Is Happiness Within Personal Control?

Feeling happy is one of the very first emotional states we recognise as a child, and yet it is also a slippery and fleeting concept, which can be hard to define. In fact, there is a whole branch of academic study, known as positive psychology, devoted to the science of happiness.

One question that concerns us all from time to time is how far we are responsible for our own happiness, and how much of our emotional state is due to factors outside of our personal control. Everyone’s mood naturally fluctuates to a certain extent throughout the day, and of course almost no one feels cheerful and upbeat the whole time.

However, happiness is about more than transient moods. It’s more a state of mind that involves making positive life choices, and finding meaning and fulfilment in the day to day. Studies have identified a strong link between good mental health and physical well-being, such as lower blood pressure, and a better immune system.

All this raises the question: can we control our own happiness levels? The good news is, to a large extent, we can! Research points to the idea that happiness is not some end-goal that we can achieve through designer clothes, meeting that perfect partner, landing a dream job, winning the lottery, or going on an expensive holiday.

Rather, happiness a is result of living according our values, and working towards goals. For example, mastering a new skill such as watercolour painting can bring an inner glow of achievement, which will last far longer than buying a pair of designer shoes. Spending a weekend staying with an old friend can make us happier than a weekend in a luxury hotel.

We can derive happiness from pleasurable activities, such as self-care, exercise, watching our favourite TV show, or cooking a good meal. Another type of happiness can be derived from investing our life with meaning and a sense of purpose. This could be through caring for others, pursuing our passions, or getting involved in social or environmental causes.

There are of course challenges and setbacks in life which occur through no fault of our own, such as illness, bereavement, redundancy, and so on. Life can seem unfair, and it demands us to dig deep into our emotional resilience at times. There are still ways we can help ourselves even in negative circumstances.

This isn’t about trying to supress or ignore unwelcome situations, but rather reframing negative thoughts in a more constructive manner. For example, if we are diagnosed with an illness, we can accept it, and follow the medical advice available about treatments or cures, and seek emotional support from family, friends, or community groups.

People who nurture positive feelings tend to have the resilience to bounce back from negative events more quickly than those who brood on them. Therefore, it can help to learn how to challenge our thoughts and view them in a more neutral and objective light.