Happiness Keys: Gratitude, Kindness and Choosing to be Positive
Online Self Help with David Yarian Ph.D.
A recent article in the American Psychological Association Monitor (October 2006, p. 34) reported on ongoing research by Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a psychologist at University of California - Riverside. Her research suggests that increasing long-term happiness is possible -- and that it can be done through conscious efforts, such as counting your blessings, performing kind acts and reinterpreting situations in a more positive light.
In one study she asked psychology undergraduates (never-ending source of human guinea pigs for psychology research) to make a weekly gratitude list -- five things they were grateful for. Those who did this rated themselves significantly happier than before, at the end of the 6-week study. "It’s hard to feel envy, greed, or bitterness when you’re grateful," Lyubomirsky explained.
Another study asked participants to perform acts of kindness. The group which did five acts of kindness per day experienced a significant increase in well-being. Dr. Lyubomirsky observed that "kindness can jump-start a whole cascade of positive social consequences. Helping others leads people to like you, to appreciate you and to offer gratitude."
These studies report what many have always "known" -- that doing good deeds, being grateful for blessings received, and choosing to look on the bright side of a situation lead to lasting happiness and well-being.
A significant aspect of this research is the fact that the benefits occurred whether the subjects wanted to do the activities or not. Simply choosing to be grateful, choosing to do kind acts can lead to increased well-being!
More resources are listed in The Guide to Self Help Books. Relevant sections of the Guide include Self Esteem and Self Confidence, Positive Psychology, and Success and Personal Effectiveness.
