Is there something in the water?

That's a funny phrase. We use it to define all sorts of phenomenon like population spikes, a large number of accidents, a rash of crime, or a rash of kindness. We use it as an excuse as to why people behave unusually good or unusually bad. One creative author, SARK, says of children, “If they’re crabby, put them in the water.” It’s true, there is not a lot that a good long bath can’t help to make at least a bit better. What is it in the water that soothes the soul, refreshes the spirit, and makes us feel free?

Is there something in the water that makes us feel good? Is there something about living next to it that makes us happy? That idea made me wonder about happiness and what actually impacts our level of finding it or feeling it. Scientists have done numerous studies on happiness, happy people, optimistic people and the lot. Dr. David Myers is a psychologist, and author of many books, who has studied happiness and has some very interesting suggestions on how to increase your chances of finding it. (His findings are fascinating and you can get more details about them at his website www.davidmyers.net.) One way he suggests we find happiness is by acting happy. As silly as you may feel trying to act happy, it really does work. If you’re having trouble with this I’d suggest a walk to the lake, with a smile on your face. Now I ask you, is it possible to be on a dock, on a boat, or swimming, and not feel happy? So head to the lake and, in no time, you’ll be feeling happier.

Myers also suggests investing in close relationships. Living near a body of water or owning a cabin means that you probably do a fair share of entertaining friends and family. It gives you a great excuse to be with people and build relationships with them. You are automatically doing exactly as Myers prescribes, and this often leads to some happy times and happy feelings. It builds traditions and memories. Maybe there really is something in the water, something that begs us to have fun, to invest in relationships, and to focus on the good in life.

I happen to love the book series by David Niven, Ph.D. entitled The 100 Simple Secrets of...I’ll focus on The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People. He sites many studies in the book that lead him to his conclusions. At the end of each short chapter is a fact from a study or scientist to back up his conclusions.

Niven suggests that we turn off the TV. “Watching too much TV can triple our hunger for more possessions, while reducing our personal contentment by about 5 percent for every hour a day we watch,” sites Niven. What we focus on is often what becomes what we want and what we believe we need. The mass marketing appeal of television is very enticing, growing our hunger at an alarming rate.

Watching less television also goes hand in hand with Myers’ belief that we should stay active to be happy. Less TV is likely to lead to more activity which in turn leads to a happier and more satisfying life. Niven suggest we enjoy what we have instead of trying to have the most. “People who have the most are only as likely to be happy as those who have the least. People who like what they have, however, are twice as likely to be happy as those who actually have the most.” I would presume that most of us really enjoy what we have: the lake.

Finally, Niven reminds us to have fun. “Having fun is one of the five central factors in leading a satisfied life. Individuals who spend time just having fun are 20 percent more likely to feel happy on a daily basis and 36 percent more likely to feel comfortable with their age and stage in life.” I could easily argue that some of the most fun moments of my summer were spent on or near the lake. There must be something in the water.

I say all of this somewhat tongue in cheek as I know it’s not really the water making us happy, but rather the choices we make, the way we view things, personal belief in ourselves, not dwelling on regrets and mistakes, and instead focusing on the good things in our life. There’s probably nothing in the water. However, there may be something to be said for those of us who have found something we love, something that helps us focus on happiness, and for many of us that is the lake. 

By Nancy Henke