When researchers talk about happiness they often refer to “life satisfaction”, or “subjective well-being”, as “happiness” has a potentially broader meaning.
There are genetic factors, circumstantial factors and intentional factors that account for life satisfaction and subjective well-being. Research indicates that:
- Genetics account for around 40 to 50% of the variability
- Circumstance accounts for around 10% of variability
- And intention accounts for around 40 to 50% of the variability
This means that roughly half of your happiness in life is a lottery, of being born into a certain body and life circumstance. There are lots of articles you could read about how unfair this is, but this isn’t one of them. Don’t get me wrong, emotional pain requires compassion and understanding, but not dwelling.
Instead, let’s get on with the business of making the most of the other half – your intention – the things you choose and do, the mastery of your own destiny!
So What Can You do About Your Happiness?
Even with 0.5% agency a lot can be done. Most of what we do is habitual. Think about the difference a small change in your day-to-day thinking and action makes to your life over time.
Now the reality is that you have ~50% to play with. That is more than enough to transform your own life and the lives of others around you for the better.
How to Flex Your Agency in Being Happy
PERMA:
- Positive emotion – do things that you know make you feel good and reflect on the moments of your day with gratitude. It really does not take much repetition for positive emotion to become a habit
- Engagement – get in the zone, or flow state, immerse yourself in an activity that you know well. Can you swim, run, cycle, paint, draw, write, make music?
- Relationships – be among people, be part of a community, close friendship group, or family. The internet is a powerful tool to find people who are into the same things as you. Meet them and do things together, especially in the real world
- Meaning – tread your path of purpose, live out your values, belong to something greater
- Accomplishment – celebrate completing your goals, whatever the size. You are getting somewhere significant!
Don’t Try to do it on Your Own – Get Help
An approach to hypnotherapy, for example, that integrates person-centred, exposure-based, mindful, existential and transpersonal approaches, can help you to elevate your perspective, your self-relationship, your self-belief and your engagement with life.
Contact me for a free inquiry and ask me anything you like.
