April 13, 2010

The Link Between Happiness and Your Intentional Activities   "Studies show that 50% of individual differences in happiness are determined by genes, 10% by life circumstances, and 40% by our intentional activities."    This research is from the lab of Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, professor of Psychology at theU.ofCalifornia,Riverside.   Intentional activities, aka experiences.   "People who spend money on experiences like sporting events and concerts rate themselves as feeling happier than when they purchased material things like clothes and cars, according to a 2009 study by San Francisco State University," said Dr. Sonja.    She continued, "The happiness you feel from buying something like a new car wears off after a little while, and then you're looking for the next best thing."  Sound familiar to you?   Your intentional activities are your experiences.  Remember those which bring a smile to your face - a family trip, an outing with your spouse, a family reunion, a vacation at a resort on the beach or in the mountains.  They are often planned.  These experiences bring you happiness.  How?   Dr. Sonja says that "experiences can provide happiness through memories.  They're renewable, so you're less likely to adapt to them."   Furthermore, "any activity you do with a friend [or family], whether it's grabbing lunch or running errands, will make you happier because you're strengthening the bond of your friendship....  The pleasure you get in the moment of an activity increases when you're with someone who similarly values the experience," according to Dr. Sonja.   In other words, companionship increases the richness of your experiences.      What are your intentional activities?  How can you use them to increase your happiness?     "Life without friendship is like the sky without sun."             Anonymous   "Happiness consists not in having, but in being, not of possessing, but of enjoying.  It is the warm glow of a heart at peace with itself."             Norman Vincent Peale   "To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with."             Mark Twain   "It is not length of life, but depth of life."             Ralph Waldo Emerson     I'll be the first to admit that the joy of material purchases is not long-lasting.  Oh, you think it will be - this time - but that never happens.  Instead, I look back on all the special experiences I've had with family and friends and find what truly warms my heart.  I remember with fondness those yearly summer vacations in my early years to Daytona Beach, FL with my family, then vacations to Florida with my husband and children, the New Years we spent in Mexico, the anniversary in Hawaii, and even the camping trip we took many years ago. (That's a whole other story!)    The experiences I've had with family and friends.  They bring a smile to my face and increase my happiness.   Have a fantastic week and may your intentional activities increase your happiness.   Stephanie     We grow by "word-of-email" so please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone whom you think might benefit from and enjoy it. Thanks so much! Contact Us: stephanie@7steps2abalancedlife.com