How to Unlock the Secrets to Happiness, Explained by a Biohacker
While most of us think we know what would bring us closer to divine bliss — a fatter paycheck, a hotter mate, a few less pounds around our midsection— science proves that we’re totally misguided.
Turns out our subjective joy quotient is actually influenced by far more surprising factors. I was recently at the Bulletproof Conference — an annual event that brings together people from around the world looking to optimize their physical and mental performance — where Dave Asprey, renowned biohacker, self-experimenter, and founder of the conference, spoke on the subject of boosting happiness.
As a perennial truth-seeker of all things health and psychology, I couldn’t wait to catch up with Dave to find out what he discovered in hopes that we might all use his findings to live happier, mentally healthier lives. Just a few of the surprising things I learned from our conversation:
Money can buy you happiness — up to a point. After you reach the $75K salary mark, more dough doesn’t do much to increase contentedness.
“The sweet is never as sweet without the sour.“ That’s a quote from one of my favorite movies, 2001’s Vanilla Sky, but the scientific term for this is emodiversity. Research suggests that to truly appreciate the good emotions, you have to feel the not-so-fun ones, too.
Exercise helps boost feelings of well-being. It’s not because you can fit into a certain jean size; it’s the biological result of brain-protective proteins and mood-elevating endorphins being released.
Check out the video above to learn more surprising secrets to happiness.
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