As we previously posted, there’s been a fair amount of evidence that despite the burdens imposed by the pandemic, a significant number of older adults weathered the lockdowns and isolation better than expected- and demonstrated a level of resilience and optimism that can often accompany the aging process. Yet for many, the idea of being happy- feeling a sense of well-being, contentment, or even joy- doesn’t come easily, especially in today’s world. Worries about health, family, or the state of the world may prevent us from experiencing the positive and pleasant emotions that come from feeling happy. The good news is that if your natural state is that the “glass is half empty” or the sky is threatening, you can actually train yourself to be more upbeat and positive, even happy. You just need to avail yourself of the advice and resources that can train your brain to look on the bright side of things.

For example, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have published a study that suggests brain training and self-regulation can lead you to a path of happiness. According to these researchers, incorporating a mental health wellness practice into your daily life should be as normal as getting the right amount of fruits and veggies into your daily diet. Both are needed for healthy aging. In particular, they focus on four aspects of mental well-being that need attention in order to train your brain to be happier: awareness (perhaps akin to mindfulness), connection with others, insight (rethink how you see yourself), and purpose (being in pursuit of something bigger than yourself). Another recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology demonstrated that through a training program addressing neuroscience, philosophy, and psychology, participants were able to decrease their anxiety and stress and improve their sense of well-being, awareness, and life satisfaction- a perhaps fancy way of saying they were happier as a result. For more on this study, click here.

Other experts tout different paths toward improving your sense of happiness. For example, a recent study published in The Journal of Positive Psychology found that if you want to be happy, your best bet is to try to make someone else happy. As these researchers found, “Making others happy is more meaningful for people than just socializing with them or doing something to improve your own happiness.” Or, as one expert bluntly states, “It’s counterintuitive …but if you’re not having the best day…think about doing something nice for your significant other or roommates instead of concentrating on yourself.” That’s likely a win-win for both your partner and yourself when it comes to happiness. Or, as experts from the Harvard Women’s Health Watch recommend, to get happier, you need to get outside and move, limit the number of decisions you need to make, and appreciate the small pleasures in your life. Just as something small can “set you off” down a dark path, so, too, can it lighten and uplift your mood. You may also want to check out this recent guide  “How To Be Happy,” from The New York Times.

But perhaps the most fun method to becoming happier, recommended by expert Travis Tae Oh in Next Avenue, is just that: While “meaning” and “purpose” in your life may be rewarding, he recommends that nothing beats adding some “fun” to your life as a way to find happiness. Described as “the experience of a liberating engagement- or a temporary release from internalized restrictions,” fun could include anything and everything from dancing to dining to doing whatever makes you feel good. As he writes, “I believe we are placing too much emphasis on finding meaning and fulfillment in life as the holy grail of happiness, with little regard for fun.” In essence, in order to become happier, we need to take our need for fun more seriously! That seems like an idea we can all rally around!