Does Money Buy Happiness?

According to researchers like Martin Seligman, Daniel Kahneman and Ed Deiner, money may be able to buy happiness, but only to a very limited extent. On the other hand, not having money - that is, a family income of less than 30,000 a year - is related to less happiness. But luckily, once your basic needs are being met, the increase in happiness from say, $31,000 to $131,000 a year, is really not that great! Hard to believe, isn't it? Think of all of the time and energy we spend trying to attain more money, and it really doesn't make that big of a difference! The United States is a very rich country, but the overall level of happiness there is lower than in many poorer countries. So, the question is, if money can't buy happiness, what can? Things that are hard to buy.

Here are some tips for improving your feelings of happiness and well-being:

1. Develop a strong social support network.

Call your family members regularly. Make time to call and see your friends. Get involved in your community - coach a team, volunteer for a charity drive. Get to know your neighbors.

2. Acts of kindness ? random or otherwise.

Do these regularly. Hold the door open for someone. Add change to someone's parking meter. Drop off a meal for a family who is dealing with an illness. There are an infinite number of things that we can do for others every day, at little cost to ourselves, but with great reward.

3. Regularly write down the things that you are grateful for. Have a special place for this - a journal perhaps - and write down the top five things, small or large, that you are grateful for. Do this at least once per week.

4. Eat well and exercise consistently.

Just like your mother told you - lots of dark green and bright orange vegetables, at least 8 glasses of water per day, stay away from processed or fried foods, and eat sweet stuff only in moderation. Exercise does not have to be rigorous, but it should be consistent. Try to do at least 20 minutes of cardio 4-5 times per week. Try parking farther from the entrance, or take the stairs. Every little bit helps.

5. Have tools for coping with stress.

Learn relaxation techniques. Have a stress-free zone (either in your home or in nature) where it is easy for you to relax. Take a bubble bath. Call a friend. Do yoga. Rather than wait until you become stressed, be proactive and develop several relaxation tools that work for you and use them regularly. You'll find that you will get stressed less often this way. Also, remember that caffeine is stress in a cup.

6. Enjoy momentary pleasures.

Stop and smell the roses. Seriously. When you see a flower, don't walk on by. Stop. Look at its beauty. Smell it, and enjoy. When you go for a massage, don't think about all the things you have to do after, just focus on how nice it feels to be pampered at that moment.

7. Do new things.

Try a new sport, go to the theatre, go somewhere new for your summer holidays. Read a new kind of book, eat at a different restaurant, try listening to a different kind of music. We get habituated to the familiar - note the difference between the excitement you feel the first time you experience something new and the fifth time you experience it.

8. Forgive people who have wronged you.

You don't have to forget, just forgive. It takes a lot of energy hanging onto grudges and bad feelings. Think of all the happy things you could do with all that freed up energy!

9. Learn how to be more optimistic.

Yes, you can learn how. You need to pay careful attention to your thoughts so you can inspect them and refute the ones that aren't working for you. This takes practice; don't be afraid to ask for help with this one.

10. Get a coach.

A coach can help you implement systematic (and fun) strategies for improving your happiness and well-being.

It is widely agreed that there is a natural set-point range within which our happiness levels are likely to fall, and this is unique for each of us. But with knowledge and practice, we are able to ensure that we spend most of our time at the uppermost limits of our happiness range. Courses and coaching are available and measurable results have been proven to work. Go to www.get-happier.com for more information on a tele-class series (you just have to get on the phone) that can help you get happier immediately.

Dr. Gayla Swihart DeHart, from Vancouver, Canada, is a Professional Coach with a Ph.D. in Psychology. She helps busy professionals manage stress, improve goal-setting and follow-through, develop emotional intelligence, and increase life and work satisfaction. More information on Dr. DeHart and her services can be found at http://www.AchieveExcellence.ca.

---

Could Your Thoughts Sabotage Your Happiness? Take This Quiz And Find Out

Women are conditioned to be people pleasers. Women are taught... Read More

Self Confidence, Happiness, and Posture

Our use of body posture plays a key role in... Read More

Happiness as a Habit

Health and Happiness are the two things that most people... Read More

Quick Steps On Being Happier

Want to be happier?Edward W. Smith, motivational speaker, author and... Read More

How Do You Define Happiness?

I ran a contest in "Your Daily Dose of Happiness"... Read More

You Can?t See Your Own Eyes

My friend called me this morning from her favorite coffee... Read More

Ways to Bring Play into Your Life

1. roll around in the grass, and don't brush the... Read More

The Capacity for Happiness and Respectability

Humans are liable to experience a variety of afflictions, but... Read More

Discover a Momentary Miracle

Each moment is filled with miracles - very special treasures... Read More

Its All About Me: Why Its Good to Be Selfish

I started thinking about this topic during a discussion of... Read More

Gratefulness

Gratefulness brings a great fullness to life. The choice to... Read More

Happiness Without Prescription

As life and lifestyles speed up, so does the growing... Read More

Free Tips To Improve Self Confidence

1. DRUNK!At the age of sixteen I was invited out... Read More

Reframing with NLP For Enhanced Happiness

I used to work for the Independent National Newspaper in... Read More

Love is All You Need

Boiled down to all of our essence, all we really... Read More

Happy Buttons

What makes you happy? What are the simple pleasures that... Read More

Divining Your Life Path Number

The Life Path is determined by the sum that is... Read More

There is a Cure for the Summertime Blues

I have never lived anywhere else where when you walk... Read More

Love and Laughter ? Celebrating the Gift of Life

Only you can call me into aliveness. Each time... Read More

Are You Doing What You Love?

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the... Read More

Why Laughter Is Good For You

How Laughter Can Reduce Stress and Improve Your HealthA merry... Read More

Happiness Versus Pleasure

We are a pleasure seeking society. Most of us spend... Read More

King Solomons Mind

"Don't you understand, everything in this life is meaningless," cautioned... Read More

Seven Steps to a Better Day

Are you tired of the same routine day after day?... Read More

Forgive to Succeed - Im Talking to the You Behind Your Eyes

If your blood is still pumping through your veins, you... Read More