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Is Your Happiness Set in Stone?

happy, mother, child, genetic, smilingTwo new studies suggest that happiness is out of your control. Rather, they found that genes and age impact your general well-being more than daily attempts to be happy.

In one study of nearly 1,000 pairs of adult twins, researchers at the University of Edinburgh suggested that genes account for about 50 percent of the variation in people‘s levels of happiness. The underlying determinant was genetically caused personality traits, such as being sociable, active, stable, hardworking or conscientious.

When the people in the study were asked how happy they were, the identical twin pairs responded much more similarly than other twins, suggesting that happiness has a strong genetic component.

Another larger study found that people tend to fall into a larger, cross-cultural and global pattern of joy. Survey data from 2 million people in more than 70 countries showed that happiness typically follows a U-shaped curve. Happiness starts high, trends downward into middle-age, and then climbs back up among older people if they do not have severe health problems.

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Dr. Mercola''s Comments Dr. Mercola's Comments:

There are a lot of researchers who say that your brain is hard-wired to reach a certain base level of happiness. Well, let me share a secret with you: YOU -- and not your genes, your family, your age, or your life’s circumstances -- are in control of your happiness.

It’s interesting to note, though, just how the first study above was interpreted. It found that your genes account for about 50 percent of the variation in people’s levels of happiness. Well, even if that were true, that means there’s still another 50 percent that’s up for grabs!

Regardless, just because you have a certain gene does not mean that your body will produce its product. For instance, just because you inherited “unhappy” personality traits from your mother or father, does not mean that you will be unhappy.

This is because the manufacture or expression of your genetic potential has a complex regulation system that is highly intertwined with your emotions. And, yes, you can control the expression of your genes by modifying your lifestyle and balancing your emotions.

So YOU are in the driver’s seat when it comes to your potential for happiness.

Once you realize this simple premise, it is actually quite liberating. You don’t have to feel bad because you’re getting older, or because your life isn’t going exactly as you had planned. You actually don’t have to feel bad for any reason at all, once you make your mind up to be happy.

In a sense, this allows you to give yourself permission to experience happiness in your day-to-day life.

How to “Decide” to be Happy

In all fairness, no one is happy all of the time. And that is just fine. Accepting that there will be times when you feel down is all part of being happy overall. But if you want to be one of those people who seem to be all smiles and optimism nearly all of the time, all it takes is your decision to do it.

I always recommend that you also let go of your limiting beliefs about happiness, and also your past emotional “baggage.” I love the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) for this purpose, and really believe it can be a key player in your journey to finding your own inner happiness.

Finally, make an effort to find little things in your day to smile about. Darshan Goswami, M.S., PE, has also compiled a great list of 17 “happiness principles” that you can integrate into your own life right now.

    1) Improve your relationships with friends and family: Smile when you greet them, do things for them, don't allow them to get angry with you.

    2) Be an optimist: Optimism generates good feelings.

    3) Develop a genuine smile and laugh a lot: Act happy -- It works. Smile into the mirror for a half hour without stopping. Smiling makes you happy and the more you smile the more happy you become.   We all like people who smile. It also makes us more attractive.

    4) Pray: Become religious or spiritual. If you want to be happy then ask God to make you happy. Prayer helps you accomplish things.

    5) Be generous and share with others: Give more than you receive because being generous will make you happy.

    6) Treat time as a friend: Don't watch the clock.

    7) Exercise your mind: Keep yourself busy with some new project or ideas.

    8) Work your body: Exercise regularly. Studies show that aerobic exercise is an antidote for mild depression and anxiety.

    9) Have fun in life: Keep cool under pressure.

    10) Pursue achievable goals.

    11) Have high confidence in yourself.

    12) Respect the disadvantaged.

    13) Age gracefully.

    14) Give compliments: Take every opportunity to be complimentary. Want to make someone like you? Every time you meet a person smile and give them a compliment.

    15) Be honest: With honesty comes openness. People respect honest and open-minded people.

    16) Keep an open mind: Most people seem to think that they know everything that they need to know. There's plenty of wisdom to go around.

    17) Treat difficulties as challenges: Life's an adventure and every obstacle in life is one of its challenges. Treat life as a game. What fun would a game be if you could never lose?



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Comment on This Article Community Comments (61)
 
 
Posted On Mar 26, 2008
We can't choose the hand we've been dealt, but we can choose how to play our cards

 
New to Natural
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 11/2007
New to Natural  
Replied

CuriousCity
Novice User Novice User Joined On 11/2006
CuriousCity  
 
Posted On Apr 09, 2008

I agree with you very much. Sometimes the senseless chatter that happens only in our own minds determines how we percieve life. Others do not see what we think but they see our behavior. When we are able to change the thoughts, which govern our feelings, based in what we believe as true, we can truly start experience freedom and change. Sometimes the root of our believes are based in what we were taught as children. As adults we can choose what to believe and what to discard as senseless. The internal words we say to ourselves have a lot more impact than what others say. I, myself, have decided to be happy and I know I am accountable for my own happiness. Faith has helped me tremendously. God Bless.


 
 
 
Posted On Mar 26, 2008
Another study with flawed premises trying to set more people up as victims so they can get more meds.  Basically, it can't be your fault you are not happy.  Blame your genes.  What about EFT?  I think there is plenty of evidence that it works regardless of your genes. 

 
mama bear
Apprentice User Apprentice User, Joined On 6/2006
mama bear  
Replied

qualitygeek
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 10/2007
qualitygeek  
 
Posted On Mar 26, 2008
I've got joy...that's better than happiness...for me, it's got nothing to do with genetics or my age & everything to do with relationship!

 
 
 
Posted On Apr 08, 2008

Age gracefully? It's hard enough getting out of a chair gracefully.


 
Dekalb
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 6/2006
Dekalb  
Replied

kikegrellaud
Novice User Novice User Joined On 1/2008
kikegrellaud  
 
Posted On Apr 09, 2008

Dear Dekalb:  I  know  what you  mean. If you  can't  make  your close friends  and  family  visit  you  as  often  as  you  wish  and  make  'em  play  poker  or dice  with  a  cold  rum ,  then  try  a  couple  of  things: - Try to  read that wonderful  novel  you  always  wanted to  but  never  found  time  to.- Watch  more  tv, choose  the   action  movies and  maybe some nudies. - Buy   a   PC  with  chess ,flying simullator or racing  car programs. If you need   help  with 'em,   ask  your grandchildren.


 
 
 
Posted On Mar 27, 2008
"Happiness" is never a constant state.  Watch any child or animal.  You will see hope, anger, disappointment, despair, pain, anticipation, extacy, merriment, etc all on the same day.  Feelings come and go.  There are no wrong feelings. 

 
Mary Anne
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 6/2007
Mary Anne  
Replied

LadyPam
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 2/2008
LadyPam  
 
Posted On Apr 08, 2008

There is a difference between happiness as in elation and a continuing condition of contentment. Comparing a child to an animal is of dubious value, depending on the complexity of the animal. Fear, anger, hunger, etc., are all generated in the 'lizard' or 'reptilian' brain portion: the part that is evolutionarily speaking the oldest; they are basic survival emotions. Animals don't experience humour. When dementia takes the higher functions, these 'reptile' emotions remain after the patient's character has disappeared.

Nothing is permanent, of course. Elation or ecstacy are, some argue, dependent on and relative to despair and pain. But I think there certainly ARE wrong feelings. Feeling that you can't cope with anything, feeling too scared to even answer the phone or attempt simple things that you know full well you are more than capable of doing perfectly well: that's wrong.


 
 
 
Posted On Mar 26, 2008
of my happiness
true it is not set in stone
it bends like the reed

 
jeffa_203
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 2/2008
jeffa_203  
Replied

HeidiN
Novice User Novice User Joined On 10/2007
HeidiN  
 
Posted On Mar 26, 2008
Haiku--love it!

 
 
 
 
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