Archive for August, 2011

Daniel Gilbert of Harvard wrote a book titled “Stumbling on Happiness” (2006), in which he described errors humans make in their pursuit of happiness. One common mistake he mentioned involves thinking that specific future events will affect our level of happiness for longer than they actually do. This overestimation bias applies both to positive future events and negative future events. As a practical matter, that means that winning the lottery or getting married is not likely to make you happy for long, and that losing your job or a limb is not likely to make you unhappy for long. Humans tend to revert to their typical level of happiness after major positive and negative events. I have seen that happen in my life. Keeping this estimation bias in mind may help us predict our future reactions better and make our current emotions more realistic. Ability at this type of prediction may be part of emotional intelligence.  Have you anticipated more happiness or unhappiness to result from a future event than you actually experienced?

For an interview with Gilbert about the book, see http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=3027&Itemid=0&limit=1&limitstart=0.

John Malouff, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology

Positive psychology is hot now in research and in the broader culture. One of the goals of positive psychology is to help individuals feel happy. I have been reading “The Art of Happiness” by the Dalai Lama.  He suggests having compassion for others and accepting that our lives will involve suffering as methods of achieving happiness.  I like those ideas; also, I have found that it helps to do things I enjoy, including helping others.  I recently received a message from a student, Kimberley Coulter, stating how she keeps happy.  Here is what Kimberley wrote:

“Here are some of the ways that I try to create and experience happiness:

1. Initiate kindness, but don’t expect anything in return.

2. When I feel sad I go for a walk (with my dog Lilly). I try to focus on my surroundings — sights, sounds and smells. Usually a positive strategy, but not if another dog tries to bite Lilly!

3. No one is happy all the time. I allow myself a certain period of time to think of the negatives, but then move on.

4. I try to seek the bright side of most situations.

5. Count my blessings (my grandmother’s favourite — obvious, but works).

6. I try to take responsibility for my own actions

7. I try to focus ahead,and not dwell on mistakes. We all make them, but it is what we do about them that counts. Past mistakes are building blocks that help me become a better person.

8. Achieve goals (I’m trying!) and keep learning.

9. Keep connected. — spend time with people I love and who love me.

10. Dare to step outside what is old and safe — take a risk and try something new.  May work — might not, but still worth trying.

11. Laugh.

12. Reflect and write in my journal.

I like to think that we all have unlimited positive potential (ever the optimist!).  One of my favourite quotes, from Buddha,  is:  ‘Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.’”

What methods have you found that  increase your happiness?

John Malouff, PhD, JD, Associate Professor of Psychology