Categories: Headshots Austin TX|Photography

Want To Be Happy? Here’s What Scientists Know That You Don’t

We’re inundated with advice as to how to find happiness. Almost everyone has a theory. Most of those people don’t have a clue. So, here’s some advice from some neuropsychologists who do.

4. Touch

As humans, we need to feel acceptance and love. Without it, it is literally painful. Scientists tested people with a ball tossing video game. They were told they were playing “catch” with other people. In reality they were playing against a computer that purposely did not throw the ball to them. Their brains, when tested, responded to the rejection in the same way as if they experienced physical pain.

3. Give A Name To Those Negative Feelings

If you feel bad, what are you really feeling? Angry? Sad? Anxious? Scientists discovered that when a person was able to identify the feeling, it lessened its impact. This idea is both utilized by FBI hostage negotiators as well as in the practice of mediation.

2. Makeup Your Mind

It’s not a coincidence that after making a big decision, your mind often feels at rest. Science supports the finding that making decisions reduces both worry and anxiety.

With that said, the act of deciding can be difficult. Science has an answer for that too. Strive for a “good enough” decision instead of the best decision. Being a perfectionist can be stressful. Often a “good enough” choice is often good enough.

1. Here's The Most Important Thing You Can Ask Yourself If You Want To Be Happy

“What Am I Grateful For?”

There is science behind this suggestion. Gratitude boosts production of dopamine. But, there’s more. It’s not actually the act of finding something to be grateful for; it’s the searching that counts. The act of remembering what to be grateful for is a form of emotional intelligence. As our emotional intelligence increases, the neuron density grows. That means it takes less effort to be grateful.

Gratitude does more than just make your brain happy. It also creates a positive feedback loop in your relationships.

In summary:

Express gratitude in your everyday life. When life becomes too much, label what you’re feeling. If you need to make a decision, make a “good enough” one. When you can, reach out and touch someone.