Long Term Happiness

Dr. Robert Waldinger, who conducts studies on long term happiness on Harvard Study of Adult development, suggests that 50% of one’s happiness is dependent on their genetic background and 10% is dependent on life events. However, the remaining 40% is within your control. While there is not an easy solution to be happy and remain consistently happy, there are steps you can take towards improving and increasing positive moods. For example, the impact of close relationships and connections is a huge emotional stimulator, and creates a feeling of belonging. Additionally, it is important to play a role within your community and volunteer. Again, another example of ways to feel connected and feel a sense of belonging. The people who you surround yourself with also play a detrimental factor into your own personal happiness. As you surround yourself with people who have positive mindsets, you will be encouraged to think and feel the same, which also connects back to the sense of belonging. Another example of the importance of interacting with other people and how that affects us, is the way we treat people. Performing more positive interactions and acts of kindness will increase your happiness. Lastly, the importance of counting your blessings and putting things in perspective will also increase your happiness and improve your mood. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/health-and-happiness-go-hand-in-hand