You can even learn to be happy

One can learn to be happy, as new research has shown that different measures of psychological well-being gradually increase in people from the start of an intense happiness program to its end.

Study participants also reported significant reductions in anxiety, perceived stress, negative thoughts, rumination, and tendencies to anger.

Researchers, including Nicola de Bisabia of the University of Trento, observed improvements in positive aspects and a decrease in negative emotions, both in the short term and in length, throughout the program. "The training that we proposed to the participants was inspired by the idea found in the Western and Eastern philosophical traditions, that happiness is closely related to the development of internal balance, and a more gentle and open perspective of oneself, others and the world, towards a better understanding of the human mind and the brain."

For the study published in Frontiers in Psychology, the team conducted the research for nine months.

For the theoretical part, the participants attended a series of presentations, watched some video sessions, and participated in open discussions on the topics of psychology, neuroscience, the history of Western thought, and the Buddhist philosophy of life.

Scientific topics included neuroplasticity, brain circuits of attention and distraction, stress and anxiety, pain and pleasure, positive and negative emotions, desire and addiction, sense of self, empathy and compassion.

For the practical part, a series of exercises are suggested, taken from various meditative, Buddhist and Western traditions (for example, meditation on breathing, analytical meditation, personal diaries).