Want to Increase Your Happiness? Understand the Happiness Formula!

The last few months I've had the amazing joy and privilege to be participating in a course offered by The Flourishing Center (https://certificateinpositivepsychology.com/about-capp/) .  It has been one of the best learning experiences I have had in my life.  And, if you have a desire to learn and grow in ways that will truly change your life and EQUIP you to teach others how to live as positive change agents, THIS is the course for you.

That being said, I have a wealth of research based, powerful, life-transforming information to share.

Let's start with The Happiness Formula.

This may simply blow your mind and change your perspective.

We all want to be happy, right?

Yet, so many of us, as we have been working hard to be happy still wake up with this feeling of inner despair and sadness.

Perhaps it is because we are focused on the wrong "piece of the pie."

Research has shown that there are 3 factors in the Happiness Formula (see image at top of blog):

1.  Genetic Set Point:  We each have a natural, biological programming that we are born with that gives us a particular inclination for happiness.  Some of us are genetically happier than others.  Our genes are 50% of the Happiness Formula.

2.  Life Conditions:  SURPRISINGLY, Life Conditions (after our basic needs are met) only contribute to 10% of our overall happiness.  Ironic, isn't it?  Most of us have bought into the World's thinking that it is the outer conditions -- the status, the power, the money, the material goods, the professional success -- that will increase our feeling of happiness.  Those who have been in the "chase" for awhile know that these things never truly satisfy nor make us happy, do they?  Yet, most of our time and energy has been dedicated to this area.

3.  Intentional Activities -- We can actively and intentionally choose to focus our thoughts, feelings and actions in ways that can INCREASE our happiness!   40% of our happiness is related to actively CHOOSING activities that can allow us to feel better inside.   In fact, there are 12 Intentional activities, researched by Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, that if we actively use, can allows us to raise our levels of happiness.

In future blogs, I will share these 12 intentional activities with you.  The amazing thing is, you don't have to do all 12 at once to feel happier.  In fact, you can learn about all 12 and then have a full "tool-kit" of activities to try out over time.

Let me give you a sneek peak into what you might find in your life if you start to actively work on raising your happiness levels.....this may really get you excited!

In professional life:  the research shows that happy people are more likely to secure job interviews, be positively evaluated by supervisors at work and are more productive.

In relationships:  the research shows that happy people are more likely to have better relationships.  They are more likely to have friends they can rely on, be less lonely, be less jealous of others and be more satisfied with their friendships.

In health, researchers have found that happy people are more likely to have stronger immune systems.  They take less medications, report less physical symptoms and visit the hospital less.

So........

For today, I want you to consider these questions:

What might come about in your life if you began to actively, consciously and intentionally increase your happiness?

What new outcomes might come about in your professional life, your relationships, your health and your overall well-being?

I suggest you take a few minutes and write out your answers!

Get a vision of what a Happier YOU might be experiencing and doing in the World.

In my next blog you I will start to lay out these easy-to-do activities that will bring you a sense of happiness you may have been wanting now for some time.

Joining you on this journey of increasing happiness and thriving!

Patricia Omoqui, The Thought Dr.
www.patriciaomoqui.com