Are You Happier Than A Danish Person? January 27, 2008
Category:
Life/Misc
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Show Description: According to studies, the average American is less happy than a Danish person (as well as many other countries). We are wealthier than everybody else in the world, but we aren't nearly as happy. Why is that? Join the discussion as we look at life and happiness.
Also, be sure to check out our guest, Sonja Lyubomirsky's book
The How of Happiness.
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Allen's Legal Pad for Are You Happier Than A Danish Person?
How of Happiness
Are you happy?
Tough times – are you less happy?
January 21 – most depressing day of year – last Monday
Learn the habits of a happy person – that is the key
Evidently Americans not overwhelmingly happy
22 countries happier than we are – Iceland, Qatar, Swiss, Dutch, Thailand
Denmark #1
Good news we men tend to become happier as we get older and peak at 65 then decline beginning at age 75
Sonya Lyubomirsky – Cal Riverside – psych prof - Guest
She has been studying this for 18 years – reviewed 225 studies
The How of Happiness – A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want
Web link to her happiness self-test – see how you rate
Not self help book with personal advice – but scientific approach
Set point – like weight
Inherit a range – but you can optimize happiness – like I am trying to do with weight right now
Happy people live longer, better jobs, more productive, more money, better relationships
Here's the deal on how to be happy
50% genetics 10% life circumstances – change this but soon fades, normalized
40% within our control
That is how you can change how you think and feel – 40% factor
Harvard's most popular class – How to be happy – 850 enrollees
12 scientifically tested activities to increase level of happiness
Pick ones that work best for you – not do all 12
Distraction – don't think too much – go on a run, meet friend for lunch, rubber band
Amazing to me how many of these really have to do with faith
Seems to me she has discovered science to support faith
Questions:
Are you happy? How do you do it?
Happier than a Danish person?
Difference between happiness and joy – I think happiness is always fleeting
Misc:
Sadness in America
Wealth rises – sadness increases
Not 2 Americas – 1 America focused on wrong thing – stuff
Committing to goals
Gratitude
Acts of kindness
Distraction (not rumination)
Savoring joys
learning to forgive
Focus on good things (Philippians)
Similar Shows to Are You Happier Than A Danish Person?
Allen's Top Five Heroes
1. Jesus
2. The Apostle Paul
3. John Wesley
4. Martin Luther King, Jr
5. Harriet Jacobs
Quotes to Live By
"Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desire, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
-C.S. Lewis
E-mail From Listeners
"I really enjoyed your show today, although I am an agnostic?I think your radio show falls on the side of good. "
