The New Happy

Happiness is not a result of the life you have created for yourself.  

Happiness is not a result of the life you have created for yourself.  That’s what the newest brain research is concluding.  Instead, happiness seems to be something more like exercise.  It’s a skill  that you can begin, work on, and grow.  

Neurologists have uncovered certain areas of the brain that exercise happiness.  One of these  areas is mindfulness.   When we hike with mindfulness, clearing our thoughts and focussing on the sounds, smells, feel of the breeze… we are exercising our happiness-muscles.  When we focus only on our body and not on our thoughts in a yoga class, we are becoming joy-strong.   When we take a few minutes to meditate or pray or breathe, we are keeping our happiness fit and robust. 

To me, the best part about this research is the word “exercise”.   This means there is a beginner level.  (And as any experienced hiker or yogi knows, we all go back to the beginner trails and the beginner poses over and over.)  This also means there isn’t an idealized end.  We all know we probably won’t get a Barbie dream body when we exercise, but we will get a stronger and more resilient body.  The same seems to be true for happiness.  We may not get a sparkly idealized happy-life, but it is very possible to exercise your mind to create a stronger sense of well-being and emotional resilience.  

There is a path and a journey and a growth mindset.  I’m pretty happy with this new happy.  

Until next time,

Laura 

Want More? 

4 Keys to Well-Being (Greater Good Science Center) 

Training your Mind to Improve Well-being  (Harvard School of Health)  

Is it better to give than receive? How gratitude makes us happy  (Yoga Trail Talk)