Self-service: Together we are happier

Lone rangers are not as happy as  active team participants. Research has proved that networked individuals are much happier than those who avoid company.

“It takes a village to bring up a child,” says folk wisdom. The close, long term community bonds in a village create a warm, caring climate ideal for the healthy growth of children. This loving, often intrusive, attention from the group made sure that everyone including disabled, elders and orphans were looked after.

This community closeness disappeared as people moved to impersonal urban centres where Reismann’s ‘lonely crowd’ became common. Those who wish to study the chemistry of loneliness will find that not being part of a caring community or clan results in a number of mental illnesses, including a fall in the level of happiness.

Closely related to this is the concept of the Hedonic Treadmill. It indicates that 50 per cent of your happiness depends on genetics. About 10 per cent is the result of your job, income and social status. The remaining 40 per cent is determined by choice of what you do to be happy. It’s great to know that 50 per cent of your happiness can be decided by the attitude and activities that you can plan and control. When you network with others and collaborate with them in teams, you increase dopamine levels in your body.

• Get up, go out and take action.
• Get in touch with your oldest friends from school and college.
• Plan an annual family get-together.
• Revisit your social networking sites and plan face to face meetings.
• Talk to at least five people every day on a subject that matters.
• Plan to get out of toxic relationships even if they are only on whatsapp.
• Choose positive people to create daily happiness breaks.
• Collaborate for happiness.
• Choose the companions for your beautiful new life!

The writer is the author of Everyday Happiness Mantras