HELLO HAPPINESS
By Kate O’Farrell, M.S., ACSM-CEP, PEAK Health and Fitness
Are you looking for a little more happiness in your life? Who isn’t, right? Great news! There is an entire field of research dedicated to positive psychology and you can access it with the click of a mouse. Meet the happiness website: happify.com.
Happify is a website designed to make the research of happiness available to you in a very personal way. Before accessing all that the website has to offer, you have the option to create a personal profile. A few simple questions about your sex, age, lifestyle, etc. guide you to a recommended happiness track. There are options for free tracks (and who doesn’t love free happiness) or other tracks that require a monthly subscription. The great thing is, you can try the free tracks first and if your curiosity for happiness needs more fuel, you can always upgrade to the premium option down the road.
The website shares four basic findings from research that may help you see that a happiness boost is actually attainable:
1. Neuroplasticity, or the ability of the brain to change, is possible.
2. We can use our brain, as if it were a muscle, to overcome negative thoughts.
3. It is possible to learn new ways to react and deal with everyday stresses.
4. A few simple steps can make a big difference and – go figure – be some fun at the same time.
Take a look what they say about your track to happiness:
To quote the Dalai Lama, “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” We have the power to choose every day to bring a little more happiness into our lives. Happify may be a helpful tool in making that a reality in your own life.
Click here for a fabulous infographic about finding happiness in the digital age.
PEAK Health and Fitness would love to hear about your happiness journey. Send an email to wellness@utah.edu.
Happy health!
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For more expert health news and information, visit healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed.