GOOD LIVING WELLN
and our measure of a life well lived— not to mention the topic of countless books, TED Talks, and apps. But what exactly are we searching for? Scientits devoted to answering that quet ion define happy people as those who have a positive temperament, social confidants, and the resources to make progress toward the goals they value. Put plainly, “it’s the joy we feel as we move toward our potential,” says Michelle Gielan, the author of Broadcat ing Happiness (BenBella Books, 2015) and founder of the Intitute for Applied Positive Research, in Dallas. The good news is we’re generally content as a country, but there’s room to grow. In the 2018 United Nations World Happiness Report, which asked people in more than 150 countries to assess their life on a scale of 1 to 10 (based on markers like life expectancy, GDP, and social support), Americans rated their lives at a nottoo-shabby 6.8. But that’s nearly a point behind the top three— Finland, Norway, and Denmark— which rated theirs over 7.5. (PSA: No one, not even Norwegians, can maintain a 10; that would be exhausting!) According to experts, there are clear obtacles in our way of feeling deeper fulfillment every day. Learn how to surmount them.
The Pursuit of Happiness It’s a universal, fundamental truth: We all just want to be happy. And scientists say we’re much closer to it than we may think. Overcome these six common barriers to lighten up your heart and mind. TEXT BY KELLY DINARDO
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DECEMBER 2018
PETE THOMPSON PHOTOGR APHY
HAPPINESS IS OUR HOLY GRAIL
