If life is the trip and happiness the destination… are we there yet?

[Photo from Stock_xchng – Freedom by Sopeluk [id 1050406]

While most psychologists agree that a person’s set point of happiness is largely genetically determined, some psychologists believe it can be altered. Known as Positive Psychology, this school of thought has even found its way into a new class at Geelong Grammar School here in Victoria.

The father of the field, US Psychologist Dr Martin Seligman, suggests that our happiness is made up of three elements: Genetic predisposition; Our circumstances; Controllable factors that we can work on enhancing.

Of course we are all interested in how to get more pleasure out of life and in a recent article by Dr Seligam, he identified three key points to focus on:

* Savoring experiences
* Engaging more in what we do (activities that employ our strengths and we can lose ourselves in);
* Finding ways to make life meaningful (through gratitude, altruism or kindness).

SOME OF THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN DO TO ENHANCE HAPPINESS

1. List three things you are grateful for:

Psychologist Sonia Lyubomirsky from the University of California has found ‘counting your blessings’ once a week significantly increases people’s satisfaction with life.

2. Do something that gives you a sense of Achievement
According to the Australian Unity Wellness Index, feeling that you have achieved something useful provides a sense of contentment and drive.

3. Watch a Funny Movie
Laughing has been proven to reduce stress and enhance wellbeing.

4. Have some 'down time'
Studies have shown that 15 minutes of meditation a day improves wellbeing and the immune system (Oh YES!)

5. Smile
Even if you don’t feel like it, your body will automatically responded with a dose f feel-good hormones.

6. Get in the Flow
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the worlds leading researcher on positive psychology, has found being intensely absorbed in a task leads to ‘optimal functioning’.

7. Perform a Random Act of Kindness
Put money in someone’s parking meter, mow a neighbor’s lawn or volunteer for a charity. The Dalia Lama says “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion; if you want to be happy, practice compassion”.

For more information, and to try the Happiness Test, go to www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu