The January 26th, 2011 "Oprah" show provided us with a terrific review. We not only had lots of laughs but we learned a few new things. Oprah opened the show with an interview of comedic actress, film director, and producer Goldie Hawn. Goldie will be 66 years of age this year. She has partnered with Kurt Russell for the past 28 years. She is the mother of actress Kate Hudson and grandmother of 3. Goldie was raised in a Presbyterian/Jewish household and calls herself a Jewish-Buddhist. She is founder of the "Hawn Foundation" which teaches "Meditation Techniques" to 4th through 7th Graders.
As part of the show, we visited the "Happiest Town in America". It is not Franklin and it is not in Massachusetts! It is San Lois Obispo, California - A really cool place!
Here's the "Happiness Quiz" with responses following the questions:
1. Do you consider yourself "Happy"? Yes or No
2. Do you think "Happiness" is Genetic? Yes or No
3. Do you make time in your day for "Complete Silence"? Yes or No
4. How often do you have sex? Every Day or Once a Week or Once a Month or I can't remember the last time.
5. Does having children make people happier? Yes or No
6 How well do you know your neighbors? I know all my neighbors or I know some of my neighbors or I don't know any neighbors?
7. Which is the "Happiest Job" in America? Travel Agent or Clergy or Special Education Teacher or Firefighter
8. If you had more money, would you be happier? Yes or No or Makes no difference
Responses to the "Happiness Quiz":
1. Studio Audience Yes: 93% ; No: 7%
According to a recent Gallup Poll of Americans: 57% Happy; 40% Trying to be happy; 3% Are suffering
2. Studio Audience: Yes: 32%; No 68%
See Happiness Part II for a more complete answer including the "Happiness Set Point" but up to 50% of "Happiness" is Genetic.
3. Studio Audience: Yes: 29%; No 71%
A Harvard University study showed that sitting for as little as 10 minutes a day increases "Happiness".
4. Studio Audience: Every Day: 2%; Once a week: 50%; Once a month: 20%; Can't remember last time: 27%
This question and the responses produced a whole lot of giggling as well as some howls of laughter from both the studio audience and our discussion group. Everybody wanted the 2% people to identify themselves but they remained anonymous. The point of this question relates to the production of the hormone "Oxytocin". Our discussion group was first introduced to this hormone in our study of our relationships with "Dogs". Please see our "Dog" Post for a more complete discussion.
5. Studio Audience: Yes: 72%; No 28%
The response to this question is quite complex. It was briefly mentioned in our Part I film documentary and touched on in our Post. Generally, it is tough being a parent and expensive (average $250,000+ per child). In addition, many are unprepared and surprised by all that it takes to be a parent. On the other hand, there are lots of rewards and joys. Research studies have shown that parents are happiest when their children turn 18 years of age and it keeps improving from there. It's no surprise that grandparents are the happiest. Parenting, no surprise again, is hardest on women (equivalent to a second job) and especially difficult for working women. It was mentioned that having children to improve a troubled relationship usually results in an even more troubled relationship.
6. Studio Audience: All: 26%; Some: 65%; None: 9%
In general, the more neighbors you know the happier and safer you'll feel. Research studies have found that having a happy neighbor increases your "Happiness" by 34%.
7. Studio Audience: Travel Agent: 27%; Clergy 7%; Special Ed. Teacher: 54%; Firefighter: 12%
The answer is they ALL are the happiest jobs in America. Studies show that these jobs offer a great deal of "Social Interaction". It is believed this is the reason why they are among the happiest jobs. Related to this question is commuting time and where one lives. Research has found that commuting 1 hour or more each way subtracts significantly from "Happiness". Indeed, a 1 hour commute can only be offset by an approximate increase of $40,000 in annual salary. The single most important contributive factor for "Happiness" is where one lives.
8. Studio Audience: Yes: 68%; No:15%; Makes no difference: 17%
On average in the USA, "Happiness" max's out at about $75,000 for a family of four. Massachusetts, of course, has the third highest cost of living in the nation so our figure would be higher. Our discussion group felt $100,000 is a better number for our area. At this number and higher, experiences now become the determining "Happiness" factor and not more money. See the Part I "Happiness" Post for a more complete discussion of money and "Happiness". Another interesting point - Joining a club that makes you show up at least once a month has the same "Happiness" impact as doubling ones income. The reason: Social Connections.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Happiness Part II of III
Some Highlights:
Part II began with the case study of William Moyers - son of legendary journalist Bill Moyers. William grew up under ideal circumstances but it still wasn't enough. He turned to mood and mind altering self medication with Drugs and Alcohol and eventually to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) after hitting rock bottom. Since Alcohol is legal and deeply ingrained in our culture, many people become "Dependent" (8%) and another 5% drift further into the category of "Abusive". The effects of Alcoholic "Dependence" and "Abuse" are devastating to the individual, their families, loved ones, and to society. AA is a peer based support group that offers daily meetings in just about every city and town in the nation. Social Support or Fellowship is the key to AA's success and this was the point of the case study. Social interaction and support are key elements to attaining and retaining "Happiness".
Stephen Rowell was Dr. Gilbert's next case study subject. Steve suffered a great misfortune - A balcony collapsed. He would have been safe but for another individual's desperate grab. Steve suffers from nerve damage, debilitating seizures, and relentless emotional distress especially paralyzing anger. With the help of a Therapist and a five week class helping him to detach from an unproductive negative point of view, Steve alleviated his stress and anger. The key was "Forgiveness" - a letting go of the desire for revenge and ill-will toward the one(s) that have wronged you. The result for the forgiving individual is a great reduction in depression, stress, anxiety, and anger, as well as greater physical improvements, and more hopefulness. The ability to forgive is essential to "Happiness" since an unforgiving psychological and emotional attitude is effective at blocking the opportunity to achieve "Happiness".
Dr. Gilbert now turned his attention to another important element related to "Happiness" - our personal strengths. This is the realm of "Positive Psychology" where we focus and capitalize on our strengths. The basic idea revolves around character development by identifying one's strengths and then using them over and over again thereby improving not only them but also one's confidence and self-esteem. The resulting individual's psychology and emotional grounding is more solid and capable; subsequently, better equipped to handle challenges. This technique, requiring more scientific research and testing, seems to improve the individual and contributes significantly to their "Happiness". West Point employs "Positive Psychology" technique training for their cadets. A case study was also presented regarding a person undergoing long term unemployment.
Maintaining well-being is crucial to "Happiness" and Meditation seems to be an excellent technique to partially accomplish this. Meditation is a mental exercise that strengthens the capacity to remain connected to the present moment of experience. It does this by strengthening and stabilizing one's attention. Researchers are continuing to document evidence that Meditation has positive effect's on health and well-being. There is much more research to be done. A case study of an individual undergoing cancer therapy was presented.
Social Relationships - Family, Friends, Lovers, Community are critical to "Happiness". The closer the relationship the more critical it is. The case study involved a husband and wife who lost their 18 year old daughter to the West Virginia Tech. shooter. These parents suffer an incalculable grief and found a way to channel that grief into a positive consequence by dedicating themselves to a passionate cause their daughter championed. By incorporating college students in their cause and the social relationships thus established, both with the students and the beneficiaries of their altruism, enabled them to heal and achieve a sense of normality.
The Framingham Heart Study formed the basis of Dr. Gilbert's next point. It contains 6 decades worth of data on over 15,000 people. When researchers analyzed this data with regard to the social networking aspect of "Happiness", they discovered that "Happiness" may be as contagious as the "Common Cold". It can actually travel from person-to-person and farther than anyone previously imagined. In fact, our "Happiness" depends, in part, on whole clusters of people we don't even know. The degree of "Happiness" a person conveys is extended as far as our friend's-friend's-friend and affects their emotional state at least in part. We are the most social animal on the planet and "Happiness" is like a contagious connecting thread.
A surprising result of scientific research is that "Happiness" increases as we get older. The caveat being acceptable health. There is a graphical "U-bend" to "Age" and "Happiness". When we start out on adult life, we are on average, pretty cheerful. Things go downhill from youth to middle age until they reach a nadir commonly known as the "Mid-Life Crisis". As we move towards old age, we lose things - vitality, mental sharpness, and looks. We gain, however, what we spend our lives pursuing: "Happiness".
Part II began with the case study of William Moyers - son of legendary journalist Bill Moyers. William grew up under ideal circumstances but it still wasn't enough. He turned to mood and mind altering self medication with Drugs and Alcohol and eventually to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) after hitting rock bottom. Since Alcohol is legal and deeply ingrained in our culture, many people become "Dependent" (8%) and another 5% drift further into the category of "Abusive". The effects of Alcoholic "Dependence" and "Abuse" are devastating to the individual, their families, loved ones, and to society. AA is a peer based support group that offers daily meetings in just about every city and town in the nation. Social Support or Fellowship is the key to AA's success and this was the point of the case study. Social interaction and support are key elements to attaining and retaining "Happiness".
Stephen Rowell was Dr. Gilbert's next case study subject. Steve suffered a great misfortune - A balcony collapsed. He would have been safe but for another individual's desperate grab. Steve suffers from nerve damage, debilitating seizures, and relentless emotional distress especially paralyzing anger. With the help of a Therapist and a five week class helping him to detach from an unproductive negative point of view, Steve alleviated his stress and anger. The key was "Forgiveness" - a letting go of the desire for revenge and ill-will toward the one(s) that have wronged you. The result for the forgiving individual is a great reduction in depression, stress, anxiety, and anger, as well as greater physical improvements, and more hopefulness. The ability to forgive is essential to "Happiness" since an unforgiving psychological and emotional attitude is effective at blocking the opportunity to achieve "Happiness".
Dr. Gilbert now turned his attention to another important element related to "Happiness" - our personal strengths. This is the realm of "Positive Psychology" where we focus and capitalize on our strengths. The basic idea revolves around character development by identifying one's strengths and then using them over and over again thereby improving not only them but also one's confidence and self-esteem. The resulting individual's psychology and emotional grounding is more solid and capable; subsequently, better equipped to handle challenges. This technique, requiring more scientific research and testing, seems to improve the individual and contributes significantly to their "Happiness". West Point employs "Positive Psychology" technique training for their cadets. A case study was also presented regarding a person undergoing long term unemployment.
Maintaining well-being is crucial to "Happiness" and Meditation seems to be an excellent technique to partially accomplish this. Meditation is a mental exercise that strengthens the capacity to remain connected to the present moment of experience. It does this by strengthening and stabilizing one's attention. Researchers are continuing to document evidence that Meditation has positive effect's on health and well-being. There is much more research to be done. A case study of an individual undergoing cancer therapy was presented.
Social Relationships - Family, Friends, Lovers, Community are critical to "Happiness". The closer the relationship the more critical it is. The case study involved a husband and wife who lost their 18 year old daughter to the West Virginia Tech. shooter. These parents suffer an incalculable grief and found a way to channel that grief into a positive consequence by dedicating themselves to a passionate cause their daughter championed. By incorporating college students in their cause and the social relationships thus established, both with the students and the beneficiaries of their altruism, enabled them to heal and achieve a sense of normality.
The Framingham Heart Study formed the basis of Dr. Gilbert's next point. It contains 6 decades worth of data on over 15,000 people. When researchers analyzed this data with regard to the social networking aspect of "Happiness", they discovered that "Happiness" may be as contagious as the "Common Cold". It can actually travel from person-to-person and farther than anyone previously imagined. In fact, our "Happiness" depends, in part, on whole clusters of people we don't even know. The degree of "Happiness" a person conveys is extended as far as our friend's-friend's-friend and affects their emotional state at least in part. We are the most social animal on the planet and "Happiness" is like a contagious connecting thread.
A surprising result of scientific research is that "Happiness" increases as we get older. The caveat being acceptable health. There is a graphical "U-bend" to "Age" and "Happiness". When we start out on adult life, we are on average, pretty cheerful. Things go downhill from youth to middle age until they reach a nadir commonly known as the "Mid-Life Crisis". As we move towards old age, we lose things - vitality, mental sharpness, and looks. We gain, however, what we spend our lives pursuing: "Happiness".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)