The #1 Happiness Secret: Know Your Brain Type
How can you be happier? You need to know your Brain Type!
For decades, social scientists have been searching for the roots of happiness. Based on their research, it is generally accepted that happiness is about 40% genetic (you inherit it from your ancestors), 10% your situation in life or what happens to you, and 50% habits and mindset. This means you have a higher degree of control over happiness than most people think.
Researchers typically report happiness being associated with novelty, fun experiences, positive relationships, laughter, gratitude, anticipation, helping others, staying away from comparisons, meditation, nature, living in the moment (rather than the past with regret or the future with fear), productive work, a sense of purpose, spiritual beliefs, and wanting what you have opposed to wanting more.
Yet most happiness research completely misses one important aspect: It is critical to target happiness strategies to your unique brain type—a one-size-fits-all approach will never work.
Most happiness research completely misses one important aspect: It is critical to target happiness strategies to your unique brain type—a one-size-fits-all approach will never work.
WHAT ARE BRAIN TYPES AND HOW ARE THEY RELATED TO PERSONALITY TYPES AND HAPPINESS?
For over three decades, Amen Clinics has been using brain SPECT imaging as part of a comprehensive evaluation to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of mental, cognitive, and behavioral health conditions. SPECT measures blood flow and activity in the brain and basically shows three things: areas of the brain with healthy activity, too little activity, and too much activity. The brain imaging work at Amen Clinics shows that mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression or ADD/ADHD, are not single or simple disorders. They all have multiple types associated with different brain patterns, and they all require their own treatments. Taking a one-size-fits-all approach to treating people with mental health issues based solely on their symptoms invites failure and frustration. Understanding your type of brain is critical to getting the right help. Just as the brain imaging work at Amen Clinics is changing the way mental health is diagnosed and treated, it is also changing the way we think about personality and happiness. After analyzing a database of over 300,000 scans, it has become clear that the brain patterns seen on SPECT correlate with 5 primary personality types.- If your brain shows full, even, symmetrical activity overall, you tend to be Balanced.
- If the front part of your brain is sleepy or lower in activity compared to others, you are more likely to be creative, impulsive, and Spontaneous.
- If the front part of your brain is much more active than average, you tend to worry and be more
- If your emotional or limbic brain is more active than average, you tend to be more vulnerable to sadness and be more Sensitive.
- If your amygdala and basal ganglia are more active than average, you tend to be more anxious and Cautious.
WHAT MAKES YOUR BRAIN TYPE AND PERSONALITY TYPE HAPPIER?
Happiness means different things to different people. Knowing your brain type is the key to finding the happiness strategies that work best for you. Here are some basic findings of the 5 primary brain types and what makes them happy and unhappy.Balanced Brain Type
People with the Balanced Brain Type tend to go through life in an organized fashion and generally do well in school and on the job. They are the neighbors we want next door. What makes people with the Balanced Brain Type happy?- Healthy relationships
- Meaningful work
- Financial security
- Excessive risk-taking
- Missing assignments
- Being around people who are undependable, negative, or don’t play by the rules
Spontaneous Brain Type
Spontaneous Brain Types can be the life of the party. In a way, the traits seen in this type represent some of the characteristics we admire most as Americans—risk-taking, creativity, and adventurousness. But this type can have trouble with focus and attention, and there is a vulnerability for ADD/ADHD. What makes people with the Spontaneous Brain Type happy?- Trying new things
- Trying an extreme sport
- Watching scary movies
- Boredom, sameness, and familiarity
- Having a deadline
- Having to wait in line
Persistent Brain Type
People with the Persistent Brain Type like to get up in the morning and attack the day. They tend to pursue goals with dogged determination, but they can get hung up on worries and are usually rigid in their thinking. In some cases, they may be susceptible to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), addictive behaviors, and eating disorders. What makes people with the Persistent Brain Type happy?- Being in charge
- Having the respect of others
- Predictable days
- People who don’t do what they said they were going to do
- Failure
- Having the rules changed
Sensitive Brain Type
Sensitive types have a way of sensing and feeling emotions in ways that many others aren’t capable of doing. This brain type is common among nurses, therapists, and pastors, as well as artistic types. These people may be prone to depression. What makes people with the Sensitive Brain Type happy?- Listening to calming music
- Thinking deep thoughts
- Writing, painting, and other creative ways to express their emotions
- Negative thoughts that won’t go away
- Being socially disconnected from others
- Driving on busy boulevards
Cautious Brain Type
Having the Cautious Brain Type is associated with being prepared, thinking about the consequences of what you say or do before you do it, avoiding risks, and being on time. In some people with this brain type, anxiety or panic disorders may be present. What makes people with the Cautious Brain Type happy?- Everything being in its place and having a place for everything
- A warm bath at the end of the day
- Making a pros-and-cons list before a big decision
- Being in a chaotic environment
- Being late for an appointment
- Having too much to do
