Happiness = Set point (50%) + Living conditions (10%) + Voluntary choices and actions (40%)
Our set point is our balance point where we return to on most days. This means we all have a happiness range and our set point is somewhere in the middle of the range. This determines 50% of our happiness.
Living conditions involve better clothes, houses, cars, etc. All of this accounts for (only) 10% of our happiness.
Our voluntary choices and actions constitute a whopping 40% of our happiness and this post recommends the “most-of-it” rule to earn your stars on this.
On most days, 70% of what happens to us is good. On good days, this goes up to 80%, then up to 90% on amazing days, and a whopping 95% on extraordinary days. Finally, to present the other end, I’d wager that we have 40%-50% good stuff happen to us on a bad day.
There are 3 things to note here –
1. We vastly exaggerate negative events in our mind. Try journaling all the good and bad things that happen to you in a day and you’ll know what I mean.
2. Even on extraordinary days, we have an idiot or two who, knowingly or unknowingly, threatens to muck things up. That’s just life. There may be the occasional day in your life when everything goes perfect but on most days, your victory lap always finds a critic.
3. Our happiness largely depends on what we choose to focus on. I’m learning to focus on “most-of-it.” On 90% of the days in our life, most of what happens to us is good/works out just fine. It’s a worthwhile check if you are feeling unhappy – is “most of it” working?
If the answer is yes (and it generally is), you have no excuses. No moaning allowed. There will always be dampeners and problems. Expect them.. and eat them for breakfast.
A Learning a Day 