Do you know the happiness formula? Discover them in the pie chart!
Below we discuss the three different factors:
Genetic – 50%
You’re born with a base point for happiness that comes from your biological parents. You return to that point every time, even after a major setback. You can compare it to the genes you inherit for intelligence or cholesterol.
Circumstances – 10%
Only 10% of your happiness level is explained by differences in life circumstances or certain situations. For example: financial standing, health, marital status, …. Life changes seem to mean a lot but in reality, they do not. This is because of the Hedonic adjustment, a difficult term, but you will understand it immediately. The two biggest culprits are: rising ambitions (e.g. You just bought a bigger house and after a while, it feels natural again and you want an even bigger house.) and social comparison (e.g. Your new friends bought an expensive car and you think you should too.).
As a result, your overall happiness tends to stay the same even though you would realize more each year. But there is also a positive side. You have the ability to adapt quickly to a changing environment. This is useful when you have to deal with less than pleasant events such as an illness or accident.
Your activities – 40%
Besides your genes and the situations you face, there is one more crucial factor: your behavior. The key to happiness lies not only in your genetic makeup and the circumstances in which you live. Our daily activities are also part of it. On this 40%, you can exert an influence and take opportunities to increase your happiness level!
This happiness formula comes from Sonja Luyobomirsky, Kennon M. Sheldon, and David Schakde. Know that these are estimates and there can always be a difference. Activities, circumstances, and genes can also influence each other.
