There is a Science to Happiness

 

At the end of the holidays, sometimes it is easy to feel low. My daughter, Bliss,  and I took down the Christmas tree today, and as always, we were both a bit sad that our favorite holiday is behind us for another year. Some people feel sad all through the holidays. Loved ones may be far away or no longer alive, or circumstances have made the season not one of celebration.

Everyone feels sad at one time or another, but some of us have suffered more than our share of being down. I thought I was going to be at the mercy of my moods for the rest of my life, but I was determined to learn as much as I could about depression to see if I could help myself. It has been quite a journey, but I can say it has definitely been a fruitful one.

It turns out that there is a science to being happy. I am so grateful for the researchers who pioneered Positive Psychology. When I was reading books by Aaron Beck and Martin Seligman years ago, the ideas they were sharing were fairly new and not widely accepted. However, today their work has been replicated by dozens of other scholars, and the Positive Psychology movement is in full swing.

The bottom line is that there are things we can learn to do to be happier. Wherever you are on the happiness continuum, you can continue to grow. For those happy people out there, I applaud you, and I am sure that you are already doing many, if not all, of the things that positive psychologists recommend we do to have happier lives. For those of you who aren’t as happy as you would like to be, there are concrete steps you can take to be happier.

The point of this post is to invite all of you to take a free course, The Science of Happiness offered by the Greater Good Science Center. Last year I started the course, but I didn’t finish, so this time I’m re-enrolling and committing myself to completing it. I can tell you from the weeks I completed the first time around, it is full of research-based information and exercises.

Winter can be a season of sadness for many, but it need not be that way. We have a lot of control over how we feel, and with the right tools, the way we feel can be amazing. Take it from someone who has lived in the dark places of the mind. If I can go from where I was to being a happy person, I know that others can find happiness, too.

Click on the link above, and it will take you to the registration page. I wish you all a wonderful new year, and may it be your happiest year ever!

Peace,

Deby

 

photo credit: Bliss Jizi