What is the key to lasting happiness?

Neuroscientist and Trinity Professor Ian Robertson said “people need a sense of purpose” in life to achieve it which can often be found through relationships.

It comes as International Day of Happiness is celebrated across the world today, a UN holiday that aims to promote the “well-being of all peoples”.

On The Hard Shoulder today Dr Robertson said people often look for happiness in the wrong places.

“The things that will not make you happy is chasing money, status and celebrity,” he said.

“These things, we know from research across the world, make you less happy - they are the extrinsic things.

“Most people will say relationships, health, and personal growth – these are the intrinsic things that make you happy.”

Money

Dr Robertson said money is certainly not the solution.

“Winning the lotto will not bring you happiness,” he said.

“There was a study done on people who suffered quadriplegia in an accident and people who had won the lottery.

“Two years later their happiness was no different to one another.

"As long as you got enough to eat, you’re not lonely and have a house to stay in – happiness is attainable for everyone."

Biology

Dr Robertson said we are biologically programmed to gain happiness from relationships.

“Our relationships are critical to us, if we have good relationships, we are going to be happy,” he said.

“If you think about other people more than yourself, we know things like altruism and focusing on other people makes us happy as well.

"People need a sense of purpose and relationships give us a sense of purpose.

“People also need to be curious and have novel experiences.”

Dr Robertson said a combination of these things, in addition to generosity, is the “secret to happiness”.

You can listen back here:

Main image: Mother and daughter writing a list together. Image: Yuri Arcurs / Alamy Stock Photo