ESSENTIAL TO YOUR HAPPINESS IS EARNING YOUR SUCCESS

What is happiness? According to Arthur Brooks, president of the conservative think-tank,The American Enterprise Institute and the research collected, it comes down to three things. Genetics, big life events and choices. Genetics, your DNA, accounts for 48% of your happiness.You’re a chronically happy or grumpy person you can blame it on your parents. Almost half of your happiness, you have no control over. 

The next big area that contributes to happiness is big life events. Right now for you, graduating from college and getting a job, moving to a new place are big life events that will make you happy—but, not for long so say the social scientists. Research says these events account for 40% of your happiness. Again, you have little to no control over big life events.

The remaining 12% are things that are under your control. If you do the things that will get you the 12%, you are going to raise the likelihood of getting the 40%. This will give you the best chance of having the life and lifestyle you want.

Four simple things you can do to raise your happiness.

1. Faith
2. Family
3. Community
4. Work 

I can’t speak to faith. It’s not my area, although it makes sense that this would be a component. Having solid family relationships are a key component. For example, the holidays can be a happy time with family or disastrous depending on your relationships with family members. Community is having a network of friends and being generous and charitable with them and to others. It makes you happy when you make someone happy. Then there is work.

Work seems counter intuitive to happiness. We do a lot of complaining about work. Yet, studies show that 89% of Americans are satisfied or very satisfied with their work. What is it about work that makes us happy? Brooks calls it earned success. It is the belief you are creating value in your life and in the lives of others. This does not depend on the type of work or college degree or income. Happiness from money is temporary. Don’t believe it. Just look at Lottery winners. The happiness that comes from earning your success lasts forever. This is creating your life on your own terms.

How can you achieve earned success?

It is achievable when you match your skills and talents—what you are good at—with the things you like to do.  Rewarding work, however you define it, is unbelievably important to your happiness. Start by exploring these questions.

• What are you good at?
• What are you doing when you are most happy?
• What energizes you?
• When in your life have you been most committed to something?
• What are the greatest accomplishments of your life so far?
• Where have you had success? What are you doing? What tasks are you performing? What activities give you a sense of purpose?
• What are some of the memorable moments in your life so far? 

Let your story guide you

Added up the above answers tell your story. How can you use your story to earn your success and happiness?

 Here's a link the article this post is based on.