科学家教你五招提升幸福感.docVIP

科学家教你五招提升幸福感The pursuit[追寻] of happiness is sometimes easier said than done. Some scientists have argued that happiness is largely determined by genetics, health and other factors mostly outside of our control. But recent research suggests people actually can take charge of their own happiness and boost[推进] it through certain practices. “The billion-dollar question is, is it possible to become happier?” said psychologist[心理学家] Sonja Lyubomirsky of the University of California, Riverside. “Despite the finding that happiness is partially[部分地] genetically[遗传地] determined, and despite the finding that life situations have a smaller influence on our happiness than we think they do, we argue that still a large portion[一部分] of happiness is in our power to change.” In 2009, Lyubomirsky and colleagues reviewed 51 studies that tested attempts to increase happiness through different types of positive thinking, and found that these practices can significantly enhance[提高] well-being. The results were published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology. Here are five things that research has shown can improve happiness: 1 Be grateful. Some study participants[参与者] were asked to write letters of gratitude[感谢] to people who had helped them in some way. The study found that these people reported a lasting increase in happiness―over weeks and even months―after implementing[执行] the habit. Whats even more surprising: sending the letter is not necessary. Even when people wrote letters but never delivered them to the addressee[收信人], they still reported feeling better afterwards. 2 Be optimistic[乐观的]. Another practice that seems to help is optimistic thinking. Study participants were asked to visualize[形象化] an ideal future―for example, living with a loving and supportive partner, or finding a job that was fulfilling[令人满意的]―and describe the image in a journal entry[日记帐分录]. After doing this for a few weeks, these people too reported increased feelings of well-being.