The how-to of happiness, according to experts

Researchers studying human behavior and the science of happiness have found surprising information about what makes humans happy. Barry Peterson has more.
#happiness #humanbehavior #news
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[@Pixellava]

After a brain injury I spent a few months thinking I could die. With the concrete knowledge that any day could be my last, suddenly every moment was precious. Walking outside in the morning became a symphony of wonders, every meal a mosaic of earthly delights, every friend a luminous treasure. I became grateful for every little thing in a way that kind of transcends happiness. It’s been a little over a year, and I’m still holding on to that feeling.

[@jazziew2148]

You are SO right! You got it! May you never lose that feeling & wisdom.

[@debbiesavage7107]

You may be one of the ‘lucky’ ones. 💜

[@rndmusrnm2763]

5:47 "Happiness is like a butterfly, the more you chase it the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder” - Henry David Thoreau

[@ajcraft-hello]

👏💪✨

[@susanmarie2231]

Happiness = Peace of Mind. I didn’t figure this out until later in life.

[@zyzzyvacation]

The happiest man in the world is not the one with the most stuff. It is he who needs the least.

[@stevendomenech7405]

If you want to be happier, number one is always thinking about GRATITUDE. I all day long think about all the wonderful things that come my way. Number two is your self talk , that conversation with yourself. I constantly say how grateful I am for fill in the blank. Number three is taking walks in nature and number four is keeping nice relationships with your friends.

[@cynthiahonorio9758]

John Lennon: Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears. The way to go. Choose happiness.

[@your_royal_highness]

I think when you know you have health care, retirement taken care of, college paid for, long term care paid for and yes paying much higher taxes, at least you don’t have the underlying anxiety of not having any of those guaranteed. That is a start. I also think many Europeans work to live versus life to work here. There is a willingness to look out for others versus “you’re on your own, pal.” It is relationships that matter.

[@tomtom8786]

U missed the point. It's not the financial aspect that makes u happy. They mentioned it..

[@marsukarhu9477]

@@tomtom8786 They meant buying things doesn't make you happu but being secure will... and being secure means that there will be a system to take care of you when you're sick or you're poor.

[@theushistorian]

@@marsukarhu9477 Exactly.

[@theripleyeffect5203]

My awesome dog brings happiness to our family and neighbors!

[@eddieg6436]

Very true. The U.S. is ALL ABOUT buying stuff. ……As someone with A LOT of stuff, (2 paid off houses, 4 high end cars, a huge closet full of designer clothes, high end watches, designer furniture and kitchen appliances…….it DOES NOT make you happy!!! Me remember a trip to Paris by myself a decade ago, walking around the city alone, getting lost in interesting neighborhoods…..those memories make me HAPPY.

[@sherriianiro747]

I doubt you would be just as happy if you didn't have the money - especially if you are alone.

[@peggygibbons479]

I'd like to share this with my Facebook friends & family but 50% of them don't have time to watch a 7 minute video and the other 50% have about a 30 second attention span.

[@eddieg6436]

My 87 year old mother told me on her deathbed that if you have ONE, or TWO real friends in your life you’re very lucky……REAL friends.

[@angelinimartini]

Just tell them the gist of it.

[@mariaxeniaallen]

Some thoughts: 1) We are integrated units: body, mind, spirit. If your car is not firing right, it will not perform to a satisfactory level let alone at its peak level. 2) "Happiness" is fine; at the same time, PEACE & CONTENTMENT within oneself is a serious consideration because "happiness" cannot be sustained 24/7. 3) Just because our Constitution states that we should be able to PURSUE happiness does not guarantee happiness. 4) Life is not fair, period. 5) The people who live in the "Blue Zones" of the world provide excellent examples and role models for living a life worth living. Thank you for all your research! It is not "rocket science" but so many of us are ignorant. As Aristophanes said (paraphrased) "Ignorance can be cured but there is no cure for stupidity." That said, we have great hope for a creating a life worth living!

[@bonniegaither3994]

Our government is making extremely difficult to be happy. There’s no profit in happy.

[@Lori-lp6uc]

Exactly. Those people are happy because after they've worked for 30 or 40 years, they can retire and live comfortably off their benefits. They don't have to work themselves to death just to pay for healthcare insurance. It's sad how many seniors are living in poverty, some even live on the streets because they can't afford the rising cost of health-care, groceries, insurance and housing. The government takes Medicare premiums out of their Social Security, so they have to work until they die.

[@GamerplayerWT]

Interesting that these “happiest places” have a socialized system in place. America? Listen up.

[@a.l.6176]

Sozialised Systems! No! I am from Denmark and we have a democratic system rooted in the middle.

[@GamerplayerWT]

@@a.l.6176 medical treatment isn’t socialized?

[@a.l.6176]

@@GamerplayerWT it is paid over the income tax. Sadly you pay state and fed tax which amounts to almost as much as we pay in Denmark. But you don’t get so much for your money. we have health insurance and free education including university.

[@GamerplayerWT]

@@a.l.6176 exactly: socialized

[@a.l.6176]

@@GamerplayerWT Denmark is not a socialist country. Somehow the taxes are partly used to make life easier for the tax payers. Democratic.

[@your_royal_highness]

Happiness is fleeting; I can see how a “mood” of optimism can help sustain feeling good.

[@broadcastsunny]

I don't think it's as easy to make deep connections to people today. I would like to see a study on how Americans connect today. For instance, less people trust religion but going to services is a big social connection. The post office used to be a place communities would meet up with neighbors but that has mostly disappeared as well. Where does one go to start a social connection in today's times? Library - is the only place I can think of?

[@hkkim9181]

USA rank 15th happiest country And I don't believe it I geuss it should be rank 51

[@paologallegos3315]

True! 😂😂😂

[@tomtom8786]

Depends where in the US. We as Californians are probably the happiest in the world because it's beautiful but other parts of the US not so much

[@jeraldbaxter3532]

Happines - a big part of it is to NOT be innundated, constantly, by negativity, be it the media or people on the train, etc. When was the last time you had a day free of bad news? The second thing is to not be constantly bombarded by ads. I was watching a video that talked about how bad "retail therapy" is, and it was interrupted twice, by, you guessed it, ads.

[@btsdancestudio5691]

Happy and greatful no matter what right now! No Pursuit is the Secret!

[@grumpyoldlady_rants]

Aren’t these researchers really talking about contentment? Happiness can be fleeting but being content is a state of mind.

[@ladytube64]

Get a cat !!! ❤❤❤

[@tomtom8786]

I know. Why did she say "get a dog" ? It's like everyone assumes we all like dogs. I am a cat person and would rather get a cat!!!!

[@bonniegaither3994]

One aspect of a happy country has to do with the corruption of their government.

[@WaKincaid]

Don’t worry, BE HAPPY

[@spencerdawson6536]

This Report made me Sad. Yet I am Happy when my Amazon boxes get delivered.

[@eddieg6436]

…..My older sister has 3 Chanel bags, an Hermès Birken bag, Gucci bags, designer clothes, about a hundred pairs of designer shoes……..and she is NOT a happy person.

[@susanmarie2231]

Finland also has one of the highest suicide rates. Why don’t they mention that? Slanted reporting.

[@rachelr8837]

All of the messages we receive is about buying a home, home improvement. If u do not have a house, there must b something wrong with u.

[@Metonymy1979]

Um hello, this is missing a huge part. Happiness is easier with national healthcare, help before and after pregnancy, free education and opportunities. Thats it. When you don't have to worry about healthcare debt, childcare debt, educational indentured servitude, and opportunities to change, you're more likely to be around more people. Thus being happy. HELLO!! THATS WHAT THOSE COUNTRIES HAVE THAT WE DON'T. Bad reporting

[@heidikamrath1951]

Spot on

[@susanmarie2231]

Why don’t they mention that Finland also has one of the highest suicide rates?

[@Lori-lp6uc]

Exactly. No one can find happiness while they're drowning in debt. The cost of living keeps rising meanwhile, businesses are closing. People are unable to find work that pays a living wage along with benefits. Seniors are having to go back to work just to pay for groceries and supplement their SS and Medicare. Teachers are unable to teach because the students are brainwashed by social media and becoming violent, defiant delinquents. No one wants to take responsibility for the troubles in the world. We all have to work together to make things better for everyone...not just the super- wealthy

[@kathleengreer4639]

Does this means that extroverted people are happier than introverted people? Sometimes it is very difficult for introverts to pursue and cultivate relationships with other people.

[@pamberry6354]

'A firm grasp on the obvious....'

[@susanmarie2231]

Finland, the “happiest country”, also has one of the highest suicide rates. Why isn’t this paradox mentioned?

[@GreenGiant2007]

I was wondering the same thing.

[@megnelli]

Happy is simply one emotion. It’s extremely immature to think the goal of life is to be happy because life isn’t about continuous happiness. It contains all emotions that our bodies contain within our nervous systems. The goal should be equilibrium in ourselves to maintain a sense of peace between our inner world and the outside. Anything else is just life having ebbs and flows!

[@sherriianiro747]

I hate to say this but most people do not have a "safety net".

[@lemarginalmagnifique8547]

C'est compliqué comme sujet le bonheur, mais, personnellement, je conseille le livre "RÉUSSIR SA VIE", de Nathan Stone. Il y a tout ce qu'il faut savoir, clair, pas de discours superflu, le top. Il cerne bien tous les aspects et ça peut convenir à tout le monde, c'est ça qui est bien !

[@LauraB.335]

Happiness has absolutely nothing to do with the body or the outside world. We are already supremely happy, and it’s about recognizing that nothing outside can impact that, but it takes practice, because we’re so used to blaming everything outside for how we feel: “You made me angry!” That isn’t true. It’s my thoughts about what someone said that I’m reacting to, and when I realize the thoughts mean nothing, I don’t have to react to anymore.

[@dixiebrick]

Happiness is living life on your terms, depression is living life on someone’s else’s terms.

[@MariaMartinez-researcher]

Depression is not solved by an act of will. If it is, it was not depression, but just a down time. The only thing depressed people can do in their own terms is seek medical help - but if you are really depressed the idea of seeking help won't occur to you. Only the people who don't know what depression is can say that it can be solved by a simple change of perspective.

[@margo3367]

When something happens to you or you become seriously ill people who care about you (or purportedly care about you) breathe a little sigh of relief it’s not them - and that’s ok; it’s self-preservation. Speaking of the self, self-reliance is the sweet spot. Without that, you’re sunk.

[@breal7277]

Amen to that!

[@janespitfire9884]

well alone despite adult and mean children. i just deal with it and move on

[@EvolvedBonobo]

Happiness = Reality - Expectations

[@belessbutbetter]

The expression is *be* happy, and not “do” happy. 🙂

[@MrKansaitim]

The US constitution needs an update: the pursuit of consumerism and debt is the American dream.

[@bennorwood8433]

I do think The Scandinavian nations deserve to be high on the list but I think America despite its fault to being number two or something anyway maybe if we got high speed trains and did better to improve our cities maybe we would rank higher

[@a.l.6176]

Get rid of your drug and housing problem would help more than fast trains.

[@tomtom8786]

@@a.l.6176and who r u to give advice? I'm sure a country where u live has tons of problems!

[@tomtom8786]

@@a.l.6176Denmark is boring and the weather sucks! California is way better to live in! I love it

[@Sailingbill1]

Who is the sourpuss with the pocket square.... Dude, smile...!! Honestly, its not so bad. ;-)

[@peggyokelly2118]

They stay in the house... It is too cold to go outside and enjoy

[@JannatulFerdousJemi]

i am here to improve my english :D

[@mhenry4248]

I tried every avenue to happiness, but only achieved it by my relationship with Jesus Christ

[@susansantana4454]

Babies cry as a form to communicate! This guy is Harvard educated? Oh dear god!

[@nicholasrice8693]

The news is the reason no one is happy… lol

[@paulchezkari6952]

It helps that Fins pay 65% Taxes for benefits. Too many drug addicts, homeless don't pay any taxes in USA.

[@anwiycti1585]

Happiness is not to be pursued 😂😂

[@paologallegos3315]

America is the saddest country 😅

[@tomtom8786]

California is beautiful and the best place to live in! So you are wrong. Go educate yourself and don't believe fake news

[@supernaturedesign]

get a dog yeahhh!!!!!

[@amyneal]

Barry, the reporter, doesn't seem very happy. Never smiled once.

[@disastermaster3K]

The secret of happiness is uploading the same video twice. Am I right CBS?

[@rachelstark2391]

One's true emotion could be sadness and utter depression... this segment was completely useless.

[@SusanKing-kx5tw]

TO BE HAPPY ALL YOU NEED TO DO WHEN YOUR FEELING DOWN OR UPSET OR WHATEVER THEN COUNT ALL THE BLESSINGS ONE BY ONE AND SEE WHAT GOD HAS DONE ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏👌👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@DickNasty480]

Thank you for covering up those arms Dana Jacobson