Como ganara la loteria de la felicidad

When I was a kid, my brother and I had a game: pretend we won the lottery, and dream about what we would do with the money. My brother would come up with practical things like expensive cars and luxury homes, while I would dream of swimming pools filled with gum balls, a rope swing made from real licorice, or a whole room filled with puppies to play with my yard full of horses. While our dreams were pretty different, our beliefs were the same: more money would equal more happiness. And this happiness would last us for the rest of our lives.

In reality, research says otherwise.

Beyond a certain point (we need enough money to meet our basic survival needs, and perhaps a small amount more), more money does not mean greater happiness! And winning the lottery does not bring lasting joy. Researchers have found that we get used to the thrill of having more pretty quickly--a process known as habituation--and we return to our usual levels of happiness. In fact, in some ways, lottery winners are less happy than their non-winning counterparts a mere six months later in that they're less able to relish everyday joys like a delicious cup of coffee or the anticipation of a favorite television show.

What does lead to happiness?

Perhaps surprisingly, perhaps not, the things that make us happy are the things that most grandmothers try to sell us on with their, 'The best things in life are free' truisms: good friends, a happy marriage, meaningful work, and good deeds, among other (similar) things. These things bring a deeper, more lasting sense of happiness that's less prone to habituation and less dependent on external factors--we can create our own happiness! (My much-younger self would be so relieved: no lottery-winning necessary!)

Read more about what makes people truly happy.

Happiness Resources from Elizabeth Scott:

• Happiness Test: How Happy Are You?

• Shortcuts to Happiness

• Areas That Lead To Happiness

• Top Changes for Happiness

• How To Be Happy

• Secrets of Happy People

_{Sources:
Brickman P, Coates D, Janoff-Bulman R. (1978, August). Lottery winners and accident victims: is happiness relative? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36, 917- 27.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2002) Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. New York: Free Press.}