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Yale Happiness Lab: “well known that living through hard circumstances can make us happier because it teaches each of us to be grateful for so many things in life." In studies, gratitude, consistently comes top of the list of what makes humans truly happy. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/yale-professor-laurie-santos-happiness-lab-podcast-on-how-to-be-happy-now-6p5q5p0vs
2/ One of the misconceptions about happiness is that it comes down to our circumstances. “In fact, the data suggests that with a little time and the right practices [as long as we have a roof over our head and our basic needs met], we can thrive in whatever situation we are in.”
3/ “there is also a lot of work on post-traumatic growth.. we have a psychological immune system. When things get bad, we rationalise, we figure it out, we are actually a lot stronger and more resilient than we think. We learn better habits and come out better on the other side.”
4/ 10% of happiness is determined by circumstance, while 40% is determined by our thoughts, actions & attitudes. Remaining 50% is determined by our genes.
Her message is that we hugely underestimate the effect that simple habits can have on our feelings of wellbeing.
Her message is that we hugely underestimate the effect that simple habits can have on our feelings of wellbeing.
5/ Habits of happy people:
1. enjoy good social connections & tend to be “other oriented”: they think about other people more than themselves & tend to engage in random acts of kindness.
2. a mindset of gratitude, of self-compassion (they aren’t too hard on themselves)...
1. enjoy good social connections & tend to be “other oriented”: they think about other people more than themselves & tend to engage in random acts of kindness.
2. a mindset of gratitude, of self-compassion (they aren’t too hard on themselves)...
6/ Habit of happy people (cont'd):
2. & of being “present” - they don’t spend too much time dwelling on the past or worrying about the future) & tend to be involved in projects they find rewarding.
3. healthy lifestyle habits, including daily exercise, meditation, enough sleep.
2. & of being “present” - they don’t spend too much time dwelling on the past or worrying about the future) & tend to be involved in projects they find rewarding.
3. healthy lifestyle habits, including daily exercise, meditation, enough sleep.
7/ There is plenty of research to show that when normal routines are broken, as they are now, this is the best time to form new and lasting habits.
If you look at it from this perspective, Prof Laurie Santos says, “this crisis — in certain ways — can be a gift”.
If you look at it from this perspective, Prof Laurie Santos says, “this crisis — in certain ways — can be a gift”.
