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whenever we do a certain activity such as eating, thereby reinforcing feelings of pleasure so that we remember and repeat the activity— this is also why this chemical has been central to drug addiction research. Happiness, like the high from any type of addiction, is fleeting and does not last long. For example, when a person eats, dopamine is released and they begin to feel good, but eventually they will start to feel hungry again. Although science is still struggling to understand whether the prefrontal cortex creates sensations of happiness or if it just reflects one’s general emotional state, behavioural geneticists have been trying to figure out if a “happiness gene” exists. Thus far, they have determined that everyone has a hedonic set point, which is our individual level of happiness. Everyday our feelings of happiness fluctuate up or down, but we each have a unique stable mid point to which our happiness level returns. Behavioural geneticists are interested in how much of the Reviewing MRI scan of the human brain What makes a person happy? Is it possible to increase your level of happiness? What do you think: Comment@<strong>Ahmadiyya</strong><strong>Gazette</strong>.ca difference between our hedonic set point is due to our genetic makeup. Essentially, the question they are trying to answer is how much of our happiness is under our control. Some scientists believe that genes contribute 80% to our hedonic set point, while others propose that it is only 50%. Regardless of this debate, it is clear that there is no specific “happiness gene” and it is not hereditary the way that eye colour is for example. Happiness is an “emergent property,” which means that it is a combination of many genes combined. Therefore, geneticists think that it is the arrangement of these genes that determines our behaviours, emotions and basic personality traits. What remains to be studied then is the interaction of these genes with each other and also with the world. However, there is a caution that should be highlighted in regards to the genetics of happiness. If happiness levels are set points that are influenced mostly by genes, then it can be concluded that it is impossible to improve your level of happiness. Such a conclusion raises the question of personal responsibility. For example, it can be claimed that a person who has a negative personality cannot improve because they are born this way. Such an assumption about genetic research is dangerous for society, because it can be easily misconstrued and people may assume that random chance has a part to play in our happiness, thus removing personal responsibility from the individual. This is why it is important to stress that most scientist believe that our environment contributes at least 50% to our hedonic set point and therefore, it is possible to improve our happiness no matter what level our genes start us out at. This branch of genetic research is beginning to show that happiness is not a state that we are born with, but rather something that we can affect and change. However, there is no doubt that by understanding the neurophysiology of happiness and how positive emotions affect the body overall great advancement can be made in In Search of Happiness 33
A person who incorporates religion into daily life is better off in two important ways: a greater frequency of positive emotions and a greater overall sense of satisfaction with in life. how to lead a healthy life. Several studies that have already been conducted have uncovered fascinating details about how happiness can drastically affect a person’s life. For example, it has been shown that “happy people” develop 50% more antibodies than average in response to the flue vaccine. Happiness has also been shown to reduce the risk or limit the severity of cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension, colds, and upperrespiratory infections. It seems that happier people have lower levels of stress chemicals in their body. Stress chemicals like cortisol have been linked to abdominal obesity, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and autoimmune disorders. In one study, after following 1300 men for ten years, it was found that the rate of heart disease amongst the optimists in the group was half of that of those who did not call themselves optimists. There have also been studies where people were asked to keep a daily journal listing what they were grateful for each day. Those who see life as a gift and display gratefulness have been shown to take better care of themselves. All of the research to date shows that positive emotions make the immune system function better, help battle disease, and ultimately ensure that we live longer. PSYCHOLOGY OF HAPPINESS Obviously then there are positive affects of happiness on our physical well-being; however, we are still back to the difficult question of where happiness comes from. What makes a person happy? And is it possible to increase your level of happiness? I recently asked several of my family and friends what they think is happiness. The responses I received were predictable in some cases and surprising in others. A few were worldly notions (money, music, candy, sunshine, shopping), but most responses revolved around familial relations and having a life of peace, security, and freedom from worldly pains and worries. My interviewees were of all various ages, cultures, and religions and in different stages of life, so understandably they generally had vastly different responses. Let me ask you to please take a moment and consider what you think is happiness. Now that you have your answer, you will be surprised to learn what it reveals about your level of happiness. To begin to even answer the question of what makes people happy, it is first important to understand what does not make a person happy. And unfortunately for most of the people who responded to my email studies have shown that a lot of what we would assume would make a person happy, such as money, family, youth, and sunny days, in reality do not do much for our level of happiness. Dr. Edward Diener of the University of Illinois has been studying what does and does not make people satisfied with life for the past twenty years. When it comes to wealth, he has shown that once a person’s basic needs are met, their satisfaction with life does not increase with additional income. As for the young, they are not as happy as is popularly believed. Studies have shown that people under 20 years have the highest rates of depression. Older people are actually happier and they are less prone to dark moods. And finally, for all those who are holding on to their single status for dear life, generally speaking married people are happier than single people, physically and socially. A report published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention showed that married people are less likely to be in poor-to-fair health, smoke or drink heavily, or suffer from such health problems as headaches and serious psychological distress. Also, Diener has demonstrated that people who are generally lonely and lack social interaction with others stand the most to gain from marriage. This is because people that are positive and content with life tend to get married and stay married. Obviously then, understanding happiness is not as simple as one might assume; however, neither is it as complicated as you may be thinking now. The Greek philosopher Aristotle believed that In Search of Happiness 34
Page 1 and 2: A H M A D I Y YA Gazette C A N A D
Page 4 and 5: A H M A D I Y Y A G A Z E T T E C A
Page 8 and 9: Christian doctrine of atonement by
Page 10 and 11: for Allah’s mercy pursuant to the
Page 12 and 13: kind to us.” (Tirmidhi Kitab-ud-
Page 14 and 15: eventually did, and upon receipt of
Page 16 and 17: presence and service of the Promise
Page 18 and 19: period of time, he would continue t
Page 20 and 21: Instances from the Life of the Prom
Page 22 and 23: is a matter of great honour for us
Page 24 and 25: that this may result in some benefi
Page 28 and 29: Hadrat Sheikh Hamid Ali and Mian Fa
Page 32 and 33: can only offer advice, which may be
Page 38 and 39: there are four levels of happiness,
Page 40 and 41: It is the attraction that the True
Page 42 and 43: not ask you to jump into fire or dr
Page 44 and 45: The magazine ‘Scientific American
Page 46 and 47: downtown was selected as most of th
Page 48 and 49: You must be willing to follow God

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