Behavioral Strategy: Does Money Buy Happiness?
Copyright 2005 Dr. Gayla Swihart DeHart
Achieve
Excellence
According to researchers (footnote, E.g., Martin Seligman,
Daniel Kahneman, Ed Deiner), money buys happiness only to a very limited
extent.
Not having money- that is, a family income of less
than 30,000- is related to less happiness, but once your basic needs
are being met, the increase in happiness from say, $31,000 to $131,000
is really not that great!
Hard to believe, isn't it? Think of all the time and
energy we spend trying to attain more money- and it really doesn't
make that big of a difference! The United States is a very rich country,
but the overall level of happiness there is lower than in many poorer
countries.
So, the question is, if money can't buy happiness,
what can? Things that are hard to buy.
Here are some tips for improving your feelings of
happiness and well-being:
1. Develop a strong social support network. Call your
family members regularly. Make time to call and see your friends.
Get involved in your community- coach a team, volunteer for a charity
drive. Get to know your neighbors.
2. Acts of kindness - random or otherwise. Do these
regularly. Hold the door open for someone. Add change to someone's
parking meter. Drop off a meal for a family who is dealing with an
illness. There are an infinite number of things that we can do for
others every day, at little cost to ourselves, but with great reward.
3. Regularly write down the things that you are grateful
for. Have a special place for this- a journal perhaps- and write down
the top five things, small or large, that you are grateful for. Do
this at least one time per week.
4. Eat well and exercise consistently. Just like your
mother told you- lots of dark green and bright orange vegetables,
at least 8 glasses of water per day, stay away from processed or fried
foods, and eat sweet stuff only in moderation. Exercise does not have
to be rigorous, but it should be consistent. Try to do at least 20
minutes of cardio 4-5 times per week. Park farther from the entrance,
take the stairs. Every little bit helps.
5. Have tools for coping with stress. Learn relaxation
techniques. Have a stress-free zone (either in your home or in nature)
where it is easy for you to relax. Take a bubble bath. Call a friend.
Do yoga. Develop several tools that work for you and use them regularly.
In fact, don't wait until you are stressed- you will get stressed
less often this way. Also, remember that caffeine is stress is a cup.
6. Enjoy momentary pleasures. Stop and smell the roses.
Seriously. When you see a flower, don't walk on by. Stop. Look at
its beauty. Smell it, and enjoy. When you go for a massage, don't
think about all the things you have to do after, just focus on how
nice it feels to be pampered at that moment.
7. Do new things. Try a new sport, go to the theatre,
go somewhere new for your summer holidays. Read a new kind of book,
eat at a different restaurant, try listening to a different kind of
music. We get habituated to the familiar- note the difference between
the excitement you feel the first time you experience something new
and the fifth time you experience it.
8. Forgive people who have wronged you. You don't
have to forget, just forgive. It takes a lot of energy hanging onto
grudges and bad feelings. Think of all the happy things you could
so with all that freed up energy!
9. Learn how to be more optimistic. Yes, you can learn
how. You need to pay careful attention to your thoughts so you can
inspect them and refute the ones that aren't working for you. This
takes practice, and don't be afraid to ask for help with this one.
10. Get a coach to help you implement systematic (and
fun) strategies for improving your happiness and well-being
It is widely agreed that there is a natural set-point
range within which our happiness levels are likely to fall, and this
is unique for each of us. But with knowledge and practice, we are
able to ensure that we spend most of our time at the uppermost limits
of our happiness range.
Courses and coaching are available and measurable
results have been proven to work. Go to www.get-happier.com for more
information on a teleclass series (you just have to get on the phone)
that can help you increase get happier immediately.
2005 Dr. Gayla Swihart DeHart
Dr. Gayla Swihart DeHart, from Vancouver, Canada,
is a Professional Coach with a Ph.D. in Psychology. She helps busy
professionals manage stress, improve goal-setting and follow-through,
develop emotional intelligence, and increase life and work satisfaction.
More information on Dr. DeHart and her services can be found at www.AchieveExcellence.ca
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