Day 16: Test your happiness quotient here!!!

OK folks, watch out, because I have been researching happiness online and the results are not satisfying, at least to me.  It seems that true happiness may be out of our control or at least out of reach for some of us based on genetics.


Try this subjective happiness link: how happy are you?  (If the link doesn't work;  just cut and paste in your browser)


http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=4114608&page=1


*Studies show that 50% of individual differences in happiness are determined by genes, 10% by life circumstances, and 40% by our intentional activities according to a variety of experts in the field of happiness, (did you know there was such a field?)  Did you know that experts refer to the happiness quotient as a hedonic treadmill?  


What this theory says is first and foremost, you have a general level of happiness that no matter what happens to you, you return to this pre-established level after all types of events both good and bad; hence the treadmill concept.  In addition, the primary factor for establishing this happiness quotient is genetics which accounts for 50%, ouch; something else we can blame on our parents.


As you know I am a runner and I hate the treadmill; it's a road to nowhere and when you arrive, you have exercised, are sweaty, but you haven't traveled anywhere or have you?  Maybe this treadmill concept is more appropriate than I think.  Let's look at this,

1. You voluntarily get on the treadmill in exercising so you are self initiating which they say is a good factor leading to achievement which leads to happiness
2. You are building muscle; activating endorphins (which is a group of peptides produced in the brain that resembles opiates, nice) which also lead to happiness albeit a temporary temporal one
3. You are staying out of trouble by exercising alone; doing the right type of sweaty activtiy especially if you are engaged with a significant other and should only be sweating with him or no one else.
4. You are picking up potentially 50% of your happiness quotient by intentional activity (40%) and an extra 10% for life circumstance.  OK,  I am really making this part up but it sounds plausible.

In short, life is a treadmill for the most part; one in which most people hang their clothes on it in their bedrooms (I actually think they do that to hide the treadmill from sight so they don't feel guilty.)


Clean off that treadmill, get on, and see where it takes you on your journey to happiness.  If you end up in the same place you started, don't say I didn't tell you so.  Happiness is a quotient and you have a 50/50 chance to change it at least for today...unless your genetics tell you otherwise. I am going to exercise my right (too many puns today?) to control my 50%, how about you?