Relationships matter -- a lot.
"At 56, for people who put energy into families, there was a big payback," said Michael Apted.
Again and again, the "Up" series reveals how critical friends, family, and social connections are to an individual’s success and happiness in life. For both men and women, caring for others invested their lives with a meaning that they weren't able to find in any other activity.
Money also matters -- but only up to a point.
The series originally set out to examine the long-term impact of social class on happiness and life chances. And it does, in fact, show that money matters. But the research also shows that once we secure food, shelter, and a minimum level of comfort, happiness springs from life meaning and relationships much more than money.
Life goes on.
Through the years, we've seen the participants experience deaths, divorce, and dramatic career setbacks. We've also seen them prevail against adversity.
Over and over, we've seen the participants believe negative events meant their lives were finished. But people will gradually return to their personal "baseline" of happiness after a triumph or a tragedy.
The key to happiness is to raise that baseline by cultivating an approach to life that emphasizes appreciation for the good things, as well as qualities like forgiveness and compassion.
Count your blessings.
The most troubled -- and compelling -- participants in the series are the ones that are also among the most grateful for what they have.
Neil, for example, suffers severe mental illness and has been homeless and suicidal for long stretches of time. But Neil also provides the audience with many moments of grace, as when he recounts how grateful he is for long walks and conversations with friends.
This sense of gratitude contributes powerfully to the resilience self-cure of Neil. People who live a life of pervasive thankfulness really do experience life differently than people who cheat themselves out of life by not feeling grateful.
Don't compare yourself to others.
Yes, research does find that inequality makes us unhappy -- but it turns out that this has little to do with absolute amounts of money. It's the comparisons that hurt.
We hurt ourselves with comparisons to others, but we can't seem to stop. Remember that each life must be judged on its own terms.
相关单词：appreciation
appreciation解释：n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨
appreciation例句：
I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。
相关单词：compassion
compassion解释：n.同情，怜悯
compassion例句：
He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。
相关单词：blessings
blessings解释：n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福
blessings例句：
Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
相关单词：gratitude
gratitude解释：adj.感激，感谢
gratitude例句：
I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。
相关单词：pervasive
pervasive解释：adj.普遍的；遍布的，(到处)弥漫的；渗透性的
pervasive例句：
It is the most pervasive compound on earth.它是地球上最普遍的化合物。
The adverse health effects of car exhaust are pervasive and difficult to measure.汽车尾气对人类健康所构成的有害影响是普遍的，并且难以估算。
