Reasons to Smile

We have learned a lot over the past decade about happiness. I am sure that you have seen plenty of articles about meditation and mindfulness these days. With as much as we have been able to figure out about human happiness, that is still just the surface. Here are a couple facts summarizing what we know so far. First of all, as we age, we get happier. That might be due to learning to love who we are and not trying to be someone else. One of the most amazing things about the human brain is neuroplasticity -- the brain's capacity to rewire itself in response to new experiences. We can actually wire our brains for happiness by focusing our attention on positive experiences and emotions. Another amazing benefit of being happy is that it increases your immunity, improves sleep quality, and protects you from various diseases. Being kind to others is a fast track to happiness. Volunteering makes people happierand boosts their longevity, according to a recent review of studies. Helping others may also be an effective way to combat feelings of disconnection in our increasingly online lives. Too much use of technology and communication services can actually isolate us and make us lonelier.