Here are some excerpts from our conversation with Professor Kamlesh Singh from the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT-Delhi, about how to stay happy in troubling times;
What according to you is happiness?
Till date, we do not have a universal definition of happiness. Theoretically, there are different explanations. The hedonic and eudemonic perspectives, for instance, offer one way of conceptualizing it. From the hedonic perspective, happiness is equated with pleasure, comfort, enjoyment, etc. The eudemonic perspective equates happiness with a meaningful life, it is a theory of self-acceptance, personal growth, purpose in life, positive relations, environmental mastery and autonomy. In some eastern models, happiness/well-being is associated with peace of mind and inner harmony. Similarly, we also have Indian perspectives on happiness such as sat-chit-anand (truth-consciousness-bliss) which lead to anandmay—a state of mind.
Besides theoretical perspectives, another way of conceptualising it is to understand the views of the public. Our research shows that there are different components to people's view of happiness, be it positive emotions (joy, inner peace etc.), life satisfaction, healthy family ties, work and accomplishment, or leisure engagement.
How to open our minds to happiness?
Firstly, I would say our thoughts are extremely important—they shape our subjective world and can trigger negative and positive emotional reactions as per their nature. Secondly, our actions are equally important. For instance, gratitude expression, forgiveness and helping others may make you feel happy. So, our thoughts, emotions and actions are important, as are external factors, like work or study pressure, injustice, unhealthy relations or other happenings around us. Thus, self-related factors as well as external factors play a role in happiness.
Over the years, we have seen that happiness interventions do indeed increase our levels of happiness. Such studies show that it is possible to increase your happiness level. So, I will say, yes, to a certain extent, we can train our brain to be happy. Some people say that "happiness is a state of mind". This may be an oversimplification because favourable life circumstances are helpful for happiness. Even in the face of tough life conditions, however, people can be happy. Research from people living in bastis, for example, reveals that although they worry, they are also satisfied with many (but not all) aspects of their lives. People can learn to appreciate and enjoy what is going well in life. Even so, we should work to improve our lot, find greater security and address injustice.
How to measure happiness?
The truth is we all need a certain amount of money to survive, don't we? However, beyond a certain point, money does not necessarily increase your happiness—this is what some studies have shown. When it comes to work, what matters is whether it is meaningful to you and you feel purposeful while doing it. There is a concept called 'flow' in Psychology. It is a cognitive state in which an individual becomes fully engaged/ immersed in a particular activity. It includes intense focus, loss of awareness of time and self, and creative engagement. Flow has been found to be related to happiness. So, if you feel at flow during any activity or work, it is likely that the work influences your happiness levels. Conversely, your work may also hinder your happiness, especially if it is not well-suited to your level of skill and expertise or perhaps due to external factors such as a poor work environment or culture.
Can you suggest five habits to stay happy?
Firstly, learn to be mindful of your thoughts. Generally your thoughts trigger your emotions, i.e., happy thoughts equals to happy emotions. Most of us have to encounter stressors on a daily basis. We need to have some time to be away from such environment to get a relaxed mind. We should spend some time daily to engage in activities that help us experience positive emotions. It could be reading, yoga, sports, exercise, dancing, singing, painting or gardening.
Globally, research has shown the importance of positive relations for our happiness. Hence, my next happiness tip would be to stay in touch with friends and family who make you happy, and to nurture these relations. 'Counting someone at the time of adversity' leads to happiness.
Try to keep the key of your happiness with you and make conscious efforts every day to make yourself happy—remember, even small measures matter, and a little effort is better than none at all. Identifying your character strengths and using them in a better manner also promote happiness.
And don't forget to count your blessings. A popular technique of doing so is to maintain a gratitude journal and write down three things you are grateful for every night before going to sleep.
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