Keys to happiness

If you would like to be happier, then you should read this. You might have tried different methods of making yourself happier: you might have watched tens of episodes of “Seinfeld”, “Friends”, and many other similar TV series. It didn’t work. You might have eaten a dozen of chocolate bars and ice creams. It did not work. Maybe you are depressed like other millions of people, or maybe you are just looking to perform a new activity. There are five ways through which the scientists believe that you can change your overall happiness level.

The first key to happiness might be a strange one because it involves your parents. The genes are extremely important when it comes to different sorts of things. For example the genes might be responsible why some people tend to be happier than others, why some are more physically attractive then the others and so on. However, if one has genes which make him happier, that does not mean that he will be immune to different external factors. He will be influenced by different factors just like any other person, the only difference being that he is more predisposed to laughing and having a good time, no matter the circumstances. On the other hand, there are various people which do not enjoy themselves as much as the other ones, without a particular reason. These people might be more predisposed to being gloomy, and sad. The scientists believe that one day; they might be able to alter the genes in order to cure the people from chronic depression. They observed that the mice that had certain genes missing were less likely to become depressed, and this might be applicable in the case of the humans as well.

Another method of keeping yourself happy is to share with other people. It is said that spending as little as $5 on a different person will make you happier during the course of a day. Being selfless can also help your marriage, because the bond between the husband and the wife will be increased. When a person performs a good deed he is happier because he feels like his life has more purpose. However the scientists have not analyzed if the people who declared themselves happier by helping other people expected something in return for their act. It has been revealed that the people who perform these selfless acts feel better about themselves because they have the feeling that they have made a difference. However there are some people who do not become happier by helping people. Some people are simply happier when they perform selfish acts.

The mind is extremely important when it comes to the happiness of the people. Simply using your imagination can make a huge difference. We can endure more than anything if we use or mind. It has been revealed that many prisoners of war or people who have been in labor camps have used this method in order to escape their reality. They might imagine different things and made up different scenarios in their mind in order to escape from the harsh realities of the world.

Even the people who are in very bad situations might not be affected by them as long as they have a certain state of mind. It’s all related with the way in which we see and we react to the events. It is said that “It’s not what happens but how you react that counts” and that is true. A pessimistic person will always see the negative things in life and as a result he will be unhappy most of the times. On the other hand, an optimistic person will be happier in most of the cases because he sees everything in a better manner.

Another way of increasing your overall happiness level is by working out. Counseling, and medications combined with physical activities can really make a difference in the case of the depressed persons. The reason for this is that by working out the people feel less lonely and less vulnerable than the ones who stay inactive most of the times. The physical exercises are very important because they influence two chemicals in the body: endorphins and cortisol. Cortisol is produced when the people become angry or scared. When cortisol levels are increased the blood sugar and the blood pressure are increased as well, and as a result the people can develop various illnesses. When a person works out, the cortisol levels are released, and they reach the normal levels again. Endorphins are released when one person performs physical activities such as running, swimming, lifting weights, or even playing certain sports. The endorphins are the natural pain relievers of the body. The weight lifting sessions should be strongly related to the level of stress, and they should always vary. The body must always be challenged to new exercises, otherwise it can get used to a certain kind and they will stop being effective.

If you are using all the mentioned methods and still feel depressed, all you need is time. The depression occurs mostly in the males over 40 and in the females over 50. However it has been proved that when people get older they tend to eliminate the negative feelings and as a result they become happier. Even the persons, who have been pessimistic for most of their lives, become optimistic when they reach a certain age. The people become more optimistic as they reach a certain age especially the ones who have survived various diseases and illnesses. These people are proud of themselves and of what they achieved in their lives and as a result they are happier. In the end, it seems that happiness is related to time.