Do I have what it takes to be happy?

I know it has been awhile since I have posted anything. And funny to add, I wrote this title to this post MONTHS ago. I came back to it to see what I had started only to find a blank page. So that is great news. I am really ready to post this post. Ready... OK!

To start I want everyone to know the info I am referring here comes from Sonja Lyubomirsky Ph.D. She is a fantastic psychologist who has done extensive research on Happiness! See her book here The How Of Happiness.



You will see in this image of her book a pie (a yummy full of gluten pie.....). If you think of your level or happiness as this pie. Fifty percent of your happiness set point will be determined by your genetics, it is just kind of what you are born with. Dr. Lyubomirsky compares this to weight. Some people may be overweight. They have to work harder to stay in a healthy shape while others seem to have to do little to stay slim. So it is with happiness.

So keeping on the brighter side of things it is good news that only 50% of your happiness pie is determined by genetics. So what for the rest of the pie? Ten percent of happiness can be determined by life circumstances. From being in a hard life situation, or facing some other experience that only effects your happiness by 10 percent!

So what is the good news? We still have 40%  to work with. We can influence our happiness a pretty significant amount!!!  I love this image I found!

So my question is "Do you want to be HAPPY?" If you do, let's do something about it, today! A question to consider "What makes you happy?" Do you know? I hope you ponder on that for next posting!

References:
A great summary from Sonja Lyubomirsky herself on her topic is below:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/how-happiness/200805/what-influences-our-happiness-the-most

But I would strongly suggest getting your hands or eyes on a copy of her book. It is a great handbook for creating happiness!