The Happy Movie
Practice Happiness - Eat Drink Be Happy - Open Happiness - What do you want?
I want YOU to be happy.
Does money make you HAPPY? Kids and family? Your work? Do you live in a world that values and promotes happiness and well-being? Are we in the midst of a happiness revolution? This film explores these questions and attempt to provide answers.
Summary/Notable Quotes
Put yourself in their shoes
Indian Rickshaw Driver - "When I return home in the afternoon, my son is sitting at that tea shop. And waiting for my return and when he calls to me 'BABA!' I am full of joy."
What makes up the happiness pie?
We are born with a genetic set point, which accounts for about half of your happiness level or 50%. Even when there are good things that happen or bad things that happen we tend to return to this set point.
Circumstances only account for 10% of the happiness pie.
The other 40% is left for intentional behavior to make you happier. This will vary from person to person and depends on what you do. Doing something different from time to time usually raises happiness levels.
Exercise
Physical exercise in novel ways can help your brain release Dopamine, which in turn stimulates receptors that result in you being more happy.
Being in the zone is also being in the "flow". "Flow" means that you are so engulfed by the activity you are doing, you forget about anything else for the time you are performing the activity.
What factors affect happiness?
Once you have basic needs met, money doesn't seem to buy extra happiness.
Extrinstic factors - money, image, status leads to less satisfaction
Intrinsic Factors - inherently satisfying psychological, personal growth, relationships, community feeling
Meditation helps developing compassion. It also helps to appreciate what we have.