Did you know that in 1988, a study in Germany showed that you can be genuinely happy even though you are faking it in the beginning.
Today is a particularly frustrating day for you; in fact, you might even categorize it as a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. (Okay, maybe you’re having a great day, but for the sake of the story, just go with me.) In this situation, you have one of two choices: wallow in misery and let your grumpy mood fester, or put on a happy face and try to push those gray skies and thoughts far from your mind. The latter method sounds a little too good to be true, but that’s what the positive-psychology movement suggests—not that we can trick ourselves into feeling a different way, per se, but that we can successfully redirect our focus toward positivity. Even the simple act of smiling when you’re sad supposedly makes a difference.
That sure is an enticing prospect, but is it really possible? Can we really “fake it till we make it” when it comes to actual happiness?
The Science of Happiness
Referring to happiness in relation to science feels like comparing apples to oranges, since one concept posits itself as objective, while the other is wholly subjective. Happiness varies on an individual basis, not only by level but also by how each person defines it. One person’s bliss could be another’s mild glow. Scientists can work based only on how people report feeling, which makes scientifically studying happiness somewhat limited—but not impossible. In fact, there’s been a great deal of groundbreaking research that offers insight into the matter.
For instance, did you know that the way we experience happiness, and to what degree, are at least somewhat determined by genetics? According to some research, genetics are around 50 percent responsible for how happy we are, which sounds like a lot, until you realize that 40 percent is determined by our own actions. (Ten percent is based on outside factors, like one’s salary or annoying people on the bus.) So even if 50 percent of our inclination is toward pessimism, maybe we could devote ourselves to more optimistic thoughts and actions and possibly tip the scales in happiness’s favor a little more. But then there’s the question of how much of a difference such thoughts and actions really make.
In 1988, a study in Germany showed that you can be genuinely happy even though you are faking it in the beginning
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