Jan 13, 2013

6 Things That Cause Happiness

"Positivity researchers are now turning up unexpected happiness triggers that can turn your frown upside down.  Here are six we love." Prevention Magazine, January 2013

1.  Sad Movies:  Sad movies make us cry, but when they are done, we feel better about our own lives.
2.  Getting Older:  As we get older, the research indicates that we react less to negative things we see and hear..
3.  Faking a smile:  In a study at the University of Kansas, people who forced a broad smile retained lower heart rates when exposed to stress.  So, the Alanon adage:  "Fake it until you make it" applies to smiles too.
4.  Thursdays:  London School of Economics researchers found that the 4th day of the week provides a happiness bounce.
5.  Do less for your kids:  Moms who sacrificed their own needs to provide activities for their children, tend to be more depressed than mothers who think "good enough" parenting is good enough.
(Note to Caregivers:  It would certainly seem that this might also be true for those caregivers who put off their own happiness to provide everything for the care receiver.)
6.  Read newspapers:  Reading a newspaper for news rather than watching TV emerged as the greatest difference in happiness, according to a University of Maryland study.

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