happiness

A few years back, Marla Thomas received some very good advice. It came while she was working as a waitress and completing her undergraduate degree at Valdosta State University. "One of my 'regulars' was a sweet couple in their mid-50s. They would talk to me about my classes, ask me about my major, what I planned to do after graduation and life in general. I told them that I was thinking Read more...

A weekend spa retreat sounds heavenly, but between work, the kids and the bank account, who can possibly pull it off? The good news is that you don't really need one to relax and rejuvenate. With practice, you can boost your well-being practically anywhere, anytime. Here are some easy, no-cost ways to relax and refresh without ever leaving home, from Woman's Day magazine: Give yourself a rub Read more...

Having children improves life satisfaction in people who are married, but not for those who are unmarried, researchers in Scotland found. Dr. Luis Angeles of the University of Glasgow said the finding challenges previous research that increasing numbers of children do not make people any happier, and in some cases the more children people have, the less satisfied they are with their lives. Read more...

Eastern philosophy guru Deepak Chopra says he has one way to reform our sorry state of health care: by reconnecting with our spiritual side. Once we do that, he said, we'll alter the structure of our brains, optimize our genetic functioning and stop taking so many unnecessary medications. Chopra calls this the biology of happiness and expounds on it in his latest book, "Reinventing Read more...

As the thermometer goes up, so does your mood -- according to a new University of Colorado study. CU scientist Christopher Lowry, an assistant professor of integrative physiology, received a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to continue studying the link between temperature and mood. The grant is paid for with a Faculty Early Career Development Award. "Whether lying Read more...

The two most important things people want to discover in their lives are true happiness and meaning. But how do you get there? Tom Thibodeau, Viterbo University religious studies professor, gave some insight on the subject last week at Franciscan Skemp's Successful Aging Program. He based his thoughts on John Izzo's book, "The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die," which Read more...

With more people living alone than ever before, and fewer couples deciding to tie the knot, the institution of marriage needs all the help it can get. Whether it's fears about commitment or simply the cost of getting hitched, weddings aren't as popular as they once were. But now scientists have come up with one unlikely reason why getting married is a good idea -- a study of 2000 people Read more...

In the world of math, a numerator is the number above the line. It represents a defined quantity of parts of the whole. A denominator is the whole, a below-the-line representation of all of the parts. Together, they form a fraction, a ratio of parts to whole. The pursuit of happiness is a fraction. The numerator represents how much you have. The denominator represents the whole of what you Read more...

If you are trying to buy happiness, forget shopping. Research has long indicated that possessions don't add up to happiness. But you might want to invest in experiences. A new study suggests that a meal out or a night at the theatre brings a better return in terms of happiness for both the consumers and those around them. By satisfying a need for social connectiveness and vitality, those Read more...

A deluge of layoffs and the rising tide of unemployment have created an atmosphere of anxiety. While it's easy to get wrapped up in our individual blankets of fear and frustration, it's important not to insulate ourselves from the suffering of others. No less an authority than the Dalai Lama says, "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice Read more...