Learned Happiness

Pretend you paid cash for your favorite vehicle—a Mercedes perhaps, or a Dodge Viper or maybe you favor a Jaguar. You included every accessory you ever imagined--leather seats, the best sound system, and a GPS. Hopping into your bright new car brings delightful happiness.

As you are driving out of the dealership, an out-of-control garbage truck crushes into the left side of your car, spilling smelly trash all over your shining exterior. Suddenly you are shocked, angry, and decidedly unhappy. In a nanosecond, your mood changes from elation to dejection.

This thought experiment tells us that happiness depends to a certain extent on happenings. When your life glides on silky waters as smoothly as a sailboat in a soft, summer breeze, you radiate happiness. When your life resembles a leaky vessel, you exude unhappiness.

Behavior scientists have shown that happiness is determined by three factors:

1. Genetics--studies of twins and adoptees show that our happiness/unhappiness response can be explained by the way Mother Nature mixes the chromosomes we inherit from our parents.
2. Life circumstances--our income, marriage, children, occupation, physical health and where we live contributes to our overall chance to experience happiness.
3. Intentional activity--learned emotional and behavioral factors. How we act and how we respond to circumstances contributes to our overall chance to experience happiness Mental and behavior changes can enable us to rise above our chromosomes and circumstances. Those who cultivate love, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control and faith in God can learn to live a joyful, contented life no matter what circumstances occur.