One of my favorite authors is Arthur C. Brooks. Arthur is a Harvard professor, PhD social scientist and columnist at The Atlantic. And one of the world’s top experts in happiness. He is also an #1 bestselling author outstanding writer, with several published books (my favorite one is From Strength to Strength).
Brooks explains that:
- Half (around 50%) of your happiness is genetic.
- The other 25% of your happiness is circumstantial, that is, the things that are happening around you). In these circumstances you can include what happens to you (you buy a new car, you get a pay raise, you have a new partner, you are fired or others). These circumstances don’t last. They’re very temporary.
- And the last 25% is permanent and completely in your control. According to Brooks, those are your happiness habits. They give you better circumstances, and they directly control 25% of total happiness.
And Brooks explains THE 4 BIG THINGS THAT DETERMINE YOUR HAPPINESS HABITS: FAITH, FAMILY, FRIENDSHIP, AND WORK.
- FAITH: Brooks understands faith in a wide sense. Whether it’s a religion or nonreligious spirituality, a meditation practice, or others. Even if you’re an atheist, as Brooks explains “you need something that will zoom you out from your day-to-day experience”.
- FAMILY: Second key of happiness is your family life. It’s about having good relationships with your family. It’s about spending quality time with them. Whatever happens to your family affects notably to your level of happiness.
- FRIENDSHIP:we all know what friendship is. Having good friends can increase your level of happiness. So, spend quality time with your friends and nurture these relationships if you want to be happy.
- WORK: most of us spend one third of our lives working. So, whatever happens in your professional activity will affect your overall happiness.
And to empower these four pillars of happiness, you need three “macronutrients” to happiness (using Brooks words). They are ENJOYMENT, SATISFACTION, AND PURPOSE.
I will tell you more about these “macronutrients to happiness” in my next post, “Keys to happiness (PART II)”
Don’t miss it!
