Happiness Facts - It isn’t just
a feeling.
1. Money can only buy happiness up to about $75,000 – after that, it has no significant effect on our emotional wellbeing (Kahneman & Deaton, 2010).
2. Research suggests 50% of happiness is genetic, 10% is circumstancial, 40% is determined by intentional daily activities.
3. Most of our happiness is not determined by our genetics, but by our experiences and our day-to-day lives (Lyubomirsky et al., 2005).
4. Happiness is contagious. When you are around others who feel happy, you feel more happy.
5. Trying too hard to find happiness often has the opposite effect and can lead us to be overly selfish (Mauss et al., 2012).
6. Pursuing happiness through social means (e.g., spending more time with family and friends) is more likely to be effective than other methods (Rohrer et al., 2018).
7. People tend to become happier as they age.
8. The science of happiness has opened our eyes to a plethora of new findings about what thoughts, actions and behaviors leave us feeling more fulfilled.
Julie Larson, LCSW
To begin…
Envision a time when you were happy. Were you alone? With others? Outside?
Julie Larson, LCSW
Listen to Your Needs
• Caring for yourself means responding to the unmet needs within you.
• What do your emotions help you understand about what would be comforting to you today?
• What are you missing?
Julie Larson, LCSW – www.julielarsonlcsw.com
Pro-Social Behavior
• Helping others boosts our own happiness.
• We feel a sense of reward for reassuring someone, being helpful and useful.
• Acts of kindness
• Volunteer positions
• Helps us get outside of our own stress, gain perspective, balance our hardship with intentionality
Julie Larson, LCSW – www.julielarsonlcsw.com
• Meaning and purpose of wellsprings of hope.
• When we recognize our value to someone (or something) else it gives us a place to focus that is outside of our uncertainty.
• How does the life around you still need you despite the uncertainty you feel?
• What have you been proud of?
• Are there any new travelers on your life journey?
• How have you been influenced by others?
• Is your distress trying to teach you?
• Notice your calm and peaceful moments
• Notice when you feel energy and motivated
• Notice when you feel valued
Natural ways to boost mood (and hormone levels)
• Get outside – regulate stress hormones
• Exercise, Laugh, Sob, Linger in a prolonged hug – complete stress cycle
• Complete a project - dopamine
• Snuggle - oxytocin
• Get sleep - melatonin
• Drink water - hydration
• Eat throughout the day - insulin
Cultivating Happiness Strategies:
• Practice Gratitude – trains your mind to focus on what is working for you, your blessings or where you have control.
• Practice Self-Compassion – your distress is related to factors that are outside of your control. You didn’t design this moment. Disengage with shame and blame. Be kind.
• Make space for harder feelings – notice what helps you begin to step forward again.
• Savor Daily Moments - slow down to enjoy small pleasures. Make a mental note.
• Connect with the Bigger Picture – step back from the daily grind and connect with the bigger picture of your life, your relationships, your purpose and story.
• Be consistent with basic self-care needs: Sleep, Nutrition, Movement, Connections.
Homework:
A cancer diagnosis can be a catalyst to reevaluate or step back and reflect.
Begin to consider these questions for yourself.
Start watching for moments, experiences, people, messages from others that leave you feeling calm, happy, grateful.