Skip to main content

The Math of Happiness

            “If I just (fill in the blank) then I would be happy!”
            That is the way most people think.  They focus on their circumstances and believe that if certain things changed, then they would find happiness.  The problem is that years of research have proven that it is not true. 
            Those who study such things tell us that only about 10% of your happiness comes from your circumstances.  In other words, some people are rich and happy and others are rich and miserable.   Some are poor and miserable and some are poor and happy.  Happiness levels are about the same no matter what people have or lack.  You know this from your own experience.  Some changes are life-altering (a death for instance), but most things affect us for a little while and then the feeling fades away.  That new car that you wanted so badly eventually becomes just your car.  Moving to a new town may provide a lift, but after a while it is just the place where you live.  In time, your new circumstances become your “new normal” and then you start looking for another change to make you happy. 
            A bigger factor in the equation is your inner makeup or disposition which contributes about 40% of your happiness.  One does not have to be around babies very long to realize that some are smiley and content and others are fussy and more easily upset.  You can influence some of this over time, but the truth is that some people simply have a brighter disposition than others.
            The remaining 50% of your happiness is determined by what you choose to think about.  The key word in that sentence is “choose”.  Most of your happiness hinges on something that is very much under your control.  You can think about bad things and ruin your day, or you can think about good things.  That one decision will have more to do with whether you are happy or not than anything else that happens to you.
            In an section about rejoicing and living a peaceful life, Paul writes, “Brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).  Their joy was going to be determined by their thinking.
            You can argue with the percentages, but I do not think that you can argue with the truth.
            Happiness starts inside of us, not outside.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New Article: Grace Changes Everything

               A young man broke into a business and did $5000 damage. As part of his Restorative Justice sentence, he was required to meet with my friend Garth.   Garth believes in making apologies and restitution.   It took several months, but Garth finally convinced the young man that these were necessary steps, so he tried to arrange a meeting with the business owner.                The business owner wanted nothing to do with this situation.   He was angry and wanted a more severe form of justice.   Eventually, however, he agreed to meet the young man to hear what he had to say.                  The young man looked the business owner in the eye an...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Article: Navigating the New Year

                 As we begin another new year, I cannot help but think of Joshua.   Moses had been leading God’s people to the promised land.   However, just before they arrived, Moses died, and Joshua was put in charge.   Faced with the uncertainty of what was coming, God gave him the following advice.                “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be stron...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Article: We need a Better Scorecard

                   “Is that a Sun Ice?”                “Excuse me,” I said.                My friend pointed to my new ski jacket and asked again, “Is that a Sun Ice?”                It was 1991 and Sun Ice was the big name in ski wear at the time.   “No” I replied, “I can’t afford one of those”.                “Oh” he said as he lost interest and then just walked away.                I had not seen this friend in more than a year and, sadly, his first ...
Post a Comment
Read more