The power of imagination is very strong. It inspires the written work, causes the creation of great works of art, and provides a welcome escape from current problems.
It can also make you happier.
A study at Bowling Green State University in Ohio revealed that the act of imagining happiness or sadness caused participants to feel those emotions and demonstrate corresponding brain activity. This explains why we laugh and cry along with characters in movies.
How can this impact your happiness? You can make choices to imagine happy situations. Listen to music that makes you feel happy rather than dwelling on those selections that invoke anger or depression. These efforts can actually make you feel happier.
***This is one of a series of blog posts based on "Train Your Brain to be Happy" by Teresa Aubele, Stan Wenck, and Susan Reynolds.