345-The Secret To Happiness

The secret to happiness is 5 words: Happiness is love, full stop. 

 

Transcript:

 

Welcome to Everyday Happiness where we create lasting happiness, in 2-ish minutes a day,  through my signature method of Intentional Margins® (creating harmony between your to-dos and your priorities), happiness science, and musings about life. 

 

I'm your host Katie Jefcoat and a Harvard study followed 724 men since they were teenagers in 1938. Approximately 60 men, now in their 90s, are still left, over 84 years. The group consisted of men from various economic and social backgrounds.  Over the years, the study has grown to their family members, more women and a more diverse population.  Every two years the researchers ask these study participants questions about their lives and their mental and emotional wellness. 

 

Vaillant  was the study’s architect.  He ran the study at the Harvard Medical School. And he says, the secret to happiness is 5 words: happiness is love, full stop. 

 

Oxytocin is the love chemical.  It is produced in eye contact and touch.  It is the gift of bonds with other people.  It’s the feeling you get when you first lay eyes on your newborn child. 

 

We are wired for love. 

 

Your time is short, focus on what matters.  How much of your life, your attention, your focus is on things that don’t matter? Ask yourself, am I spending my time too focused on other things? 

 

The biggest problem we are facing in America today from a public health perspective is a loneliness epidemic.  Depression and anxiety are rising at alarming rates especially among young adults.  53% of people under 30 confess that “no one knows me well”.  And, It’s puzzling, 43% of people over 65 feel lonely.  And what we know is that loneliness is not just rich white men in their 60’s anymore.  It’s your neighbor, your kid, your spouse, your friend, your co-worker, the barista with a smiling face at the local coffee shop.    

 

So what do we do? We make eye contact.  We show love, compassion and thoughtfulness through kindness. 

 

Until next time, look around and spread some kindness right in your neighborhood, because, as we know, kindness is contagious. 

 

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