What is the key to happiness? What makes some people happy while others continually feel depressed?
The key to happiness cannot be found in a pill bottle, nor can it be found by shopping or spoiling yourself rotten. It is definitely not in your genetic makeup, either.
What is the key?
According to research done at the University of Zurich in the summer of 2017, the key to happiness is something most people would not suspect.
In this research study, researchers gave each participant $100 and divided them into two groups. While they told the experimental group to think about spending the money on someone else, taking someone else to dinner, or being kind to another person, they told the control group to think about spending the money on themselves.
Then the researchers performed MRI scans on their brains. The scans revealed that the neurons in the area of the brain associated with generosity, the temporoparietal junction (TPI), activated neurons in the ventral striatum, the part of the brain that is associated with feelings of happiness.
Researchers also measured participants’ levels of happiness using a subjective scale before and after the exercise. They asked the participants questions and recorded their answers.
What did the results show? When people behave generously, the parts of their brains related to reward, happiness, and empathy become active.
Also, it did not matter how generous the person had planned to be. Giving away a little bit had the same effect on the brain as giving away a lot.
What does this research mean to you? You do not have to feel sad or depressed! If you want to overcome feelings of sadness and depression, you can improve how you feel without any medication and without buying yourself something new.
All you need to do to feel better is look around you and find someone you can help in some way, however small it may be. Help that person and you are also helping yourself.
Being generous and kind to others is the key to happiness.
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soar like an eagle above life’s storms.
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Just make the decision!