NFR No scientific proof that happiness techniques work...

[Josh]

Okay, that may be a bit over the top as a title. But this is an interesting article:

Science Studies Don't Actually Support Happiness Strategies

An in-depth look at the evidence behind the most popular happiness hacks isn’t very reassuring, saying studies lack good data.

time.com

In short, a vast majority of the studies done on common/popular "how to be happy" methods did not conform to accepted rigorous scientific standards. Having control groups, excluding those who could confuse results (people with depression, for example), and so on.

The methods looked at:
- expressing gratitude
- increasing social interactions
- practicing mindfulness or meditation
- spending more time in nature
- exercising

However, the article is clear in saying:

Their findings don’t necessarily mean that the strategies won’t contribute to improving people’s mood and increasing happiness, but the durability and strength of the effect isn’t clear from the existing data.

It's interesting, because I suspect many of us in this community strongly believe that time outdoors in nature improves our mental health and happiness. I would also guess that there's a lot of support for exercise and even increasing social interactions (especially after seeing what covid isolation did to so many people). But it's curious that we don't have good data to support something that we all seem to know.

Are we wrong? Or is the data gathering just terrible? I suspect it's the latter. But it's an interesting conversation.

 

[Wade Rivers]

I've thought a little about happiness or lack thereof...

I'm struck by other countries and cultures being quite "happy" despite not having the standard of living that Americans expect.

I've only watched one episode but there is this tv show: Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss He visited an Icelandic sheep farm and the people talked about their long family connection to the farm.

 

[Peyton00]

You make your own happiness.

Imo.....

 

[Smalma]

Make your happiness - go fishing!

 

[Josh]

despite not having the standard of living that Americans expect.

I know for a fact that I have too much "stuff" in my life and would likely be happier with less clutter and more space than I am with owning dozens of fishing rods.

 

[Anonymous member 148]

I've thought a little about happiness or lack thereof...

I'm struck by other countries and cultures being quite "happy" despite not having the standard of living that Americans expect.

I've only watched one episode but there is this tv show: Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss He visited an Icelandic sheep farm and the people talked about their long family connection to the farm.

It's usually the Nordic countries that always top the list.

 

[DimeBrite]

Constant feelings of happiness is an unrealistic emotional expectation. How about achieving steady state mindfulness and openess, with joy and bliss reserved for special moments?

 

[Josh]

Constant feelings of happiness is an unrealistic emotional expectation. How about achieving steady state mindfulness and openess, with joy and bliss reserved for special moments?

I mean, only 6 year olds and morons expect to be happy every moment in their life. Most humans understand that life has ups and downs. Happiness, for most of us, just means "Feeling good more than I feel bad in life". Nobody is expecting a constant state of blissfulness.

I think the issue is that too many people have constant feelings of unhappiness, which should be just as unrealistic.

 

[krusty]

Personally I think some people chase 'happiness' in the same manner that some people confuse infatuation with a succession of new mates contrasted to long term contentment with a compatible life partner. Infatuation is not lasting and inevitably leads to disappointment.

It's better to spend some time cultivating gratitude for what life has provided (quite a lot in first world countries), which nourishes contentment, though somewhat challenging in a country and culture that continually markets the acquisition of some object/experience as a critical necessary means of achieving happiness.

Rigid pursuit of 'bucket lists' and adherence to the philosophy of 'who dies with the most toys wins' is definitely not the route to contentment or the nebulous concept of happiness.

 

[Roper]

Happiness is overrated…I prefer peaceful and quiet…

 

[Josh]

Personally I think some people chase 'happiness' in the same manner that some people confuse infatuation with a new mate as compared to long term contentment with a compatible life partner.

That is an interesting point that rings true in many ways, I think.

And that "chase" has some very negative side effects in society. People are trying SO hard to make themselves happy, that they take the lowest of roads to try and get there. We see it all over the internet. How much of the internet just just shitting on others and virtue signaling (across all political spectrums) to make someone feel good about themselves? And how many people get themselves in bad financial situations trying to fill the void with bigger houses or cars or boats? To say nothing of those sad sad cases that do the same thing with drugs or alcohol.

 

[DimeBrite]

Avoid these scenarios, and more happiness can be achieved...

 

[Chucker]

So, none of that stuff works? Might as well just go fishing then….

 

[Billy]

I think social media has really fucked with a lot of people's happiness...it causes wantitis instead of trying to grow as a person where you are planted

 

[Josh]

So, none of that stuff works? Might as well just go fishing then….

It might work, we just don't have good data to prove it.

Also, fishing is "spending more time in nature"...

 

[Flymph]

It's usually the Nordic countries that always top the list.

View attachment 75584

Folks in Israel are so happy they are lining the streets, by the thousands, in happy protest against an oligarchy! Folks in Iceland have the honor of ingesting the most anti-depressant meds on the planet, so that would be chemically induced happiness.

 

[iveofione]

I think social media has really fucked with a lot of people's happiness...it causes wantitis instead of trying to grow as a person where you are planted

Amen to that Billy

 

[Mossback]

''Serenity is a more desirable pursuit than happiness. It takes into consideration the flux of life. Whereas happiness depends on a lack of external factors of unhappiness, serenity depends on an ability to be unbothered by all factors, good and bad.''

Follow your bliss...

 

[Canuck from Kansas]

Tough sorts of studies to do, very difficult to have a matching control group, all kinds of built-in biases.

If you were always happy, you wouldn't be able to recognize happiness, you need contrasting emotions to recognize them. Don't believe chasing happiness can be too successful, happiness happens, if you let it. I believe those "chasing happiness" may never actually achieve true happiness since they are too busy chasing and not letting it just be (like chasing the end of the rainbow). I believe far more in the Eastern philosophies (the Tao), than the Judea-Christian notions; just let it be, be in the moment,

Just my rambling thoughts.

 

[Salmo_g]

The problem with happiness studies could be the inherent difficulty of even defining the metric(s), let alone measuring them.

If only I had a Spinoza fly rod made of unobtanium, then I'd be happy! The person who can never have enough can never be happy. If you can be content with the absence of stress, then you can be happy. Don't worry; be happy.