He then examined the water crystals under a microscope and photographed the results, to demonstrate the difference when positive – and negative – words were spoken.

His findings were shared in a few science journals, which Emoto later encapsulated in his book, ‘The Hidden Messages of Water’.

In a nutshell, Emoto likened water to a living element that responds to stimuli as any other living entity would.

And when it is exposed to a constant stream of ‘positive speech and thoughts’, he would see pretty ice crystals forming, while negative intentions and words yielded ‘ugly’ ice formations.

Emoto believed that water’s physical structure could respond to emotional energies and vibrations, hence, asserting that emotions can and do affect living things tangibly.

While this was not the sole conclusion Emoto found, it elicited strong reactions from both the reading public (who loved it) and the scientific community (who were sceptical).

Sheila Menon, a specialist in psychotherapy, family therapy and clinical hypnotherapy with more than three decades of experience, highlights to FMT the somewhat-forgotten Petts Milk Theory that said happy cows produce more milk.

“The same goes for people. One result from Covid-19 is that a more relaxed dress code leads to better comfort and productivity.”

If the sales of Emoto’s, Matthews’ and other books like ‘The Secret’ or ‘Law of Attraction’ are any indication, happiness is indeed serious business.

There are people who think happiness is worth the work and should be a deliberate choice, much like brushing your teeth every morning.

Good vibes, good health

Happiness, self-care, joy, contentment or even gratitude can and do make people or lives better.

“It’s good for the immune system, productivity and stress management, enhanced relationships and quality of life,” says Sheila.

“When we feel happy, we act and feel more expansively so we engage with people and ourselves in a more positive and generous (and forgiving) manner.”

In a time when physical well-being has become important, does happiness have an impact?

“Yes,” says Sheila. “Studies look at how feeling happy improves the immune system and patients with a positive outlook tend to have more positive outcomes.”

Happiness is a global goal, it seems, and its experts may call it by several names.

Self-hugs in hygge

Hygge, pronounced ‘hoo-gah’ or ‘hoo-ggerh’, is listed as the Danish art of contentment, comfort and connection on the cover of ‘The Book of Hygge’ by Louisa Thomsen Brits, published in 2017.

To hygge, says the introduction, is to ‘invite intimacy and connection’, while the noun hygge is ‘a sense of abundance and contentment’.

It is about being, it says, not having.

An interesting excerpt of the book says that hygge “isn’t the complete absence of the usual demands of a fully-engaged human life, [but] a willingness to put down our problems and abandon our cares for a while.”

The difference is that one must commit to this spontaneously and immediately, and be ready to put distractions aside.

The values of simplicity and authenticity that underpin hygge, the author explains, is evident in the shift from mass-produced goods and desires for labels to pared-down aesthetics and simplicity in life choices.

And the word itself is a Norwegian portmanteau of the words ‘well-being’ and ‘hug’.

A happy and long life the Japanese way

That’s the bold – but friendly – blurb on the cover of ‘The Little Book of Ikigai’ by Ken Mogi, published in 2017.

The book is divided into ten chapters, some simply titled ‘Your reason to get up in the morning’, ‘Finding your purpose in life’ and ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’.

At its simplest, ikigai is the Japanese concept of ‘a reason for being’.

If you lack purpose in life or have forgotten the reason for getting out of bed each day, you’d drift along in meaninglessness, numbed by the pursuit of material wealth – says the book.

Instead, as ikigai advocates say, people should find and follow their bliss, which will lie in finding purpose and reason for being.

The latter should, ideally, be found at the intersection of your values, what you’re good at and the things you like to do.

And by doing that, one would – hopefully – live long and live happily.

Live with less

The Minimalist movement, started by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, aims to help people find meaning by living their lives with less.

Fewer material possessions mean less clutter – physically and mentally.

Whether it is inspired by Marie Kondo’s philosophy of decluttering and keeping only things that spark joy is unclear.

Minimalism advocates also quote P Brickman’s study in the 1970s, which found that people who had millions in hand were no happier than those who survived by just meeting their basic needs.

The key finding by Brickman’s experiment was that money buys short-term happiness but one’s level of happiness returns to the pre-windfall period.

Hence, people spend their lives acquiring more money and possessions to find that level of happiness once more, which proves to be an unhealthy pursuit.

Baby steps

Sheila Menon advocates simple steps for happiness, which she says includes “a work-life balance, long walks in the greenery, charitable work and appreciating what you have.”

She also suggests 10 minutes of self-hypnosis, which metabolises the stress response and puts you in touch with your feelings.

“Self-reflection focuses on what matters to you in a constructive way, and forgiving people or yourself.”