It seems that more and more people are searching for meaning, answers and, most of all, happiness.
“All of us want to be happier,” Yale psychology professor Lauri Santos told CNN earlier this year. “The problem is that we have a lot of misconceptions about what really will make us happy. We think we need to change our circumstances in major ways, but often simply behavioral and mindset changes can make a big difference in our sense of well-being.”
Santos is the person who started and teaches Yale's wildly popular happiness class, a course that is also offered online for free via Coursera.
While Santos's class has a wealth of information and provides exceptional guidance, it is missing one big component - Homer Simpson.
It turns out that many of the lessons around happiness can be learned by watching Fox's long-running animated hit that has been a staple of the network's programming since 1989; here are three reasons why.
No. 1: Homer Simpson is content
Homer Simpson has a house, a car, a loving wife, a job, three children, a dog, close friends and likes a good bottle of Duff while watching the tube after a day at work.
Researchers at the University of Chicago investigated contentment and happiness and discovered two important strategies: the "More Strategy" and the "Enough Strategy."
The first, the researchers note, describes "where people try to find more money, more power, more stuff, more validation, and more success from the world outside of them." The second is "where people direct their attention inward to find the happiness that’s already inside of them."
Homer Simpson subscribes to the "Enough Strategy." He is not a corporate climber, he doesn't long for a fancy car (except for maybe "The Homer") and his home is modest by American standards. He is content.
To summarize: "Hmmm. Donuts."
No. 2: Homer values his family and friends
While Homer seems to be in constant conflict with his family, he clearly loves them. Throughout the series he defends his wife, Marge, goes to great lengths to protect his children and makes time to care for his elderly father.
How he behaves in these situations and the choices he makes are often comical. With that said, every episode begins with the family sitting on the couch and usually ends with the family intact. He also spends time with co-workers, friends, attends church services and is involved in his community.
It seems Homer would be a good candidate for this Harvard study that showed that "close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives."
One of the most interesting displays of Homer's devotion to his family is the number of episodes that include a scene where the family is gathered for dinner. Many times relatives join them as well.
In the endless race to possess more and achieve success, a slow death of an American institution - the family dinner - is taking place. Countless studies have shown the benefits of taking time for family dinner, yet the frequency that this once revered ritual takes place is on a steady decline.
Dietitian Maryann Jacobsen, author of "The Family Dinner Solution," notes that "children who eat regular family dinners experience less depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, have bigger vocabularies, get better grades, have higher self-esteem, and eat more fruits and vegetables."
To summarize: "You want the frozen fish nuggets or the pork-a-roni?"
No. 3: Homer is willing to take risks and live life
Monorail driver. Steak eating contestant. Ice cream. Donuts. Drawing a bulls eye on his chest as a target for a tee-shirt cannon. The witness protection program. Mr. Plow. His garbage collection business. Football scandals. Water skiing. Snow skiing. The list is endless.
He laughs. He gets hurt. He makes mistakes. He has fun. He falls down. He gets back up.
Homer is often bruised and dirtied which is exemplifies his willingness to say yes to life rather than play things safe. There is something to this approach.
This TEDx Talk by Michelle Poler shares the story of how she did something that scared her each day for 100 days. "When we change our approach, when we change our relationship with fear, we will ultimately change our approach to life itself," Poler suggests.
Homer has lived - emphasis on lived - in Springfield his entire life and he has made the most of where he is and what he has. He is not scared to say "I'll do it!" despite a history of getting hurt physically and emotionally.
To summarize: "Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers."
For over 30 years "The Simpsons" has brought laughs; it has also brought invaluable lessons.
While many may see Homer as an overweight, dimwitted, beer-drinking buffoon, he actually may be smarter than all of us since he is happy.
Thankfully Homer reminds us that, "You can't depend on me all your life. You have to learn that there's a little Homer Simpson in all of us."
And that's a good thing.
D'oh!
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