit of a cliche to talk about the contrast between superficial online connections versus real life friendships, but the evidence backs it up.\u201d<\/p>\n
He continues: \u201cEssentially, it\u2019s not about the number of friends you have, but the quality of those relationships, whether that’s with your partner, friends or relatives. It’s about having connections that are positive and mutually supportive; which have value in your life.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a researcher, one of the questions that people often ask him is whether married people are happier than single people. \u201cEvidence broadly supports this idea,\u201d Conrad explains, \u201cbut crucially, it comes down to the quality of the marriage. If you\u2019re in an unhappy, poor-quality marriage then your happiness levels are likely to be lower.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether it\u2019s a new watch, a designer handbag or the latest smartphone, the desire for expensive products is one that many of us share. But how often have you wished for a new item, only to tire of it a few months later?<\/p>\n
\u201cStudies have found that luxury goods can definitely give us a little short term boost. In small doses, alongside more meaningful happiness actions, treatings ourselves can be beneficial from time to time,\u201d says Conrad.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe issue is that if you\u2019re putting all of your efforts into chasing luxury goods, then it\u2019s likely you\u2019re neglecting the other things that are going to have a bigger influence on your happiness long-term.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cOne of the more slightly unusual studies we looked at is the effect of fast food imagery on our happiness,\u201d says Conrad. \u201cThis isn\u2019t about eating fast food; it\u2019s about being exposed to fast food chain logos, packaging and branding.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 2014 study in question tested whether exposure to the symbols of an impatience culture – fast food – undermines people\u2019s ability to experience happiness from savouring pleasurable experiences. \u201cWhile it was only a small study (and you’ve always got to be cautious about what we can generalise from the results) the findings of that seem to suggest that seeing the imagery could have a detrimental effect on our ability to experience happiness.\u201d<\/p>\n
This means that people living in neighbourhoods with a high concentration of fast food outlets could have a slight disadvantage when it comes to cultivating happiness. \u201cBeing surrounded by fast food advertising is one of those things that you wouldn’t necessarily think about. Nevertheless, it could be affecting your mood,\u201d affirms Conrad.<\/p>\n
Joy is a universal feeling but the determiners can vary. This is because we all have different ideas, interests, perceptions, goals and experiences in life.<\/p>\n
\u201cA different combination of things will resonate with different people, depending on who they are and their stage of life,\u201d explains Conrad. \u201cOne of the messages I\u2019ve tried to get through in the book is that it\u2019s about finding an individual combination of things that works for you.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough unpacking the research, we\u2019ve given people tools and awareness about what might influence their happiness. From there, it\u2019s about being reflective about what makes you feel good, and what doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taking steps to be happier, Conrad says, will always work in our favour. \u201cIf you\u2019re being proactive about being happy, you’ll be doing more of the things that are going to have a positive influence on your mood.\u201d<\/p>\n
He adds: \u201cUltimately, this is always going to trump sitting around and worrying about the fact that you’re not happier, or simply hoping to be happier in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2018The How of Happy\u2019 by Ariane Sherine and David Conrad is out now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Happiness researcher and public health consultant David Conrad shares insight and proven ways to harness more happy moments in life from his latest book.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20503,"featured_media":394850,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-394847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life","category-mind"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n