• Mary Ann "Skipper"
  • 2008
  • 0

Happiness was the subject of ABC’s 20/20 show on Friday night. They reported that the happiness pie is divided accordingly:

  • 50{160c7819af59c11da6532971d4da6329afa70521e09652cedd42dbad61fa4f29}- genetic
  • 10{160c7819af59c11da6532971d4da6329afa70521e09652cedd42dbad61fa4f29}- life circumstances
  • 40{160c7819af59c11da6532971d4da6329afa70521e09652cedd42dbad61fa4f29}- things we choose or how we feel

These statistics explain why lottery winners or people who get makeovers return to their happiness set point after a period of time.

The good news is that we can choose our thoughts in each moment. We can change our self talk and ignore the gremlin.

The show shared three qualities that influence happiness. Again, these are all within our control. Interestingly, they combine how we be and what we do.

  1. Optimism
  2. Pursuing life goals
  3. Ability to nurture meaningful relationships

Feeling a sense of community also impacts happiness. So the next time you’re feeling blue, notice your thoughts, actions and connections. You have the power to change them.