Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at the University of California at Riverside, has been studying happiness for several years now, along with her colleagues and graduate students. She has come up with a pie chart theory to explain the underlying basis for happiness. She posits that happiness is the result of three things — 50% from a happiness “set point” (as a result of genetics), 10% from differences in life’s circumstances, and 40% percent from intentional activities.
In other words, half of your happiness is probably predetermined by your genetic makeup. That is, each individual is predisposed towards a certain level of happiness or unhappiness (what she calls “set points”) because of who he or she is. Some people are just happier than others. It’s literally in their genes.
And there are always circumstances (some beyond your control) that determine your happiness or unhappiness. You accidentally get hit by a commuter bus while walking to work, for example. Depending on the severity of your injury, that incident could have a dramatic impact on your current and future happiness.
But her theory also leaves plenty of room for self-determination.
You could be predisposed towards unhappiness, have terrible life circumstances, and still through your intentional activities and behaviors turn your life and outlook around.
That should give people some hope and encouragement. Unhappiness is not preordained.
Leave a comment