5 Ways to Feel Happy

8/13/2019 5 Ways to Feel Happy

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5 Ways to Feel Happy: Tips from Roko Belic's Documentary "Happy"

What are the secrets of happiness? Documentary filmmaker Roko Belic went

around the world to find out. Here are his universal factors for feeling good.

Sylvia Somerville Sep 1, 2011

What do a rickshaw driver in Calcutta (Kolkata), a single mother in Denmark, an

Okinawa islander, a Namibian Bushman and a Louisiana Bayou tour guide have

in common? They are all exceptionally happy, according to “Happy,” a

documentary film by Academy Award-nominated director Roko Belic ("Genghis

Blues") and the production team of "Beyond the Call."

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The movie, which was screened by the Sedona International Film Festival (SIFF)

during its "Docs that Make a Difference" series, had its Northern Arizona

premiere on August 30, 2011. "This is one film that everyone should see; it is

extraordinary!" says Beverly Huff, a SIFF board member and the film festival

events coordinator.

All around the globe people report a sense of happiness that eludes many

Americans. In fact, according to happiness surveys by organizations such as the

World Database of Happiness, the United States ranks consistently lower than

many other countries on the happiness scale. Why is life satisfaction so much

easier to come by in other places? The “Happy” crew identified these key factors

from man-on-the-street interviews and conversations with research scientists.

1. A Sense of Friendship and Community

Having strong relationships and a large support network is a leading happiness

factor all over the world—whether it is in the slums of Calcutta, in the desert of

South Africa or on the streets of Scandinavia. In Denmark, which consistently

ranks first as the happiest nation on earth, most Danes (as high as 97 percent

according to msnbc.com) believe they have someone other than a family

member that they can rely upon. “Happy” introduces a single Danish mother who

lives in a multi-generational co-housing community. Both she and her children

extol the benefits of this group -living arrangement, which is not unlike having a

large extended family. The mother says she no longer feels the stress of havingto constantly juggle responsibilities, such as shopping and cooking every day.

Now it’s just a few times a month. She also appreciates having other adults

around to keep an eye on her children.

2. Caring and Doing for Others

According to scientists interviewed in “Happy,” compassionate thoughts and

generous actions actually change the chemistry of the brain, producing

dopamine, a hormone that is believed to trigger happiness. Altruistic deeds also

stimulate the left frontal cortex, which researchers have identified as the brain’shappiness center. In addition to feeling good, people report that doing something

for others adds meaning to their life. A former banker tells Belic how happy and

fulfilled he now feels volunteering at Mother Teresa’s Home for the Destitute and

Dying. He explains that even the simple act of offering a cup of water to a dying

man brings him a great deal of joy.

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3. A Personal Involvement with Nature

Many people report that time spent outdoors is a very joyful experience and, like

compassionate outreach, helps them connect with something larger than

themselves. In the film, Captain Blanchard, a tour guide in the Louisiana bayou,

delights in knowing that no two days will ever be the same. “This is a paradise to

me,” he grins. “You don’t know what you are going to see.” As the crew follows

Blanchard in his boat, a crocodile slides his head out of the water and an egret

gets ready to dine.

4. A Balanced Life, with Plenty of Leisure Time

Workaholics definitely don’t rank high on the happiness scale. In fact, in Tokyo,

Japan, the focus on production over contentment has led to karoshi or death

from overwork—even among young workers in their 20s and 30s who diesuddenly of a heart attack or stroke. On the island of Okinawa, however, which is

also part of Japanese culture, there are more centenarians than anywhere else in

the world. Perhaps it’s because the islanders care for each other and have never

forsaken their tradition of intergenerational communication and connection. In

Bhutan, the government focuses not on a gross national product (GNP) index but

on gross national happiness.

5. Engaging in Activities that One Finds Enjoyable

Whatever one likes to do can ramp up the happiness meter by putting one in astate of “flow.” According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of Flow: The

Psychology of Optimal Experience, “Flow is the state in which people are so

involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter. The experience itself is

so enjoyable they will do it, even at great cost, for the sheer sake of it.” In the

movie a cook dances as he works and a surfer delights in his sport.

As the documentary demonstrates, owning things is a minor factor in creating a

satisfying and happy life. Once basic human needs are met, such as food,

shelter and health care, "Happy" says it's your DNA, your sense of balance andcommunity that have the greatest impact on happiness.

Documents

5 Ways to Feel Happy