The Science of Happy

Ah, happiness. The elusive Golden Egg we all seek. From avid treasure hunters to philosophers with their noses deep in dusty books, we all hunt for that elusive and fleeting state of being.

What is happiness? Some may say it is simply a chemical reaction in your brain. Other's may describe it as the soft breeze on a summer day, while other still will say its quite simple; happiness is really when your coffee is made just right. From the scientific to the emotional, this is a question that has endured the test of time.

Aristotle had many thoughts on happiness and seemingly developed a theory or thoughts stemming from four stages ranging from happiness boosted by material gain all the way to what could be considered the ultimate level of happiness. Now that last stage of happiness is intriguing. What defines ultimate? Is it a complete sense of peace? Or perhaps a satisfaction with everything in your life at this very moment? However you define what ultimate happiness means to you it will be different for each of us but could there be a common thread that links our definitions?

And how does mindfulness play a role in our search for happiness? Here are a few reasons why mindfulness can help us find happiness:

It helps us get out of negative thought patterns

One of the biggest blocks to happiness is our tendency to fall into negative thought patterns. Once we are caught in this pattern of thinking, it can push us into a very unhealthy downward spiral of thinking. Through the development of mindfulness we can become much more adept at noting when our mind begins to get caught up in these unhealthy patterns of thinking.

It can enhance and grow your sense of inner contentment:

Developing your practice of mindfulness helps us to turn inwards and discover little moments of happiness that are not influenced by the external. They stem from an inner sense of well being and ultimately living a life which we believe to be in line with our core values and beliefs.

It can deepen our connection to others:

Humans are social creatures and require meaningful social interactions to maintain a balanced and fulfilling life. From a very young age, the development of our brains required healthy interactions. By bringing present moment awareness to our daily interactions, we have the ability to build deeper and more meaningful connections.

"It is the mind that translates good and bad circumstances into happiness or misery. So happiness comes with the purging of mental toxins, such as hatred, compulsive desire, arrogance and jealousy, which literally poison the mind. It also requires that one cease to distort reality and that one cultivate wisdom." Matthieu Ricard

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