The Science Behind the Think Happy Rally

Holding a rally during Positive Attitude Month where you travel to big yellow signs with affirming messages, take a selfie with them, then post them on social media with the hashtag #thinkHAPPYrally may sound purely frivolous, but there’s actually a lot of science to it.  There’s an increasing amount of research about the benefits of a positive attitude.  And the messages selected for this campaign, whimsical as they may be, are rooted in that science.

For many years, we’ve believed happiness followed success, when it’s actually the other way around. Hundreds of scientific studies conducted in the fields of positive psychology and neuroscience prove that happiness leads to success in nearly every domain of our lives; including marriage, health, friendship, community involvement, creativity and, in particular, our jobs, careers and businesses.

Research also shows that there are several ways to increase our level of happiness, or in more scientific terms, our subjective well-being.  The good news is, it’s easier than you think.

As a positive thought organization whose sole mission is to spread joy, optimism and inspiration; The Joy Team is starting this annual Think Happy Rally, to be held each October during Positive Attitude Month purely to give people another reason to be intentional about creating a joyful life by choosing thoughts that serve their highest well-being.   And to have some fun while they’re at it.

Like vitamin-infused gummy bears, these 22 big yellow messages will boost your mood and your immunity while giving you a smile and maybe even a giggle at the same time. Here’s why:

Science: happiness leads to success

Happy people are

• 37% more successful in sales
• 19% more accurate
• 3 times more creative
• 31% more productive
• Up to 10 times more engaged

All this leads to more promotions, more raises, more success.  This holds true for children. Kids primed to think happy thoughts before taking standardized math tests outperformed their peers.

Related Think Happy Rally messages:

• Anything is possible. Anything.
• Something wonderful is about to happen.
• Yes. You can. Like a boss.
• You got this. And, bonus, you look amazing today.

 

Science:  happy people are healthier

• people primed with positive feelings experience a faster recovery from stress and its physical effects
• optimism cuts the risk of coronary heart disease by half
• children who have a more positive outlook at age 7 report better general health and fewer illnesses 30 years later
• In a 5-year study, older people were up to 35% less likely to die if they reported feeling happy, excited, and content on a typical day. And this was true even though the researchers took factors such as chronic health problems, depression, and financial security out of the equation

 Related Think Happy Rally messages:

• Happiness is wherever you are. Thanks for bringing it here.
• Inhale. Exhale. Smile. Repeat.
• Smile. Happy is SO your color.
• Think happy thoughts. They’re better for you than blueberries.

 

Science: how to improve happiness

• Find something to look forward to. Just thinking about watching your favorite movie can raise your endorphin levels by 27%
• Commit conscious acts of kindness. Studies show that giving to friends and even strangers decreases stress and strongly contributes to enhanced mental health. People who complete 5 acts of kindness in a day report feeling much happier and that feeling can last for days.
• Infuse positivity into your surroundings. Just seeing positive messages lowers physical and mental stress.
• In some studies it proves just as powerful as anti-depressants.
• Use a signature strength. Studies show using a signature strength in a new way each day for a week made participants significantly happier. And the heightened levels of happiness remained a full six months later.
• Studies show that simply believing we can bring about positive change in our lives increases motivation and performance and becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.
• Look for it. Research shows when we continually look for and focus on the positive, we are happier, more grateful and more optimistic.
• Practice gratitude. Gratitude has been shown to be a significant cause of positive outcomes. Practicing gratitude for a few weeks has caused people to not only feel happier and more optimistic, but also more socially connected, enjoy better sleep and even have fewer headaches.
• Research shows just the act of smiling signals your brain that you’re happy, which releases mood enhancing endorphins making it true.
• Spend time with happy people. Researchers found that when a person becomes happy, a friend living close by has a 25 percent higher chance of becoming happy themselves. A spouse experiences an 8 percent increased chance and for next-door neighbors, it’s 34 percent.

 Related Think Happy Rally messages:

• Be you. The world needs more of your kind of awesome.
• Believe in your AWESOMENESS.
• Gratitude is a leading cause of good things. Really good things.
• Happiness is contagious. Start an epidemic.
• Look for the silver lining. That’s the best way to find it.
• Love who you are. We do.
• One kind word can change the world.
• Rock the planet with LOVE.
• Smiling leads to happiness. Try it. We double dog dare you.
• You make a difference. A big one.