Two Ways Out of the Happiness Rut

All people are the same; only their habits differ. ~ Confucius This is a post about what keeps us stuck and sets us free, about the good news behind bad luck, and the wrong way to want the right thing: It’s about our habits. Human beings are creatures of habit — even emotionally. But why is this? Why do we fall into routines? And why is it so hard to break a habit? The short answer is something called set point. You’re probably familiar with this idea if you have ever been on a diet or had a new year’s resolution. They both start well. You are going to make a change in your life and you are ready for it. But after a little bit of time, the old habits creep back in. Before you know it the old patterns of behavior have settled back in and the enthusiasm for change is lost. The idea of a set point means that our way of being is determined mainly by genetics and conditioning. The genetic part has typically implied that our genes determine about 50% or so of who we are and what we do. Even our happiness and life satisfaction have this kind of stability. When good or bad things happen to us, we are elated or woeful for a while, but then we come back to our normal range. Studies with people who have won the lottery have found that they are ecstatic — initially. But after the original thrill wears off, they go back to their usual levels of happiness. Similarly, people who have had bad luck, like accident victims who have become paraplegic, are devastated at ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Habits Happiness Proof Positive Self-Help Appreciation Gratitude habituation Source Type: blogs