Happiness in a U Shape
Have you ever wondered — how does happiness change as we grow older? Do we become happier, or — quite the opposite?
Scientists say that happiness over the course of a lifetime tends to follow a U-shaped curve. (No, this has nothing to do with U Theory.)
In youth — we are full of inspiration and enthusiasm, the body is strong, responsibilities are few — we can enjoy life.
In midlife — duties, stress, idealism fades, the body grows weaker. The level of happiness drops.
In old age — acceptance appears, understanding of life, the ability to coexist with reality. The level of happiness rises.
This is demonstrated by many studies worldwide.
Interestingly, the happiness curve of primates (chimpanzees, orangutans) also forms a similar U shape. Perhaps it is something natural. Universal across humans. Even beyond humans.
But here a question arises. If this graph is so universal, why do I — being 50+ — feel happier than ever before?
This leads me to two essential conclusions:
Statistics say nothing about the individual. They only show the average. And the average person — as we know — does not actually exist.
Happiness is a skill. And this skill can be learned. Just like learning to play the piano, learning a language, or riding a bicycle. (Look at me ;))
What has helped me be happy? Mindfulness.
Mindfulness — it is the ability to know yourself. Knowing yourself, you know your thoughts and emotions. Knowing your thoughts and emotions — you can manage them. And if you can manage them — you can also choose. And I choose to be happy.
This, of course, does not mean that difficult situations don’t occur in life. They do. But they have no power to make me unhappy, because my happiness does not depend on life circumstances, but on me — only on me.
In other words — happiness is in your hands. It always has been. It always will be.
Do you know this? Do you use it?
#happiness #mindfulness
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