TOsome people they are born to be happier than others. There are those who sing in the shower and dance in the rain, and those who despair over a broken nail and experience a prevailing condition of pronounced gloom. But it is certain that happiness is not just something that happens to us. We can all change our habits to incorporate new ones into our lives. And if this could give us more happiness, why not try?
Conquering happiness: Happygenetics and good habits
One of the most curious frontiers of modern science is that which investigates how environmental factors and life experiences (and even emotions) can influence the activation or deactivation of our genes, without changing the DNA sequence. It is the so-called epigenetics. This applies to longevity but the propensity to happiness also seems to apply.
An ad hoc term, Happygenetics, has even been coined to imagine how an adaptive change in response to external stimuli – the environment around us, our lifestyle, nutrition, our habits, our emotions and our state of health – can affect our health and happiness. No The happiness gene – the healing power of the Happygenetica method (and Sonda) the trainer and coach Richard Romagnoli and professor Pier Mario Biava suggest 5 techniques that help generate a state of inner calm, joy and awareness. That is, conscious breathing, laughter therapy, relaxation and meditation, mantra recitation, gratitude and forgiveness practices.
Does this sound too new age? Here are some more prosaic behaviors for a happier 2025 suggested by science and collected by BBC.
1. Cultivate friendships, especially in adulthood (and advanced)
Friendship is good for everyone, but in old age it can become a particularly important source of happiness. While older adults typically reduce their social networks to prioritize time spent with those who know them well, several scientific studies find that you should never close yourself off to new friends. While relationships with family are somewhat obligatory, friendships are voluntary and free relationships, which can begin or end at any time. This is why they tend to be more fun and less tense or difficult. With advancing age, the benefits go beyond simple psychological well-being. Friendships also improve our cognitive functioning and physical health.
2. Compassion? Also practice “happiness”
Compassion is a well-known foundation of true friendship. It comes from the Latin “to suffer together”, to share pain: this special empathy helps us form strong bonds when our friends need help. But there is an opposite state, relatively unknown and equally important: “with-happiness”as David Robson wrote on BBC. It means rejoicing in the joys of friends, welcoming their good news with enthusiasm (almost) as if it were our own: that is, being good friends.
3. Volunteer
It’s a place where doing something for others makes you feel better. But it’s true. Volunteering – science says – can also help even when dealing with serious conditions such as chronic pain and depression. And if you can’t help other human beings, it is also useful to take care of animals. Last alternative? Indoor plants are better than nothing, especially in old age.
4. Rediscover your family history
The past can help the present, throughand family stories about overcoming adversity, to be rediscovered and passed down. Susan M Moore, professor emeritus of psychology at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, found that people who know their family history better have higher levels of satisfaction and well-being. Engaging in the task of researching your family tree can lead to feeling more in control of your life, along with a deeper understanding of your place in the world. SSeeing that our lives today were made possible by the struggles and fortitude of our predecessors can provide an unparalleled sense of perspective and gratitude.
5. List the good things to be grateful for
Counting your blessings is old but still valid advice. Writing a small list of the good things that have happened to you can help improve your mood. Whether it’s a life-changing event, like having a baby, or something seemingly inconsequential, like meeting an old friend or enjoying the beautiful early evening light while out for a walk, putting everything in black and white is a gesture that can make a difference.
6. Plan fun activities
According to recent rat research conducted by the University of Richmond in Virginia, those trained to wait for the reward they are more optimistic. This could also apply to us: aBy regularly anticipating pleasant activities or events we could reprogram our brain to be more optimistic.
7. Do nothing
Science also suggests that worrying too much about being happy gets in the way of achieving happiness. Several experiments have measured the disappointment of those who have implemented strategies aimed at happiness. The thesis is that increasing one’s expectations and worrying too much about the importance of happiness generates a sense of distrust and probable disappointment. The solution, according to Iris Mauss, a psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley, is to adopt a more stoic attitude and learn to accept life’s ups and downs.
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