La felicità è un concetto complesso. Tuttavia, sia nella conoscenza popolare che nella scienza sembra esserci un certo consenso su tre elementi che sono onnipresenti in qualsiasi concezione di felicità. Qui ti spieghiamo quali sono i tre ingredienti della felicità secondo uno studio scientifico sviluppato per decenni dall'Università di Harvard. Lo facciamo in stile Speak Up: combinando informazioni attuali e interessanti con la pratica dell'inglese.
1. MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS
In 1938 a group of researchers from Harvard University took a group of over 300 teenagers from affluent backgrounds and a group of over 300 teenagers from poor backgrounds and embarked on the longest study of adult development that has ever been done.
Much to the researchers’ surprise, they found that the most important factor for being happy was not related to money or professional success, but was in fact related to having meaningful relationships with others.
The people in the study who had meaningful connections in their lives tended to be happier. But this wasn’t the only interesting thing that they found. They also discovered that being happy contributed to being healthy.
This doesn’t mean that happy people were immune to serious illness and conditions. It just meant that the happier people were, the more likely they were to overcome illness or cope with illness, even in the cases where the illnesses were life changing. Similarly, the study also found that people with meaningful human relationships were better at coping in times of stress or trauma.
Since the study began it has grown. The wives and children of the original teenagers have also been enrolled in the study and so data is still being collected today.
Do these results mean that people who are single, from small families or who live alone are doomed to be unhappy? Absolutely not! Robert Waldinger, the director of the study, stresses that meaningful relationships can be with anyone, whether it’s friends, fellow members of a club you belong to, or even the person who serves you coffee every morning.
2. PURPOSE
Another ingredient that seems to be a major factor when people are asked about their perceived levels of happiness is having a sense of purpose. And what does that mean? It basically means having a reason to get up in the morning.
Many of us gain our sense of purpose from our work, it gives us structure and goals and meaning to our day-to-day lives. However, there are many other things that can give us a sense of purpose. Here are some examples:
Creative Pursuits
Playing a musical instrument, knitting a jumper, making a shelf or even moving your plants around in your living room can give you a kick and a sense of satisfaction. Getting creative in whatever way suits you.
Volunteering and Community Service
Volunteering for charitable organizations, participating in community projects, or engaging in activism can provide a strong sense of purpose through making a positive impact.
Family Relationships
Raising children and creating a nurturing home environment can provide a profound sense of purpose, but so too can looking after loved ones, whatever generation.
Religion
Participating in religious practices or being involved in church activities can bring us a sense of purpose. Meditation can also offer a sense of well-being.
Health and Wellness
Personal fitness and being committed to a healthy lifestyle that prioritizes health, nutrition and mental well-being is good for offering us a sense of accomplishment and purpose.
Environmental and Animal Welfare
Looking after our world, and/or the animals in it, also provide us with a sense of contributing to the greater good, whether this be planting trees, recycling, or volunteering at the local animal shelter.
Hobbies and Interests
Having a passion project whether it’s gardening, cooking or collecting things, all these can provide joy and a sense of satisfaction.
Helping Others
Random acts of kindness like helping a neighbour, donating to a charity or helping friend in need, can provide both immediate and lasting feelings of purpose.
3. PERSONAL GROWTH
Aside from looking at ‘happiness’ in general, there are lots of researchers who have looked into things like well-being, motivation and life satisfaction. For me, their findings go hand-in-hand with the sense of purpose and connection. However, I think it is worthy of a mention in a separate section just because it there is so much evidence out there to support the idea.
What is the idea? Researchers have found that you are more likely to be satisfied in your life or your work if you fill your life with manageable challenges. These challenges can come from work, where you attain new goals and learn new skills. However, they can also come from personal goals and challenges that you set yourself, whether this be pursuing degrees or certifications or setting yourself goals to lose some weight, get fitter, keep the fridge tidy or learn a new skill that brings you joy and a sense of achievement.
I think that there is a lot of overlap in all three of the ingredients. If you have good relationships with people, then you are likely to have to help them out in some way at some point. This will give you a sense of purpose. If you join a golf club, then you are going to form meaningful connections and also challenge yourself to improve your game, which contributes to personal growth.
Whatever the ingredients, one thing is sure. We need some kind of connection to people and the world to increase our chances of feeling happy. Perhaps next time we see one of our neighbours looking a little blue, we could stop for a chat. That two minutes of interaction may make the world of difference.
- For more information about the Harvard Study, please see the TED TALK What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness by Robert Waldinger. Apart from being an informative TED TALK, Dr Waldinger oozes happiness and is a pleasure to listen to.