How Happiness Does Work

BEING HUMAN MEANS A SIMPLE LIFE WITH GOOD FAITH AND ACTION

How Happiness Does Work

The ability to be happy comes from the

neocortex, the higher brain that is the site of

reason, intellect, long-term memory, and the

human spirit. This is the part of the brain that

has the power to override the fear centers in

the brain stem and amygdala and say, “no,

calm down, everything is ok.” It has the keys

to becoming happy.

The way we’re wired, it’s impossible to

concentrate on fear and love at the same time.

They’re incompatible. So by using the

neocortex to focus on love, we can override the

fear messages of the lower brain. Specifically,

by focusing on appreciation, generosity,

personal choice, and simply doing things that

are meaningful, we can make ourselves happy.

Not a bogus facade of pretend happiness

where we go around acting happy even though

we’re not—real, true happiness.

 Luckily, we don’t have let them

rule our lives—we have other brain parts that

can override them