Podcast Summary
California wellness coaches, happiness: California is implementing certified wellness coaches to help young people build skills for improved mental health. Happiness, influenced by genetics and mindset, can be enhanced through sustainable activities and intentional choices.
While many young people struggle with mental health issues, California is taking steps to help through certified wellness coaches. These coaches work with children and youth to build essential skills for improved mental health and well-being. Happiness, a primary emotion desired by most, can be influenced by more than just circumstances. The "happiness pie" model suggests that genetics account for about 50% of our happiness, meaning our mindset and behaviors also play significant roles. Engaging in sustainable activities, like building resilience and practicing gratitude, can lead to long-term happiness. Additionally, brands like Nature's Way Alive offer simple solutions for self-care, such as their multivitamin gummies, and companies like CarMax make car shopping easier and more convenient. Overall, taking control of our happiness involves recognizing its complexities and making intentional choices.
Happiness Factors: Personal choices, including prioritizing relationships, practicing gratitude, engaging in joyful activities, prioritizing sleep, and practicing mindfulness meditation, make up 90% of our happiness and are within our control.
While external circumstances account for only 10% of our happiness, our mindset, outlook, and habits make up the majority at 40%. These personal choices are within our control, and science suggests several evidence-based ways to enhance our happiness. First, prioritize platonic relationships as much as romantic ones. This can lead to deeper connections and greater overall happiness. Second, practice gratitude regularly. Focusing on what we have instead of what we lack can significantly improve our mood and overall well-being. Third, engage in activities that bring us joy and fulfillment, even if they're simple or inexpensive. This could be anything from reading a book to taking a walk in nature. Fourth, prioritize sleep. Getting enough rest is crucial for our physical and mental health, and can have a profound impact on our happiness. Lastly, consider practicing mindfulness meditation. Studies have shown that regular mindfulness practice can lead to increased happiness, reduced stress, and improved focus and concentration. By incorporating these evidence-based practices into our daily lives, we can take control of our happiness and improve our overall well-being.
Social Connections and Happiness: Dedicating 30 minutes daily to meaningfully engage with others, prioritizing weekly in-depth conversations and monthly community-building events, and focusing on positive social relationships are the keys to happiness, according to research.
Focusing on happiness involves prioritizing social connections. This means dedicating at least 30 minutes daily to meaningfully engage with others, whether it's through a call, text, or in-person meeting. The Harvard Grant Study, the longest longitudinal study of all time, supports this notion, revealing that positive social relationships are the key determinant of happiness, surpassing the impact of wealth, careers, and material possessions. Additionally, the mappiness app research found that people are happiest when they are with their friends. To deepen your bonds, aim for weekly in-depth conversations and monthly community-building events as a host. Cultivating and maintaining these relationships not only enhances happiness but also contributes to a longer life.
Reconnecting and Generosity: Deliberately engaging with others and spending on experiences or people can lead to greater happiness than more money or material possessions
Reconnecting with others and practicing generosity can significantly contribute to our happiness, even surpassing the point where more money doesn't make a difference. As society becomes more globalized and online, deliberate engagement and spending money on experiences or other people can lead to greater joy and fulfillment. The science backs this up, with studies showing that once our basic needs are met, spending on others provides more happiness than spending on ourselves. This ancient wisdom can be found in various religions and historical texts. Additionally, investing in experiences rather than material objects can lead to greater satisfaction and less comparisons to others. Lastly, having one project or goal to actively work on can provide a sense of accomplishment and purpose, counteracting the tendency to take the path of least resistance in our free time.
Happiness types: Focusing on goals and the process of working towards them leads to eudaimonic happiness, which provides a deeper sense of meaning and purpose than hedonic happiness.
Finding meaning and purpose in life is essential for sustainable happiness. According to a study by UCLA researchers, there are two types of happiness: hedonic and eudaimonic. Hedonic happiness comes from self-gratification and pleasure seeking, while eudaimonic happiness comes from having a deep sense of meaning and purpose. The speaker encourages listeners to create goals or projects to strive towards, as the act of striving leads to engagement and a sense of proactivity. These goals don't have to be grand or daunting; they can be as simple as learning a new skill or reading a certain number of books. The key is to focus on the process of working towards something rather than relying solely on external sources of pleasure. By having something to work towards and feeling a sense of progress, we can shift from hedonic happiness to eudaimonic happiness and experience a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Nature's Impact on Happiness: Incorporating nature into daily life can reduce negative thoughts, improve self-esteem, and increase happiness through various means including soil bacteria's serotonin release
Incorporating nature into your daily life can significantly improve your happiness and mental well-being. Whether it's through rewilding yourself by touching grass, getting your feet dirty, or even smelling the bacteria in soil, the benefits of nature extend beyond just the serotonin boost from exercise. Studies have shown that those who spend time in nature report fewer negative thoughts, better self-esteem, and greater levels of happiness compared to those who walk in urban areas. Additionally, the bacteria found in soil, Myobacterium vacae, can release euphoria and serotonin when smelled, acting as nature's antidepressant. So, prioritize your outdoor time, and let nature help boost your happiness.
Outdoor lunch, sadness acceptance: Eating lunch outside and accepting sadness can significantly improve overall happiness. The former leads to greater positivity, while the latter reduces negative mental experiences.
Incorporating small changes into your daily routine, such as taking your lunch break outside or allowing yourself to feel sadness, can significantly improve your overall happiness. The study from the University of Sussex found that eating lunch outside, even in a park, led to greater happiness and positivity compared to eating at a restaurant or at home. Additionally, embracing sadness and accepting negative emotions rather than suppressing them can lead to fewer negative mental experiences and improved emotional well-being. It's important to remember that happiness is not the absence of sadness, but rather the mastery of it. By prioritizing outdoor time and allowing yourself to feel sadness, you can enhance your overall well-being and happiness. Start with one or two changes and notice the impact over time. Don't forget the importance of foundational components of well-being, such as exercise, eating well, and therapy. With small changes comes big impact and big results.
Mental health investment for youth: Certified wellness coaches and accessible healthcare solutions, like Amazon One Medical, can significantly improve mental health for youth. Expressing individuality and confidence through personal style can also contribute to overall well-being.
There are various ways to prioritize and invest in mental health and well-being, especially for the youth. Certified wellness coaches, like those in California, can make a significant difference in children and youth's lives by teaching essential skills to improve mental health. Additionally, taking care of one's health, whether physical or mental, is crucial, and resources like Amazon One Medical offer accessible and convenient solutions. Lastly, expressing individuality and confidence through personal style, as offered by Boston Proper, can contribute to overall well-being. Remember, leaving a review or sharing valuable information can help spread awareness and positivity. Stay informed, engage, and take action to support personal growth and the growth of resources that prioritize mental health and well-being.