Happiness Greatest Hits

Today is the International Day of Happiness, launched in 2014 by the United Nations to promote subjective well-being as a legitimate goal of public policy and social progress.

That’s a goal we share at the Greater Good Science Center, and through the years we’ve covered happiness research from every conceivable angle. Here are some highlights—the most interesting, provocative, or helpful pieces we’ve published on the science of happiness.

What is happiness anyway?

Many scientists use happiness interchangeably with “subjective well-being,” which they measure by simply asking people to report how satisfied they feel with their own lives and how much positive and negative emotion they’re experiencing. Leading researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky describes happiness more precisely as “the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile.” Here are some pieces that explore the nuances of happiness.

Is a Happy Life Different from a Meaningful One? by Jason Marsh and Jill Suttie
Sonja Lyubomirsky on the Myths of Happiness (podcast)
The Neuroscience of Happiness: A Q&A with Rick Hanson

What are the benefits of happiness?

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In addition to making us feel good, studies have found that happiness actually improves other aspects of our lives, as well as the lives of the people around us.

Six Ways Happiness is Good for Your Health by Kira Newman
Need a Kidney? Go to a Happy State by Craig L Anderson
Are Positive Emotions Good for Your Heart? by Adam Hoffman

Can you cultivate happiness?

Happiness doesn’t just happen. Based on her research, Lyubomirsky has concluded that roughly 50 percent of happiness is determined by our genes and 10 percent by our life circumstance, but 40 percent depends on our daily activities. Here are steps you can take to boost your happiness.

How to Trick Your Brain for Happiness, by Rick Hanson
The Hows of Happiness, by Jason Marsh
How to be Happy: The Fine Print by Stacey Kennelly
What are the Secrets to a Happy Life? by George E. Vaillant
Happiness for a Lifetime, by Sonja Lyubomirsky
How a Challenging Past Can Lead to a Happier Present by Linda Graham
Where Can We Find Sustainable Happiness? by Sarah van Gelder
Five Science-Backed Strategies for More Happiness, by Kira Newman
A Better Way to Pursue Happiness, by Lahnna Catalino

Download our “6 Habits of Happiness” poster.

Fostering happiness at home and in the world

Can you help the people around you become happier? You bet! Here are some insights and ideas.

Being Kind Makes Kids Happy by Delia Fuhrmann
A Happy Marriage in 21 Minutes by Bernie Wong
What Makes a Happy Parent? by Emily Nauman
How to be a Happy Working Dad, by Jeremy Adam Smith
Can We Find Happiness at Work? A Q&A with Srikumar Rao (podcast)
Should Governments Measure Happiness? by Peter Kinderman
Happiness is About Respect, Not Riches by Stacey Kennelly
The Economics of Happiness by John Robbins
What Movies Make You Happy? by Jeremy Adam Smith

What are the problems with happiness?

Happiness isn’t all flowers and sunshine. Research suggests that it’s possible to be too happy or to embrace false beliefs about what will make you happy. There are many forces that can undermine happiness, no matter what steps you take to cultivate it within yourself. These insights might help you to understand what foils happiness and well-being.