1. Finding Happy! The Science of Happiness
Tamara Knapp-Grosz, Ph.D.
Senior Director, Counseling and Testing Services
University of North Texas

2. Activity 1 Brainstorm with Partner
What determines Your happiness?

3. Happier People Shawn Achor
Healthier
More successful
Live longer
Have more positive relationships
So much more!

4. The Science of Happiness Determinants of Happiness Pie Chart (Sonia Lyubomirsky,2007)

5. You Can Impact Your Happiness!
Be willing to try something new!
Practice it with intention!
Don’t give up!
Get Support for Changes!

6. Benefits of Gratitude http://happierhuman.com/benefits-of-gratitude/

7. Activity 2 The Doubler (Slatcher & Pennebaker, 2006)
For 2 minutes per day think of one positive experience that happened in last 24 hours
Bullet point every detail
Brain cant differentiate between visualization and actual experience so you have just doubled the positive experience!
Previous research from the University of Texas found that if you have a chronic neuromuscular disease, chronic fatigue and pain, and you do this for six weeks in a row, six months later, they can drop your pain medication by 50 percent.

8. Activity 3 Scanning for Positives (Sood, 2015)
21 days
3 New things you are grateful for
Scan for positives instead of for threats
Be specific! For example instead of “I’m grateful for my son,” -you say, “I’m grateful for my son because he hugged me today, which means I’m loved regardless,” that specificity actually gets the brain stuck in a new pattern of optimism

9. Activity 4: Future Diary: Projected Accomplishment (Seligman, 2002)

10. Activity 5 Plan for Getting Connected!
Relationships are #1 predictor of happiness!
Let’s get some ideas on how to connect here at UNT!
Service Opportunities for Students
Student Government
Student Clubs
Recreation and Fitness
Community involvement
What else?
What's your plan? Let’s write it down!

11. Activity 6 Your Happiest Days are Behind You! Robert Biswas-Diener

12. Activity 7 Home work
Forest Bathing
Blue Spaces

13. Take Home Bonus Activity The Gratitude Visit (Seligman, 2002)

14. References Achor, Shaun (2010). The Happiness Advantage.
Lyubomirsky, Sonia (2007). The How of Happiness. New York: Penguin Books.
Slatcher, R.B. & Pennebaker, J.W. (2006). How do I love thee? Let me count the words:The social effects of expressive writing. Psychological Science, 17,
Seligman, Martin (2002). Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment. Free Press.
Sood, Amit (2015. The Mayo Clinic Handbook for Happiness. Boston, Ma: Decapo Press.