Happy People Make More $$

Posted by Ann Barr in Motivation | no responses

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Wait a minute . . . I thought it was the other way around: People with money are happier than people without money. Well, no. Actually over 255 different studies show money doesn’t buy happiness. Instead, the studies say, it’s the other way around: Happiness buys money.

Earn More When You are Happy?

People who are happy earn a whopping $750,000 more in their lifetime than others. Plus, happy people tend to be more fulfilled, relaxed, and peaceful… they naturally enjoy more opportunities, better care, lower prices, more friends, greater intimacy, and so on.

The research shows that while success can put a spring in someone’s step, people need happiness in the first place to achieve success. According to the study, around four out of five people in modern industrialized nations are happy at any one time.

Success was not just about earning lots of money. “We define success as obtaining the things that culture or society values, whether it be friends, close family, money and income, or longevity,” said Prof Diener.

However, sorrowful people are not condemned to a life of failure.

“Our work suggests that sad people should try to increase the frequency of positive emotions in their lives by doing things that make them feel happy, even temporarily,” said Prof Lyubomirsky, whose research is published in the Psychological Bulletin today.

A similar poll in 1990, found that 43% were “very happy.” What seems to matter most for your sense of well-being and your happiness level is how you stack up against your neighbors. People tend to use this yardstick of comparison to evaluate their money and circumstances. Even a millionaire will feel miserable in the company of billionaires.

How to Bring Joy into Your Life

You can pro-actively bring happiness and joy into your life. Make a list of the songs that you love the most; songs that make you feel happy, joyous, excited, full of energy, and young at heart. Make a CD of these songs. Play these songs at a designated time, such as on your way to or from work, or just when you want to be motivated.

As you listen to these songs, your mood will be elevated. Picture yourself as succeeding in what is most important to you right now. Do this over and over again. You will find that music triggers will automatically motivate you and give you a feeling of power and well-being.

But there is a caveat: your happiness boosters should not be dangerous, like driving fast, or counter-productive, like eating lots of chocolate. . . though Chocolate CAN increase happiness; just not too much.

Chocolate Happiness

This is the kind of instant happiness I like. Everyone loves the sensations of happiness that a delicious piece of chocolate gives. Chocolate never fails to create feelings of well-being throughout the body.

The use of chocolate as a cure for emotional stress has gotten new support from a clinical trial. The trial found that eating about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced levels of stress hormones.

The researchers found that eating 40 grams of dark chocolate every day for two weeks affected the way stress hormones were metabolized.

Does chocolate make you happy by effecting the brain?

Researchers have found that chocolate has the property of increasing levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. Both of these neurotransmitters in the brain cause feelings of happiness and well being.

Neurotransmitters are the molecules that transmit signals between neurons. The amounts of particular neurotransmitters we have at any given time can have a great impact on our mood.

Chocolate affects the levels of endorphins in the brain. Eating chocolate increases the levels of endorphins released into the brain. The endorphins work to lessen pain and decrease stress.

Another common neurotransmitter affected by chocolate is serotonin.Serotonin is known as an anti-depressant. When serotonin is released it produces feelings of joy, excitement, and in some cases, a state of ecstasy.

One of the more unique neurotransmitters released by chocolate is phenylethylamine (PEA), an internal stimulant and antidepressant. It causes changes in blood pressure and blood-sugar levels leading to feelings of excitement and alertness .

Phenylethylamine is also called the “love drug” because it causes your pulse rate to quicken, resulting in a similar feeling to when someone is in love . After eating a delicious piece of chocolate, this chemical instructs the brain to give you feelings of happiness, attraction and a positive mood.

Chocolate has a long history associated with feelings of well being. It has been favored by people ranging from the ancient Aztecs to high society Victorians to Popes.

The Mayans and later the Aztecs believed that cocoa was the food of the gods. They believed that chocolate transmitted knowledge and power to those who consumed it.

There was one point that all research on happiness seemed to agree; happy people do better than unhappy people in most realms of life; they have better social relationships, do more volunteer work, have better health, and make more money. So money may not make you happier, but being happy may make you more money.

Okay, I’ll see you later, after I find my favorite CD and Godiva dark chocolate bar . . .

About The Author

Ann Barr is a telesales marketing success coach with a passion for teaching. She loves helping people who are starting out in new telesales careers and working with experienced sales reps who are looking for new ideas and tips. In addition to presenting monthly e-classes, she writes and edits direct-mail marketing letters and emails for clients. Sign up today for Ann’s free Weekly Sales Tips and get marketing tips and ideas to increase your sales!