Secrets Of The World's Happiest People

When it comes to being happy, you have more control than you think.

When it comes to being happy, you have more control than you think. Dan Buettner spent five years studying happiness, and is the author of “Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way.” Blue Zones are regions of the world where people commonly live to 100 and beyond. And here’s what he found to be common characteristics among the happiest people: 

• They don’t watch TV. Most of us spend over four hours a day watching television. But in places where happiness levels are the highest, people spend more time with family and friends and less time with the tube. That’s why Buettner suggests owning no more than one TV, and keeping it in an out-of-the-way place, like the basement. Then watching it will become a deliberate activity, instead of an “automatic” one. 

• Happy people are also less likely to shop. In North America, we often feel pressured by the media to always want more. But a study found that the high you get from buying something new lasts no more than 14 minutes. Instead, put your money toward something that gives you a life-changing experience, like a class or a weekend retreat.

• The final characteristic of happy people: They’re religious. When people in Mexico were asked, on a scale of one to 10, “How important is God in your life?” More than 80-percent of them responded with a “10.” Experts say this explains why Mexican people are among the world’s happiest, despite being among the world’s poorest.

from tesh.com, "Intelligence for Your Life"