INTERVIEW: Finding joy in a world of chaos

Dr. Heather Lench is a professor in psychological and brain sciences at Texas A&M University. She believes there are ways to find happiness in a world that can seem chaotic and overwhelming. She says research on the topic shows one of the key things we can do is focus on what is in our control, and focus on activities that give us the greatest joy — things we do because we enjoy doing them — and spend more time on those activities. Dr Lench says research has shown that you don’t have to spend time meditating quietly without distractions to find happiness. She says there are a lot of ways to engage in meaningful activities that create joy, including walking, painting, reading, running and playing sports.