When I was driving into work this morning I heard an interesting interview on the radio with a man–Arthur Brooks–who is an expert in happiness. My first question is always about what makes a person an expert in something like happiness, but that is a consideration for another time. Part of what he said is that our happiness can be attributed to three major things: genetics, big events, and values. Nearly half (48 percent) of our happiness is derived from our genes–which can be kind of depressing (if you pardon the irony) if you come from a family that has a history of depression, which I do. We are literally hardwired for happiness, or we’re not. Another 40 percent comes from key events–getting a big promotion and raise or various other types of big events–but the impact of these on happiness is fleeting. And the third area–representing the remaining 12 percent–comes from our values, which include four areas: faith, friends, family, and meaningful work.
Brooks’ op-ed in last Sunday’s New York times outlined his “formula for happiness.” He suggests that the first three of the four areas make sense in terms of their impact on our happiness, but that the idea that work contributes to our happiness might seem a little counterintuitive. I’ll let you read Brooks’ article and won’t summarize it here, but it was interesting to hear him share his perspectives about happiness on the radio this morning. I used to find it distressing that due to genetic hardwiring I could be essentially doomed to be unhappy, and I’m still not too excited about that idea. But I am glad for the 12 percent we have some control over–the values piece–because I think I have a pretty good handle on the faith and family piece and am working on the meaningful work and friends (community) pieces of the equation. I have to think too that gratitude is a natural offshoot that both precedes and follows happiness. I am grateful to have a measure of each of the various components of happiness and am working to strengthen the areas that need it.
This evening my house is filled with the sounds of happiness and love as I listen to my daughter’s voice talking to a friend on the phone. It is so nice to have her under my roof again. I realize how quiet it can be in my house most of the time. I find that I talk aloud a lot, so it’s nice to hear different noises because of her presence. Her being here definitely is one of those “events” that contributes most directly to my happiness and sense of wellbeing, which is a beautiful thing and for which I am deeply grateful. I am looking forward to spending time with her over the next several days and into the first days of the new year. I am grateful to have faith, family, friends, and meaningful work in my life. I look forward to strengthening the 12 percent of my happiness that I do control and to flexing and exercising the happiness muscle. May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering. May we all know true peace and happiness and experience the fruits thereof. May it be so for us all!
