25 Apr A depressed economy doesn’t mean you have to be depressed – happiness despite…
You know what’s free? A smile. And while you’d punch out someone on the subway for saying that to you, these days, it’s not bad advice. Sure, we can’t control the financial chaos around us, but we can control how we deal with it.
We can get happy.
And when we get happy, we get healthy. At least 80% of Americans say the economy is a ‘significant cause” of stress, according to the American Psychological Association Survey, up 14% over a year ago. Even worse, all the worrying is taking a toll on personal health: anxiety symptoms like insomnia, fatigue, irritability and sadness are up compared to previous years.
The solution might seem simple – gimme more money! – but that old “money can’t buy happiness” refrain is more accurate than you might think.
“Happiness is more related to interpersonal connections – such as family, friends or volunteering – than to affluence or possessions,” explains Dr. Kennon Sheldon, a psychological sciences professor at the University of Missouri who has studied emotional well-being for nearly 20 years.
To read more about applying principles of positive psychology to hold on to happiness despite tough economic times – click here