A famous study of the writing of nearly 180 nuns found that 90% of those with inherent positive emotions in their writing lived to age 85 or beyond. And 54% lived to age 94. In contrast, only 34% of the less cheerful nuns were alive at age 85, and only 11% lived to age 94.
A Mayo Clinic study also found that optimists (a characteristic of happy people) live longer than pessimists.
There are several life benefits that come as a result of being happy.Positive psychology shows that happiness brings us highly desirable life benefits, such as better health, longer life, successful relationships, and more.
Happiness Feels Good: We strive for happiness in our lives because it feels so good to be happy. We all clearly understand the meaning of the word happiness. It is not ambiguous. Unlike the comedic line that, “Everything I like is either illegal, immoral, or fattening,” the absolutely great news about happiness is that everything it brings with it is good for us.
Better Health: In one study, over 2,200 Mexican-Americans aged 65 and over were tested for positive emotion, another way of indicating happiness, and then tracked for two years. After controlling for other variables, researchers found that happy people were 50% more likely to live and 50% less likely to become disabled.
Happy people are more likely to have stronger immune systems, researchers find and some studies also show that happy people endure pain better than unhappy people
Successful Relationships: In a study of 222 college students, the 10 percent measuring happiest differed from the remaining students in one primary way: they had a rich and fulfilling social life. They were also rated the highest on good relationships by their friends.
Psychologist David Myers indicates “there are few stronger predictions of happiness than a close, nurturing, equitable, intimate, lifelong companionship with one’s best friend.”
A 1990s study of 141 senior class photographs from the 1960 yearbook of Mills College examined the nature of smiles in the photos: genuine smiles, the so-called Duchenne smile, versus a forced photo-smile. Researchers found that genuine smilers were more likely to be married, to stay married, and to experience more personal well being.
Success in Work: Happier people are more satisfied with their jobs than less happy people. It is clear that more happiness causes higher job productivity.
More happiness causes higher income; a study of 272 workers over 18 months showed that the happier people got better job evaluations and higher pay.
We need to work to be happy. Psychologists find that our culture builds in an aversion to work as a negative experience, but in reality we have more pleasant and fulfilling (flow) experiences at work than at home.
Better Mental Health: Studies indicate happier people have less depression, less suicide, and less paranoia than unhappy people, as well as greater self control and coping skills
