This is going to be a difficult question to answer, not in terms of learning but in defining what happiness actually means, which is surprising given its probably the single most important objective most of us have and wish for others.

Happiness has also caught the attention of government with some considering its growth more important than GDP.

And did you know that there is a World Happiness Report and a World Happiness Day – it’s the 20^th of March.

But as difficult as it is to define, we will need to try in order to figure out if learning can help make us happy.

Happiness is….

A complex emotional state characterised by feelings of pleasure, joy, contentment, and overall wellbeing. It often involves a sense of satisfaction with life and its circumstances.

Sorry about this but I think we need to explore a few of these terms in a little more detail. Feelings are conscious, subjective experiences that result from emotions. Pleasure is an enjoyable sensation or activity that brings immediate satisfaction, think eating something really tasty. Contentment is often a longer lasting sense of peace and acceptance of your circumstances, and satisfaction is the fulfilment of desires, needs, or expectations which lead to a sense of achievement.

It might also be worth adding that you can’t be happy all of the time, happiness is a transient state that fluctuates over time and throughout life.

“Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Abraham Lincoln

But that just gives us a better understanding of the words, wouldn’t it be nice to know how you can increase your happiness? And for this we need to look into the work of Martin Seligman, known as the father of positive psychology. Seligman identified that happiness is not entirely down to you, he says that if happiness was measured on a scale of 1 to 100, the first 50% would be outside of your control, its genetic, you are effectively born a glass half-full, half-empty kind of person. Another 10% is affected by circumstance, such as getting a promotion or failing an exam. Only the remaining 40% is determined by your choices, what are called “voluntary variables,” these include how we perceive the world, expanding perspective and finding meaning to our lives and work.

He also developed a framework for understanding and promoting well-being and happiness. His model is known by the initials PERMA and identifies five essential elements:

• Positive Emotions (P): Positive emotions, such as joy, gratitude, and love, are a fundamental part of wellbeing. They contribute to happiness and enhance overall life satisfaction.
• Engagement (E): Engagement refers to the state of being fully absorbed and immersed in activities that align with your strengths and interests. It’s often associated with the concept of “flow,” where individuals lose track of time because they are so engrossed in what they’re doing.
• Relationships (R): Positive and meaningful relationships with others are crucial for wellbeing. Connecting with others, offering and receiving support significantly contributes to happiness and satisfaction with life.
• Meaning (M): Finding a sense of purpose, meaning, or direction in life is an important component for happiness. This involves understanding why one’s life matters and how it contributes to a greater purpose.
• Accomplishment (A): Another factor to consider is achieving goals, setting and meeting challenges, learning new skills and competencies, all of which can lead to a sense of accomplishment.

PERMA should not be thought of as a formula for happiness, it’s a framework that has been helpful in guiding research and directing interventions aimed at improving the quality of life. Although the definition of happiness is useful, this framework provides some insight into the building blocks of happiness which will be used in the next section. Click here to watch Martin Seligman explain PERMA in more detail.

In summary, happiness is a positive emotional experience that results from how you feel about events and often involves the fulfilling of needs and ambitions. The PERMA model provides insight into the areas we can work on to become happier.

I appreciate this has been relatively detailed and you may need to read it a couple of times but I hope that it will provide a useful way of thinking about how learning might or might not help us feel happy.

“Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product.” Eleanor Roosevelt

But what about the money

“Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has, the more one wants.” Benjamin Franklin

You may have noticed that we have not mentioned money, largely because according to Seligman and others it’s not a key determinant of happiness. It might be a way in which you measure your accomplishments, “when I am earning £80,000 a year or have enough money to buy that new car, I will be successful”. Equally you may become incredibly engaged in earning lots of money, but that pile of paper in the corner will do little to put a smile on your face.

“Money can’t buy happiness, but it can make you awfully comfortable while you’re being miserable.” Claire Luce

Learning and happiness  

In terms of the bigger picture there is a general consensus that education enhances life satisfaction and as a result some degree of happiness, at least indirectly via gaining key determinants of happiness such as better occupations, monetary rewards (see above) and improved health. But let’s consider a few specifics.

The neurological impact – What’s happening inside your brain when learning? Research using brain imaging techniques such as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) has shown that learning something new can result in an increase in Dopamine which is associated with feelings of pleasure, reward and motivation. Also, if the learning is engaging and the task completed on time, it can provide a sense of achievement, which can release Serotonin, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter which contributes to positive emotions and mental stability.

If PERMA leads to happiness, it should be a useful exercise to use it to evaluate the benefits of learning.

• Positive Emotions (P): Positive emotions such as curiosity, interest, and enthusiasm can naturally emerge when learning, although you may need to foster a positive “I can do attitude” first.
• Engagement (E): Engagement in learning is a natural outcome of a positive and enjoyable learning experience. When learning is engaging, individuals become fully absorbed in the subject, you can get into the “flow,” which makes it easier to grasp and retain new information.
• Relationships (R): Something that can easily be overlooked is that learning often results in valuable relationships that develop when collaborating with peers, teachers and mentors. Positive relationships provide opportunities for feedback, support, and different perspectives, all of which help you to learn more effectively.  
• Meaning (M): Finding meaning in the subject matter or the learning process is a powerful motivator. When you understand the significance of what you’re learning and how it will help you achieve your personal goals, there will be a greater sense of satisfaction that your efforts are worthwhile.
• Accomplishment (A): Setting and achieving learning goals can be highly rewarding. As you make progress in your learning journey there can be a great sense of accomplishment as well as the development of mastery. This sense of achievement boosts confidence and self-efficacy, which only adds to a feeling of satisfaction and ultimately happiness.

Well, what do you think, does learning make you happy? I think so……but remember happiness is not a constant, so don’t expect to be smiling all the time, especially when you have decided not to go out, prioritising a night in with the text book instead!!

“He who laughs most, learns best.” John Cleese