How to Be Happy
Since the 1980s, psychologists have generally subscribed to the set-point theory of happiness, which says that happiness is 40% to 50% genetic. According to that theory, once you’re an adult, there’s not much you can do about how happy you are. One large study of twins suggested that “trying to be happier may be as futile as trying to be taller.”
But since the 1990s, economists have been looking at how the world we live in affects happiness levels and examining what can be done to change them… [A new study] appears to show that preference and choices can affect long-term happiness.
Five lifestyle changes that can make you happier, below the fold.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh9ZZgDqzAg
“If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife.”
- Marry someone who’s not neurotic.
- Focus more on friends and family, less on material goods.
- Get involved in making the world a better place.
- Have a job but also enough time for leisure.
- Stay physically active.
- For men, don’t be underweight. For women, don’t be obese.
So obese men are just as happy as thin women?
I think your list is missing something: find a good policy blog to follow ; )
I wonder what the dollar value of happiness is. I wonder if happy people’s lives are worth more than miserable ones.
Why not do a little hedonic calculus to find out? Then we could find how much we should spend on miserable people’s government mandated health care. I think this would cause reported happiness to skyrocket.
This is one of those studies whose findings should be common sense…
o Don’t marry someone who is neurotic
o Have a job but don’t sacrifice leisure activities.
o Have a family and make some good friends.
Isn’t this something everyone should already have known?
I agree with Devon. This is just stating the obvious.
Happiness is apparently defined as “satisfaction.”
A satisfied person is sated, and therefore in state of idolence, until discontent prompts action. As Mises said, “Man acts to remove felt discomfort.”
What’s desirable about being unmotivated?