为你开启幸福之门.doc

为你开启幸福之门No, happiness isnt a lottery ticket away. I am fascinated by academic studies of human happiness, because they bring scientific rigor to issues we all grapple with. We think more money will make us happier and yet studies suggest Americans are no more satisfied than they were three decades ago, when the standard of living was much lower. So if winning the lottery wont do the trick, what will? Here are seven key lessons from happiness research. It is indeed possible to boost our happiness -- but itll take more than a fat wallet. 1 What matters is what we focus on. 1. 关注那些真正重要的事。 Those with higher incomes arent necessarily happier. But when asked how satisfied they are with their lives, high earners are more likely to say theyre happy. Why? The question makes them ponder their position in society -- and they realize theyre pretty lucky. The implication: If you have a hefty portfolio or hefty paycheck, you can probably bolster your happiness by regularly contemplating your good fortune. Meanwhile, if you are less well off, avoid situations where you feel deprived -- and seek out those where comparisons are in your favor. Rather than buying the cheapest house in a wealthy neighborhood, settle for a town where people have similar salaries. When you think about your net worth, forget your well-heeled sister and focus on your cash-strapped brother. 2 Dont go it alone. Studies have found that married folks are happier than those who are single. Marriage provides two sources of happiness, says Andrew Oswald, an economics professor at Englands Warwick University. One is sex and the other is friendship. Marriage has one of the largest impacts on human well-being. Similarly, spending time with friends can boost happiness. Studies indicate that commuting is one of lifes least enjoyable activities, that looking after the kids is more of a struggle than we like to admit and that eating is one of lifes great pleasures. But all of these things can be