Happiness and Work

Part of what I've been researching is happines,s and I've discovered some wonderful things. For example, for years it has been thought that success makes us happier. But research shows that the opposite is true; happiness makes us more successful. One study conducted on two groups of medical doctors showed that the group given a simple gift of candy before they were asked to make a medical evaluation made better and quicker evaluations than the group that was not given a gift.

I could relate many more such studies, but the thing that impressed me is that usually we think we can get our family members to work harder and faster if we promise them a reward at the end. But study after study showed that if we can make people feel happier before they start to work, they work better and faster than if promised rewards afterward. I wish I'd known that when I was raising my children. But then, maybe these results only work in business.

The research also details many things that make people happy like the small gift of candy the doctors were given or words of praise or quality time spent with the person or thinking about good things like blessings or playing music that makes them happy.

I don't have children at home any more, but I'd be interested to see how you find this works on children. If you try it, let me know!