https://naturallybalanced.org/en/benefits-of-natural-walks/

A forest. Image source: https://naturallybalanced.org/en/benefits-of-natural-walks/

Happiness is fleeting, an emotional state tied to circumstance. This doesn’t mean that lasting happiness is not possible; many experts distinguish the temporary feeling of happiness from deeper, more stable content and fulfillment. Many experts view happiness as an internal journey rather than a final destination–learning to balance our emotions and fulfilling human experience, rather than getting rid of negative emotions.

Believe it or not, some of the most educational studies related to happiness have been done on monkeys. One such experiment is Harlow’s Attachment Experiments by psychologist Harry Harlow (1950s-1960s), where infant rhesus monkeys were separated from their mothers and given two surrogate “mothers”: one wire dispenser providing milk, and the other providing soft cloth. The studies found that monkeys overwhelmingly preferred clinging to the soft cloth for comfort, even when the wire dispenser provided food, demonstrating the importance of contact comfort and love as fundamental needs in addition to nourishment. Another such study was the Harlow’s Depression Studies (“Pits of Despair”), conducted at the University of Madison, isolated monkeys in chambers called “pits of despair”. Even previously happy monkeys became sad within days, refusing to eat or move, until they were released and felt happy again.

The longest scientific study on human happiness is the Harvard Study of Adult Development. Launched in 1948, the study has followed multiple generations over 88 years (as of 2026) to identify what truly makes a flourishing and fulfilling life. The study found that the single most crucial predictor of happiness and longevity is the quality of relationships. Fostering close social connections nourish physical and mental development more than money, fame, social class, or IQ might. Our brains are wired to thrive off of human connection. Frequent isolation can be as damaging to both the mind and the body as frequent smoking or obesity, as it can accelerate brain function decline and shorten lifespans. The study also found that people in secure relationships, where they had a balanced dynamic with their partner and felt that they could rely on them in times of need, were reported to have clearer memories for longer periods of time.

So how do we better incorporate these parts of overall human happiness into our everyday lives? Dr. Laurie Santos, a Yale psychology professor and host of The Happiness Lab, argues that our brains have a tendency to lie to us about what we find happiness in. Her research focuses on the science of well-being, which highlights that many things that we pursue, such as money, perfect grades, or luxury items, may not bring us the long-term happiness and fulfillment that we would normally expect.

The neuroscience of happiness involves a complex interplay of brain chemistry. The primary factors are dopamine (reward/motivation), serotonin (mood/well-being) and oxytocin (bonding/trust) within neural networks. Dopamine, known as the “feel-good” hormone gives you a temporary feeling of pleasure coming from achieving a goal. Serotonin, while similar to dopamine, gives you a long-lasting feeling of happiness and contentment. Low serotonin levels have been linked to frustration and low energy levels. There are many ways to naturally increase serotonin levels in your body: getting more exposure to sunlight, doing plenty of exercise, and eating foods that contain a substance known as tryptophan, which helps produce serotonin and melatonin, which is crucial for sleep.

Humans experience a phenomenon known as “miswanting”–wanting things that don’t actually improve happiness, such as excessive wealth far beyond a comfortable income. We often miswant things because our brains are subject to several cognitive biases: we overestimate the duration of how happy or sad something will make us, we quickly get used to new things which causes the initial “spark” to fade sooner than expected, we overfocus on one specific thing that we want while ignoring the other mundane factors of our lives that still bring us happiness, and we judge our happiness based on peers or social media, rather than our own objective needs, taking focus away from finding inner positivity.

While miswanting is a completely natural human tendency that cannot be fully
“Gotten rid of”, you can still mitigate the effects of it by using a number of strategies: practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness is becoming more well-known and important in recent years, due to its importance in mental health and psychology. By finding peace between your mind and your body, your perspective of the world can change dramatically, and you will start to see everything in life in a different way. Regularly remind yourself that you are enough instead of reminding yourself of what you lack. And remind yourself that wealth and status are not what matters most in your life, but also what matters to you personally, like your creative talents and personal goals.

Did you know that trying new things, even if you don’t think you’ll like it, can make you happier? New experiences tend to make our brains release dopamine and improve our mental health. Stepping outside of your comfort zone can also instigate a feeling of bravery, increasing confidence and feelings of self-worth. Higher self-esteem has also been found to increase efficiency in everyday activities, which in turn leads to a cycle of positive outcomes. When you have a more positive outlook, you are more likely to get goals accomplished.

Nature gives some of the most powerful benefits, as in an era where we are stuck on our phones and computers, it is easier to get sucked into an online rabbit hole and forget what we were even looking for in the first place. By taking some time off of the internet, which can be filled with toxicity, you can find yourself in a quiet space where you can take time off for yourself. Numerous studies have found a positive correlation between more time spent in nature and positive mental health factors such as improved focus, lower stress, better mood, and reduced risks of developing a mental health condition. A great way to do this is going for walks in a park near your house and making sure to limit the amount that you use your phone.

All of these strategies seem small at first glance, but in reality they have been found to have massive benefits for all kinds of people. We often find ourselves stuck on something called the hedonic treadmill–where our happiness levels generally return to a stable baseline over time. Studies have found that this can be determined by genetics and environmental factors, but to escape this a lot of our happiness comes from our own choices, such as acts of kindness and being in nature. This allows us to control our happiness levels rather than strictly adhere to a predetermined baseline.

In short, happiness can be an elusive emotion that is difficult to permanently acquire. But it’s not a destination, but a journey. By taking care of yourself, and changing even little things about your lifestyle, you can unlock the path to your own happiness.