Why are some people happier than others?

A new study by psychologists at Ohio State University scanned the brains of 38 people as they looked at a series of pictures designed to evoke positive, negative or neutral feelings. The volunteers who scored high on a test of happiness showed activity in regions that reinforced their happy dispositions and set them up for a 'cycle of positivity', according to the researchers. The study focused on a small, almond-shaped part of the brain called the amygdala, which processes information about the world around us and controls our emotional responses to it. When the happy folk saw positive images, the activity in their amygdalas rose much higher than it did in the less-happy people (you can read more about the study, and see a very cute basket of kittens, in today's Guardian).

This is all very well for the naturally cheerful among us, but what if you're prone to depression? You may struggle through life, finding little to be joyful about – and find those perma-grinning folk deeply irritating. Well, the good news is that, although genetic factors do play a large part in our 'base happiness levels', there's plenty we can do to boost our mood and find more joy in our day-to-day existence. I increasingly believe that the purpose of therapy should not just be to make us less unhappy (taking us from a minus five average mood to a zero, say), but help us feel the full range of emotions, including pleasure, satisfaction and joy.

How? Well, if you do struggle with persistent unhappiness, you probably have a lot of negative, self-critical or anxiety-provoking thoughts in your head. Cognitive therapy is an excellent way to identify and change those thoughts, so that's a good place to start. There is also plenty of evidence to show that mindfulness meditation is a wonderful way to boost your happiness and wellbeing if you practice it regularly. And simple things like getting more exercise, slowing the pace of your life, consuming less digital media, getting more sleep and rest, spending more time with family and friends... all make a huge difference to the way you feel about yourself and your life.

Best wishes,

Dan

Tags: Cognitive Therapy, Depression, Happiness, Mental health, Mindfulness meditation, Self-care