The Key to Lasting Happiness is Working at It, But Not Too Hard

Is it possible to find the key to lasting happiness?  Maybe, says University of California at Riverside psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky.  Maybe not. But if it is possible, Lyubomirsky is persuaded, it requires some hard work. But not too much hard work. Lyubomirsky, who was very happy (for some period of time) to receive a million dollar grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to study happiness, believes that 50 percent of what makes us happy people or unhappy people is determined by genes. Another ten percent is circumstance, and the remaining 40 percent,–the swing vote- depends on what she calls "intentional activity," mental and behavioral strategies to counteract adaptation’s downward pull. The Scientific American reports that Lyubomirsky’s research, conducted with collaborator Kennon M. Sheldon of the University of Missouri-Columbia, suggests that the happiest people are those who count their blessings often, but not too often, and more importantly, not because they think counting their blessings will make them happy. That will not work. If, however, they count their blessings while not believing that counting their blessings will make them happy, they will be happy. Maybe. Read more, and become even more confused, in the Scientific American.