‘Ignorance is bliss’ so goes the famous saying, while Ernest Hemingway once remarked happiness in intelligent people to be “the rarest thing I know”. With so much to be disappointed, frustrated, and even furious about in the modern world, can we really be informed, smart, and happy?
Well, science says ‘yes’! And, just like Jane Wurwand tells Verve this month (page 88), the key is to finding your ‘why’. According to a 27-year study by the University of Michigan, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, happiness is intrinsically intertwined with our sense of purpose, and that those who feel their lives have greater meaning are even more likely to live for longer.
Passion For Happiness
Sonja Lyubomirsky describes happiness as “the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile” in her book The How of Happiness. According to her research, our happiness is 50% genetic, 10% down to life circumstance, and a reassuring 40% dependent on what we do from day to day.
“The truth is, happiness is hard work, no matter what your IQ, age, weight or marital status,” writes Lisa Earle McLeod, author of Selling with Noble Purpose, for HuffPost. “Happiness doesn’t come to you, you have to create it.”
“Life just feels better when you have things in your hours that you want to do,” productivity expert Laura Vanderkam, tell the New York Times. “There’s moments where time almost has no meaning because we’re so happy about what we’re doing.” She goes as far as to recommend turning a passion into an obligation by way of class: “If you’ve paid for it, you’re more likely to show up.”
A 2015 paper published in The Anals of Behavioural Medicine found that the pursuit of passion lowers stress by 34% and sadness by 18%, with the positive energy continuing well beyond the time spent engaging in any given hobby or activity. Other studies have shown happy folk to have more friends and better marriages (obviously), to be less likely to get sick, to be able to better cope with stress, to make more money, and be more generous too.
Thinking Your Way To Happiness
Emotional intelligence (EQ) and happiness also go hand in hand. In his book, Improving Emotional Intelligence, Bill Murphy Jr describes emotional intelligence as “the practiced awareness of how emotions affect your communications and efforts, coupled with the use of strategies designed to leverage emotions to help you achieve goals”. It makes absolute sense that understanding and reacting to our own—and others’—feelings more skilfully creates a greater capacity to not only experience happiness, but to spread the joy.
While not everyone is born with a high EQ, just like regular intelligence, with practice, it can be improved. “One of the hallmarks of high emotional intelligence is self-awareness,” notes Mark Murphy, author of Hiring For Attitude and founder of Leadership IQ, for Forbes. “Self-awareness is a deep understanding of what makes us tick; what angers us, makes us happy, bores and interests us.” It also means that we can appraise ourselves “with greater honesty and clarity”.
And so emotional intelligence can be especially strengthened by being a better listener rather than simply waiting for your turn to speak. By ‘actively listening’ we take the time to really hear what is being said before formulating our responses. Try to maintain a positive attitude to life (though not at inappropriate times), don’t be so easily offended, and motivate others to follow their passions as you embark upon your own.
Happiness is a marathon, not a sprint. Here are a few more things to consider doing en route:
- Be thankful. Gratitude for life and all the wonderful things it brings is worth celebrating, and maybe even noting in a gratitude journal.
- Concentrate on your strengths. It’s natural to focus on our imperfections and things we fail at, but it becomes a self-fulfilling circle of frustration.
- Accept that you won’t excel at everything.
- Be kind to yourself, and others. Everyone’s fighting their own battles so empathise.
- Raise the heart rate. Exercise won’t just get you fit but reduce depression and work those endorphins.
- Get enough sleep. This ensures your body—and your brain—recovers from the day’s stresses.
- Nurture positive relationships. Socialisation makes us happier and healthier.
- Spend time in nature. Being outside for just 20 minutes boosts mood, creative thinking and memory.
- Meditate. Lower your stress levels as you take the time to focus on nothing but your breath. It literally rewires your brain for happiness.
