Want more happiness?

It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more that is poor.
Seneca
c. 4 B.C. – A.D. 65

It might seem silly to ask if you want more happiness in your life. Who wouldn’t? One of the most important sentences of the U.S. Constitution reads, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” But if the pursuit of happiness is one of our unalienable rights, why aren’t more people happy?

Scientists have devised ways to measure the level of happiness and performed studies to determine happiness throughout the population. In the past fifty years, the level of happiness in the United States has remained relatively flat, despite a significant increase in material gains by the average person. The standard of living has increased dramatically, yet we’ve seen no increase in our level of happiness.

As individuals, is there anything we can do to improve our overall happiness? According to Professor of Psychology Robert Emmons of the University of California-Davis, there’s a simple but profoundly effective way we can increase happiness: show gratitude.

Quoting Emmons, “…clinical trials indicate that the practice of gratitude can have dramatic and lasting effects in a person’s life. Gratitude can lower blood pressure, improve immune function, promote happiness and well-being, and spur acts of helpfulness, generosity and cooperation.”

What does Professor Emmons recommend? The first thing is to start a gratitude journal: write down three to five things each day for which you are grateful. You should also adopt the practice of writing gratitude letters to people you haven’t properly thanked for some kindness or help they rendered.

Emmons’s studies have shown that daily thoughts of gratitude will increase your level of happiness by as much as 25%. Journaling about your gratitude a few minutes a day for three weeks has been shown to create positive effects lasting as long as six months.

Wondering what you should write about? Just take a look at your life and express your gratitude for the things you have. These daily reminders help you retrain your thoughts to focus on the positive: being grateful for what you have instead of being disappointed about what you lack. Don’t fuss over how you frame your thoughts; just be sure you honestly express your gratitude.

If you want more happiness in your life, give Professor Emmons’s suggestions a try. In time, you’ll find that these simple actions make a world of difference.

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.
Eric Hoffer
1902 – 1983