In the last few years, scientific research has begun to unravel the mysteries of happiness. What does it mean to be happy? Where do we find happiness? What makes us happy? And most importantly: why is happiness such a rare commodity?


In this post, I'll review what science says about what makes us happy, how we can make ourselves happier, and finally, the three different kinds of happiness.

To start off, let's define what we mean by happiness:

• It's an emotional state of satisfaction and pleasure, usually in response to something positive.

*It's not necessarily about the amount of time spent feeling happy, although it's certainly a factor.

• Happiness is distinct from pleasure. Pleasure, which tends to be fleeting and dependent on short-term stimuli, is a more subjective experience that's usually temporary. On the other hand, happiness tends to last longer, and is more stable, which means that it is more likely to occur in response to a long-term event or process.

The first place to look to find out what makes us happy is the science of happiness.

What the Science Says About Happiness

In order to understand what makes us happy, it helps to think about what the science knows about happiness.

First, we know that happiness is associated with the brain. Studies show that happiness is more common among people who are more intelligent. This makes sense because intelligence is necessary to achieve happiness.

Second, it's been found that there are three types of happiness. These include hedonic, eudaimonic, and social. Hedonic happiness is the simplest form of happiness. It's based on feelings of pleasure, and usually happens due to external factors like food, relationships, etc. Eudaimonic happiness comes from internal sources, and is a more complex form of happiness. It's connected to personal growth and achievement. Finally, social happiness comes from engaging in activities and interactions with others.

What Happens in Our Brains When We Are Happy

A large part of the happiness equation is also tied to our biology. There are two primary systems in the brain that seem to play an important role in making us happy. One is dopamine, which is often considered a neurotransmitter. A second, more well-known neurotransmitter is serotonin. Serotonin helps to regulate mood, while dopamine plays a part in both reward and motivation, making it a major contributor to our happiness.

Why Are We Not All Happy?

Happiness is definitely a rare thing. For example, only 8% of people report being very happy with their lives. Even worse, only 16% are "very happy" over the course of their life.

These numbers are pretty dismal, especially when you consider that around 85% of people feel either "neutral" or "somewhat happy" at some point. That's why the question arises: why are some people happier than others?

The answer comes from neuroscience. When we try to figure out why we feel the way we do