The Tyranny of Choice

"Logic suggests that having options allows people to select precisely what makes them happiest. But, as studies show, abundant choice often makes for misery."
Barry Schwartz, "The Tyranny of Choice," Scientific American, April 2004

Get Older, Get Happier!

Perhaps the best news I've ever relayed: more happiness may come with age

According to a study reported by CNN.com,
# Older adults, may be better able avoid stressful situations,
which may mean less negative emotion
# They also may limit the time spent thinking about negative aspects of a situation
# Memory may also contribute to older adults' positive emotional state

True Happiness?

"Ten Keys to True Happiness" based on a study published in New Scientist include:

1.	Wealth	6.	Friendship
2.	Desire	7.	Marriage
3.	Intelligence	8.	Faith
4.	Genetics	9.	Charity
5.	Beauty	10.	Age

I Can't Get no Satisfaction?

Chris Michaud writing in the New York Post says "A surprising 94 percent of Americans say they are satisfied with their lives -- although far fewer in New York and other Eastern states think they're better off than they were five years ago, according to a new survey."

"The Harris Poll of more than 1,000 people reported the overall 'satisfaction' level, defined as people who said they were either very or somewhat satisfied with their lot, was up 4 percentage points, from 90 percent two years ago. But only 42 percent of people in the Eastern U.S. said things had improved since 2002. By contrast, 60 percent of Southerners and 62 percent of Westerners said their lives had improved."

Hmmmm, so ignore the New York Times and the other eastern media elite, and you have a better chance of grasping current reality

On "Slowing Down"

Joseph Bailey in his book “Slowing Down to the Speed of Life,” has some profound observations. “My enjoyment of life has everything to do with being ‘in the moment’ and that the only thing that keeps me (or anyone) from being fully in the moment is our misunderstanding of the nature of our own thinking--how it pulls us away from the moment, confuses us, and stresses us.

I realized that everything I ever needed is right here, right now – as long as my thinking doesn't carry me away from this moment. I learned that there is nothing in the future to rush off to that can offer me anything more than this precious moment that you and I are in every instant. I realized that, more often than not, my mind is somewhere else--a past regret or a future worry, anywhere other than right here.

My first reaction to this insight was to feel a deep sense of peace. I felt like I did in the happiest days of my childhood. I felt relaxed, at peace, fulfilled, satisfied. At the same time, however, this message made me uncomfortable for two reasons. First, it was too simple. The answer had been right under my nose all my life.

Why had I been searching so hard and stressing myself out in the process? I felt stupid and foolish. Second, as a teacher in my field, I felt not only that I had misled myself by running on the treadmill, but that I had done the same to hundreds of clients and professional colleagues as well. We had all been innocently searching
outside of ourselves.”

Maintain a Positive Perspective

Martin Seligman, Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, offers seven essential traits for living a happy life:
* Love of learning-an interest in acquiring new skills.
* Creativity-trying new things just for fun and producing something surprising.
* Humility-recognizing your own abilities and appreciating those of others.
* Humor-being able to find something amusing even in difficult times, and helping others do so, too.
* Persistence-working through to a goal despite obstacles.
* Gratitude-being thankful for the things you have.
* Forgiveness-being able to let go of hurt and anger.

Books to Explore

Books to explore:

The Loss of Happiness in Market Democracies, by Robert Lang, Yale University Press, 2001

The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less, by Barry Schwartz, Ecco/Harper Collins, 2004

More Affluence, Less Happiness

Researcher Barry Schwartz observes that "Assessments of well-being by various social scientists, among them David Myers of Hope College and Robert Lane of Yale University, reveal that increased choice and increased affluence have, in fact, been accompanied by
decreased well-being in the U.S. and most other affluent societies. It seems that as a society, at least in recent years, grows wealthier and people become freer to do whatever they want, they get less happy."

News Buyers Beware

News, by its nature, tends to be negative; there are not many programs or headlines that say that 5,000,000 people in North Carolina went to bed happy last night. Those stories do not sell newspapers or keep audiences interested. Mainstream journalism tends to cover the titillating and the sensational, like the floods, the fires, the drug wars.

It is unfortunate that these events take place, but if you let them continually bombard your psyche, then you will start to believe that the catastrophes are the only things that happen. You have to give yourself recurring sanctuaries: A day off, a weekend off, an evening off, an hour off, a few minutes in the morning. Where is it written that people have to jump up and turn on "Good Morning America?"

Contentment with Partners?

A survey of 730 adults who are married or dating conducted by the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeries finds that 59% of women and 54% of men would like to change at least one feature of their partner's face. The top five changes include:
1) hair
2) wrinkles
3) nose
4) mouth
5) eyes

Now It's Official: Time Flies

According to findings published in Scientific American, the human brain generates images faster when it experiences positive emotions. Time seems to "fly" when you're having fun! Conversely, the brain reduces the rate of image making during negative emotions. This may explain why misery seems to linger. So, Norman Vincent Peale was right all along: positive thinking is essential!