Happiness, The Arts, and Neuroscience

What we can learn from Happiness Research

Let’s face it — dancing, singing and painting are just plain FUN.

happy = fun.

Even if for a nanosecond.

Feeling free, feeling happy — released from obligatory concerns — makes us feel purposeful.

Here are 4 psychological discoveries related to the Arts.

1. **Flow States 🚴🏾‍♀️

The arts — dancing, painting, and singing — are tied to flow states discovered by psychologists Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Jeanne Nakamura.

Flow State — a feeling where, under the right conditions, you become fully immersed in whatever you are doing.

2. **Paradoxical Play 🏂 🪂

The arts require us to be highly attentive and at the same time let go. This paradox increases imaginative thoughts and produces happiness.

A mental freedom occurs when we are attentive and loose. We connect seemingly disconnected ideas and content. Connection brings about happiness.

Feeling good promotes thinking outside the box.

INVENTIVNESS MAKES US HAPPY.

3. **Psychological Hardiness 🤾🏼‍♂️

Psychological hardiness, developed by Suzanne Kobasa, has been associated with personality traits and internal/external locus of control.

Artistic activities increase our sense of internal locus of control [meaning we are in control of our life] and reinforce resilience.

Both of these measures increase one’s happiness. An article on Cognitive flexibility and psychological hardiness: examining the mediating role of positive humor styles and happiness in teachers was published in 2022.

This research and others point to the arts as being associated with increased hardiness and happiness.

4. **Finally, happiness itself!🎯

Martin Seligman developed a theory of happiness in the late 20th century.

He argued 3 things need to happen to make us happy:

1. we need to feel positive about what we are engaged in.

2. we need to find what we are doing as meaningful.

3. we need to connect with others in a positive way.

WHEN WE ENGAGE IN ARTISTIC ACTIVITY LIKE PAINTING, DANCING OR SINGING WE FULFILL ALL 3 OF SELIGMAN’S NEEDS FOR HAPPINESS.

My article on doodling is one way we can engage in the arts while working a 9 to 5 job.

Doodle and have a happy day — -today! And, follow me to receive more on happiness and the arts.