Psychologists have suggested some simple ways to lead a life of happiness. They suggest people buy experiences instead of things, an international daily reported, because the pleasure derived from a new possession has a short lifespan, but experiences can be enjoyable in the moment, and leave memories that are a source of happiness for a long time, they said.
Another way, according to them, is to help others instead of yourself. Pointing out that “human beings are the most social animals on the planet,” psychologists cite numerous studies that show people who do more “pro-social spending”, such as buying gifts and donating to charity, tend to be happier.
“Spending money on a friend or romantic partner provides an opportunity for positive self-presentation, which has been shown to produce benefits for mood. Giving to charity may facilitate the development of such positive self-presentation as well,” the paper quoted the psychologist as explaining. In other words, give money, but make sure people know about it.
Buy many small pleasures instead of a few big ones, the psychologists stated. “Happiness,” the psychologists claim, “is more strongly associated with the frequency than the intensity of people’s positive affective experiences.” People are therefore advised to spend their money on a series of little treats — a fancy meal, a weekend break, tickets to a concert — rather than blowing it all on a sports car and plasma screen TV. They suggest people buy less insurance. Spending obscene sums on extended warranties and insurance policies can be a waste of money.
Psychologists suggest following the mantra of ‘pay now and consume later’. One of the psychologists’ less intuitive offerings involves thinking about the negatives in order to be happy.
The best way to know whether we are going to derive pleasure from something is to see whether others have done the same, the psychologists said. ANI
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