How Do We Make Happiness Grow?

“Glaed dig” by Tor Norretranders Summary by: Allis Nielsen

How do we make happiness grow in the classroom or at the job? It is the question that this text will focus on by means of a short summary of the Danish writer and researcher Tor Norretranders’ book: “Glaed dig” - in English you would call it "Rejoice".

This is a short review of the Danish writer and researcher Tor Norretranders’ book: “Glaed dig” - in English you would call it "Rejoice" Tor Norretranders calls himself an atheist but initially you will not believe this when you read his book about happiness.

The book is based on scientific facts, but it is striking how much research in positive psychology has in common with the advice that world religions have made through thousands of years. See later.

Tor Norretranders believes that "Happiness is capricious" - because it is how happiness is. “If happiness was not capricious, we would not experience "happiness" “ he says. We know from neurobiological research that when good things come as a surprise, we feel joy. If positive things happen - and we expect them to do - we literally do not care.

These findings do not correspond with what a great deal of us thought, namely that happiness would grow proportionally with the flow of stable prosperity and well-being. We think that if we win the lottery we will feel joy, but the truth is that the joy is quickly removable and prosperity will be considered as a matter of course. Modern society does everything to fight accidents. Causes of illness, misery and distress combated with social measures, economic development and technological progress. Similar efforts are made with psychology and psychiatry against crises in the life of the soul.

The strategy has celebrated great triumphs. Much misery and grief have been removed from our daily lives, and several parts of the world are on the rise in living standards. Still we think that we do not feel happy! "It looks like a cruel joke," as the American psychologist Randoph Nesse says. Norretranders says "I think we must learn to distinguish between the false happiness, which means to have more than others, to have money and control and the true happiness that cannot be owned, controlled or planned. We will experience the true happiness of surprise as rich and wonderful. It's about getting ready to take it. To reach out to your fellow being. It is about believing that there may be something nice, and that there is something glorious coming. It is about insisting that your life should be full of joy. To rejoice means that you do not know what you get. It does not amount to much.

It is e.g. to see another person in the eye and feel confident that triggers pleasure response in the brain." The research in happiness teaches us that we can experience more joy if we shift our attention around to new areas of life. Even if the outer life is the same. We can for example choose to be thankful, open, curious and forgiving. Some are born happier than others, and some have better conditions to develop joy than others.

Just as some are physically stronger than others. But like some people can get a better and better functioning body by using it wisely, you can get a better mood by doing something yourself. Try to notice small things that you usually take for granted, but that make you happy during the day - a bit of sunshine, - a touch, - a nice meal or the like. Try to spend more time with friends and family. Visit someone who has meant a lot to you and say “Thank you”.

Send a letter to someone who has hurt you and tell her or him that you forgive her or him.. Generosity and confidence cause the body to produce more dopamine, a chemical that is associated with the experience of joy and happiness. When you are happy the world will open, and you will become more creative, you will see more opportunities, and you will be waiting for the best. When you are creative and see new opportunities, you are more ready to learn, and you are a better employee in a world that requires innovative thinking. The human brain is designed to a fight / flight instinct.

It is necessary for the survival of the species that we know how to escape when a tiger is confronting us. Now,- there are not that many tigers in the middle of Denmark. Thus we channel our "fight / flight-instinct" into quite other unimportant things. Per instinct we are very anxious or angry --- but without a tiger. When you feel pressed, angry, anxious the brain focuses on one thing - survival. The anxiousness or anger are our “tiger”, and the world becomes smaller because the brain lets everything else wait while it tries to survive efficiently and appropriately. “Most modern people continuously behave as if they are facing a tiger,” Tor Norretranders says “ - a work place of work with fear, uncertainty and anger, asks for employees who do not think creatively but only focus on “survival". No employer is interested in such conditions.” The same idea can be applied to learning.

A classroom full of fear, insecurity and anger will bring no new solutions, no new ways of learning - because the brain of each individual will instinctively be directed towards "survival". How do we bring more happiness to places of work and schools? Norretranders predicts that future research will focus on how we train cooperation and mutual respect. The future will be dependent on our abilities as to these properties. This is not because the world will suddenly become sloppy, but because it will turn out as the most profitable way to work. Modern economy and the technology of the Internet have already realized it is necessary to develop cooperation. “It is fortunate”, Norretranders says, “- if it turns out that it is only profitable if our society becomes more proficient in cooperating and handling human relations because it is here the greatest joys and the way to happiness are secured.”