Academics find source of happiness

2008-12-24 06:12:26 GMT2008-12-24 14:12:26 (Beijing Time) SINA English

SCRIPT:

Bank collapses, bail outs, weakening economies and falling house prices.

It's been a bit of a gloomy year in some ways and staying positive can be a challenge.

But new research from the U.S. could help stave off the doom and gloom.

Academics at Harvard Medical School and the University of California say that the more happy people we know the more likely we are ourselves to be happy.

Clown and happiness therapist Mattie Faint was trying to infect a bit of happiness into this party on an east London housing estate.

Residents here are finally being rehoused after many years.

Faint says we need as much happiness as we can get right now.

SOUNDBITE: Clown and Happiness Therapist Mattie Faint saying, (English):

''There aren't that many clowns around to help you, sadly. Clowning is not a, you don't find a clown on every street corner, but there are funny people on every street corner.''

And that could be helpful.

The study found that every social contact we connect with increases our likelihood of being happy by 15 percent.

Ani Mashan certainly agrees there's a way to happiness.

SOUNDBITE: Ani Mashan saying, (English):

''It is what you create that you achieve. If you create a happy environment, so if you make your environment happy you are happy but if people around you are not happy for example you won't be happy so that's how it is.''

And locals here seem to know just how to create that environment.

SOUNDBITE: Ertac Hassan saying, (English):

''It's too much, wasting time trying to be sad in your life when you can just smile and be happy.''

SOUNDBITE: Tony Quaif saying, (English):

''Well if you're not happy what is the point in life. You've got to be happy to get through life haven't you.''

That might be true but for some of these children a few particulars help bring it about.

SOUNDBITE: Nathan Lambie saying, (English):

''I'm happy when I go to the park with my mummy.''

SOUNDBITE: Iana Cookie saying, (English):

''I'm happy when I go to school so I can learn.''

So now we know what to do.

It seems a fitting season to spread some germs.

Happiness ones of course!

EMAIL | PRINT | RSS

Add Your Comments:

Please read our Terms of Service. Messages that harass, abuse or threaten others; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or advertising content or links may be removed.