Causes and Actions
Positive (and not negative) emotions Satisfaction with life Flourishing (Eudaimonia)
Genes Personality, mental illness Actions Intentional attitudes Circumstances
Money makes us happier, but… Satisfaction vs positive emotions The more you earn, the more you “need” Relative vs. absolute income Income = 1% of our happiness Materialistic people Richer but less happy
Any work is better than none Good jobs Secure Intrinsically motivating (decreased by financial rewards) Interesting (engaging, flow) Positively contributes to society Short/easy commute Allows for autonomy Then pay, promotions, & flexible hours Self-employment Higher work satisfaction, but same life satisfaction
Social support Freedom Trust People Institutions Corruption Equality?
Mental health Mental health problems years ago predict current happiness better than anything else There are solutions that work Physical health Good health causes happiness Happiness causes good health
Marriage Happiness marriage & marriage happiness Good marriages tend to be between equals Education, looks, happiness Children Bad for happiness, good for meaning 0-3 and are worst Divorce & Bereavement
Religion Good in hard times/places Values Altruism (up to 4x better than selfishness) Materialism (need 2x the $$ to be as happy) Work-life balance Education Strengths/savouring/gratitude
Social support (10% extra saying yes to ‘people will always help me if I need it’)4.5 Freedom (10% extra saying yes to ‘satisfied with freedom to choose in my life’)2.1 Less corruption (10% extra saying no to ‘is corruption widespread in business or government’?) 1.9 Being female (vs. male)1.5 30% increase in income1.0 Single (vs. married)-2.2 Widowed (vs. married)-2.9 Separated (vs. married)-4.0 Being unemployed (vs. employed)-6.0 Low satisfaction 8 years earlier (1 std. dev. worse)-10.0 Poor physical health (vs. good physical health, self assessed)-15.0
Examine and live by your values Learn and apply your strengths Exercise Foster relationships Meditate Exercise savouring and gratitude Volunteer/donate/random acts of kindness