What It Really Means to Be Happy (and How to Get There)
This week’s inspiration comes from an interview with happiness researcher Michael Plant, published by CNBC (“36-year-old happiness researcher shares what it means—and what it takes—to be happy”).
Plant is the founder of the Happier Lives Institute and a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre. After more than 20 years of studying happiness, his advice is refreshingly simple—and a good reminder that true happiness isn’t just about ourselves.
The Big Takeaways on Happiness
Plant defines happiness as “the experience of feeling good overall.” Simple enough, but when he dug into the research, two main ideas stood out:
1. Mental health matters more than we think.
Plant says, “Don’t get depressed”—half-jokingly, because of course depression isn’t a choice—but his point is clear: mental health has a huge impact on happiness. If you’re struggling, talking to friends, seeing a doctor, or trying therapy can make a big difference. “Therapy does work,” he reminds us.
2. Don’t just worry about yourself.
Much of the conversation about happiness, Plant believes, is overly self-centered. While self-care is important, connection is essential. Happiness grows when we make a positive difference in other people’s lives, when we feel useful, loved, and part of a community.
Daily Habits That Help Happiness Stick
So, how do we put these ideas into practice? Plant’s daily habits give us a few clues:
Be intentional about relationships. Check in on the quality of your connections, not just with close friends and family, but with the “weaker ties” that make you feel part of a larger community. These everyday interactions add more to our happiness than we might think.
Start with gratitude. Plant admits he doesn’t always succeed, but he tries to begin each day by noticing something to be thankful for.
Find meaningful work. We spend most of our waking hours working, so finding purpose in what we do and enjoying the people we work with can be a huge source of happiness.
Move your body daily. Exercise isn’t just for fitness; it’s a reliable mood-booster.
A Four-Step Mood Check
One of Plant’s most practical tips is his mood checklist:
Have I eaten something?
Have I left the house?
Have I spoken to someone?
Have I exercised?
If the answer is “yes” to all four and you’re still feeling low, it may be time to address something deeper.
Accepting Life’s Ups and Downs
Finally, Plant acknowledges that life isn’t “good vibes only.” Stress, frustration, and sadness are part of being human. The trick is knowing when to take action and when to accept what you can’t change—a principle he borrows from the serenity prayer.
Happiness, then, isn’t about constant bliss. It’s about building habits, nurturing connections, caring for our mental health, and finding purpose. As Plant’s research reminds us, when we focus on both our own well-being and the well-being of others, we create a life that feels good overall. And that’s the kind of happiness worth striving for.
