Happiness Research

Posted on by Wynne Leon

I recently heard that there’s been a shake-up in the world of Happiness research. On a Ten Percent Happier podcast on which Dan Harris was interviewing happiness researcher, Elizabeth Dunn, she said she went back to review the research done on the five things that have traditionally been recommended for improving happiness:

Practicing gratitude

Social connection

Meditation and mindfulness

Exercise

Spending time with nature

When she evaluated the research that backed up claims that those five things improved happiness according to the research standards of today, only two passed: practicing gratitude and social connection.

I know – I’d go to the mat saying that meditation, exercise, and spending time with nature increase happiness. To be clear, she’s not saying that they don’t, but that the research that was often cited to prove that they do, doesn’t pass muster.

But the research that says that practicing gratitude increases happiness does. Practicing gratitude makes me think of Brené Brown. I heard her liken practicing gratitude to doing yoga. She joked that having yoga pants in her closet doesn’t make her a yogi, you have to actually do it to get the benefit. The same goes for gratitude – you have to practice it to make it work for you.

My gratitude practice is inconsistent. My kids and I made beautiful gratitude boxes to slip little slips of gratefuls in and it sits on the shelf. But I’m reminded by this research and Brené’s quip, that there’s a lot of benefit to actually doing it.

(featured photo from Pexels)

44 thoughts on “Happiness Research”

  2. Practice makes perfect for sure. If we have the tools, skills and opportunities but don’t seize them, then nothing happens. That’s a good point about practicing gratitude as well.

    The happiness research is interesting. I can see how gratitude and social connection passes the muster and scrunity. Like you, I do feel that time in nature makes a huge difference. Will be curious to see why it didn’t have sufficient evidence. Maybe I’ll go for a walk to ponder that. 😆

    Enjoy the short Thanksgiving week ahead with the family!

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  4. Research, if done well, produces truth that must be understood within the limits of how experiments are designed. That “truth” must also be understood in terms of the impossibility of eliminating the chance of error in any single study. We, the reading public who, for the most part are unable to evaluate the design and statistical analysis of the research, are prone to finding certainty where it doesn’t exist. Science moves ahead, but in most cases, that movement takes time, repetition, and a tolerance for false starts.

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  5. When I’m in nature, I can’t help feeling thankful. And exercise triggers the release of endorphins, but it’s definitely more fun in connection with others. I’m curious how endorphins factor into the study.

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  6. That’s so interesting that the research has been revisited and doesn’t necessarily hold water. I hope they repeat the studies because I suspect the full list would be valid. Like you, I’m also a bit inconsistent, but I think even and imperfect effort is better than the alternative. 😉

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  7. So many things in life are about practice, practice, practice. What good are the tools in the toolbox if they just gather dust? Thanks for the research update, Wynne. Really interesting! 🥰

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  8. With my growing interested in science comms (and the like), I’m very heartened to hear. of such a re-evaluation! And I’m grateful, too, for the nudge to get back to my gratitude lists; they fell by the wayside a few weeks back, and … I think, in light of this post, I can feel the difference. Back to it! 🙂

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  9. I practice gratitude daily, but don’t write anything down. I like to be outside in nature every day, but not necessarily hiking through it. I’ve slacked off on meditation, so there could be improvement there. And exercise + social connection are areas that just seem to happen [or not] for me. I don’t think about them much. 🤔

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  10. You say your gratitude practice is inconsistent. I hear you. I have the same issue, but maybe it’s how you’re viewing the practice. When I read that line, my first thought was your habit of posting photos on Saturdays. To me, that epitomizes the habit of gratitude. Just a thought.

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    1. That’s so true Brian. Wynne, I think you’re more disciplined about gratitude than you realize!

      I try to journal highlights every day. Most of them are things I’m grateful for but some are just thoughts and feelings about things going on in my life. For me, gratitude is about being satisfied with what you have and not always craving more—even if you don’t take the time to write it down.

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  11. I’m with you on not being consistent with my gratitude practice. Thank you for the reminder. After reading “Flourish” by Martin Seligman has a “three blessings” exercise that I start and then forget about. He said it’s more effective than meds for well being. You right three things you’re grateful for each day and then write why they happened.

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  12. In its simplest form gratitude means saying thank you. Show appreciation to someone in your life, make them happy and their happiness is reflected back onto you. I don’t honestly know that I spend time reflecting on what or how or when I show my gratitude. I just do it because it is what I was taught to do as a human being… I am a pretty happy person generally so maybe that means I’m doing something right? 🙂

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  14. In my opinion, happiness varies so much from person to person that it would be nearly impossible to quantify. It’s very subjective and individual. For example, many find great joy in yoga whereas I absolutely hate it. I feel stressed, ungainly and bored. Meditation doesn’t work for me either unless that includes thinking about things while I walk. Just sitting and pondering life doesn’t work for me.

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    1. Oh, Margaret, you’ve hit on something so interesting. The researcher made mention of some of the same issues. She said measuring happiness was fairly easy to measure – it’s the balance of the satisfied thoughts/affect versus the non. But she said the same thing that you did about exercise and meditation – too many variants and variables! Thanks for the great comment!

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  15. When I fall off of the happy train, it is gratitude that lifts me up and puts me back on track—hands down. But sometimes I forget to remember. Meditation takes mindfulness—all gratitude takes is remembering. Thanks for the reminder Wynne!

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  18. Pingback: Well Said Saturdays – November 25 – The Heart of the Matter

  19. It’s crazy how many people need reasons to be happy while there others are just happy to be part of this world.. being a happy human being is very important, but it should be natural. Probably we need less things in life.. idk 🤷‍♂️ 😀

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