The psychology of happinessThe psychology of happiness Several years ago, James Montier, a “global strategist”, took a break from investing in order to publish a brief overview of existing research into the psychology of happiness. Montier learned that happiness contains three components: About 50% of individual happiness comes from a genetic set point. That is, we’re each predisposed to a certain level of happiness. Some of us are just naturally more inclined to be more cheery than others. About 10% of our happiness is due to our circumstances. Our age, race, gender, personal history, and, yes, wealth, only make up about one-tenth of our happiness. The remaining 40% of an individual’s happiness seems to be produced from intentional activity, from “actions or practices that people can choose to do”. If we have no control over our genetic “happy point”, and if we have little control over our circumstances, then it makes sense to focus on those things that we can do to make ourselves happy. According to Montier’s paper, these activities include close relationships, exercise, sleep, and sex. What does not bring happiness? Money, and the pursuit of happiness for its own sake. “There are many individuals seriously overrate the importance of money in making themselves, and others, happy,” Montier writes. “Study after study from psychology shows that money doesn’t equal happiness. ”
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