Happiness is an Attitude

Many of us have questioned whether we can truly achieve happiness. While the concept behind happiness is easy to grasp, there are some key pitfalls to avoid. We should focus on four positive attitudes:


Positive emotion triggers the release of dopamine
Studies have shown that we experience a brief surge of happiness when we feel a good emotion. We can't hold onto the positive feelings forever, however, and they only last for a short time. Another chemical in the brain that triggers the release of dopamine is oxytocin, or "the hugging drug." It is released by the brain during physical contact, and is the emotion behind feelings of love, friendship, and deep trust. In fact, this chemical is one of the main reasons we are social.

Positive interpretations of others' behaviors are better than negative interpretations
The researchers who conducted this study found that people who have more positive emotions are more likely to name more things. This is in contrast to people who felt negative emotions, who named fewer things. Both conditions were beneficial to happiness, but there were differences. In particular, people with positive emotions were more likely to report more things to do than those with negative emotions. Similarly, people with negative emotions were less likely to name as many things.

Remind yourself of the good in you
Remind yourself of the good in you whenever you feel down. Positive emotions make us feel good. Make sure you make time to experience them. Examples of such emotions are joy, fun, friendship, relaxation, and gratitude. Repeat them whenever you face a difficult situation or difficulty, and you'll find that your day will become brighter. If you'd like to achieve more happiness, make this practice a habit.

Humor is a power tool for improving your attitude
Among its many positive qualities, humor can be used to build teamwork and foster a sense of community. It helps people feel more like themselves, and elicits a desire to succeed by emphasizing important points with dramatic anecdotes and stories. Moreover, humor improves your attitude by reducing stress levels. If you are unsure of how to use humor in your life, here are some ways to get started.


Developing a positive outlook may lead to delusional personality
Many clinically significant delusions are harmful, causing stress and anxiety, and impairing good functioning. They can also lead to social isolation. However, there is some evidence that some delusions are adaptive, acting as defense mechanisms against adversity. Most of this evidence is found in discussions of motivated delusions. The following are some tips for helping patients develop a more positive outlook.