Self Psychology notes continues Harvard Medical on line - Being happy

Among the happiest? 2019 report of 156 countries - U.S.A, came in 19th. Top marks - Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, New Zealand, Canada and Austria. Happy Countries tend to be those where culture and economy enable people to regularly experience pleasure, purpose and security. Unhappy people - economic inequality, warfare, corruption and lack of security make everyday a struggle to survive. Bottom ten - Haiti, Botswarna, Syria, Malawi, Yemen, Rwanda, Tanzania, Afghanistan, Central Africa Republic and South Sudan. In a study of patients who had heart attacks, those who blamed others for their own heart attacks were more likely to have a second attack in the next eight years. Those who perceived some benefit, eg. appreciating life more were less likely to have another. Mindfulness helped reduce physical and psychological symptoms in people facing a variety of challenges including cancer and chronic pain. Skin lesions - severe psoriasis cleared more when listening to recordings. Nature, hobbies, maintaining good relationships with family and friends - meaning and support sources. The pathway to happiness - feeling good, engaging fully and doing good. Happiness - life worthwhile, absence of negative feelings; genetics - part of story. Sonja Lyubomirsky and colleagues estimate 50% is inherited, 10% circumstances; 40% under our control. We are happiest when our mind is focused on the activity of the moment. Single routes to happiness - feeling good, engaging fully and doing good. People researched spent half the time thinking about other things, then what is going on around them. Being here and now is good. www.trackyourhappiness.org To be continued