RAISING YOUR LEVEL OF HAPPINESS
In 2002, Martin Seligman wrote a book called "Authentic
Happiness". With the book he became the leader of the positive
psychology movement. In the book, he explains that people can raise their
level of happiness for an extended period of time and that
unhappy people do not have to remain unhappy.
He summarizes changes in external circumstances that can
effect an individual's level of happiness. Seligman also
shares some of the research that supports his information.
Here is his summary as to how to raise your level of happiness
1. Live in a wealthy democracy, not an impoverished
dictatorship. This has a strong effect on level of happiness.
2. Get married. This also has a strong effect but may not be
causal.
3. Avoid negative events and negative emotions. There is only a
moderate effect.
4. Acquire a rich social network. This has a strong effect but
also may not be causal.
5. Get religion. This has a moderate effect.
The following do not raise your level of happiness:
6. Make more money. Past a level sufficient to support yourself,
money has little or no effect on happiness. In fact, more
materialistic people are less happy.
7. Stay healthy Subjective health, not objective health matters.
8. Get as much education as possible. This has no effect.
9. Changing your race or moving to a sunnier climate also has
no effect on happiness.
Seligman points out that these circumstances are difficult or
impossible to change but generally have little effect on happiness.
In "Authentic Happiness", Seligman presents changes in one's
internal circumstances that a person can change to raise one's
level of happiness. "Authentic Happiness" was published in 2002
and his follow up "Flourish" was published in 2011.
Happiness". With the book he became the leader of the positive
psychology movement. In the book, he explains that people can raise their
level of happiness for an extended period of time and that
unhappy people do not have to remain unhappy.
He summarizes changes in external circumstances that can
effect an individual's level of happiness. Seligman also
shares some of the research that supports his information.
Here is his summary as to how to raise your level of happiness
1. Live in a wealthy democracy, not an impoverished
dictatorship. This has a strong effect on level of happiness.
2. Get married. This also has a strong effect but may not be
causal.
3. Avoid negative events and negative emotions. There is only a
moderate effect.
4. Acquire a rich social network. This has a strong effect but
also may not be causal.
5. Get religion. This has a moderate effect.
The following do not raise your level of happiness:
6. Make more money. Past a level sufficient to support yourself,
money has little or no effect on happiness. In fact, more
materialistic people are less happy.
7. Stay healthy Subjective health, not objective health matters.
8. Get as much education as possible. This has no effect.
9. Changing your race or moving to a sunnier climate also has
no effect on happiness.
Seligman points out that these circumstances are difficult or
impossible to change but generally have little effect on happiness.
In "Authentic Happiness", Seligman presents changes in one's
internal circumstances that a person can change to raise one's
level of happiness. "Authentic Happiness" was published in 2002
and his follow up "Flourish" was published in 2011.
