Continuing with our discussion about happiness; what it is, what it means, and how to find it. I would like to recommend an Edx (Educational Exchange) course to all of you titled: “The Science of Happiness.” The course lasts eight weeks, and will require about 4 to 5 hours of your time per week. It is freely provided by the University of California at Berkeley, with a host of excellent professors including Dacher Keltner and Emiliana Simon-Thomas.

The course analyzes the importance of the Vagus nerve and Oxytocin (also known as the “cuddle hormone”), physical touch, active listening, friendships, parenting, empathy, self-compassion, kindness, heroism, cooperation, forgiveness, trust, mindfulness, gratitude, awe, and a host of other subjects in relation to happiness. Following is a link to the course:

https://www.edx.org/course/the-science-of-happiness-0

In week 7 Cristine Carter introduces the concept of Satisficer vs Maximizer, which one are you?

Let’s say you need to buy a microwave oven for your home. You decide on the dimensions, the color, and the functionality that you need. You visit your friendly neighborhood appliance store and you find a model that complies with your requirements at a reasonable price. You buy it, end of story. If this is what you tend to do in general then you are a satisficer. If, on the other hand, you decide to keep shopping to improve on the price or characteristics of the unit, then you are a maximizer. Maximizers are perfectionists and are rarely satisfied with their purchase. This condition tends to make them less happy than the satisficers.

There is one more controversial subject in the course and it has to do with:

Does being spiritual or religious make you happier in life? What do you think?