From the mundane to the metaphysical, it may mean different things to different people. But everyone's united in trying to crack the happiness code. So what's your story? This parable is worth retelling.
Once upon a time the king was ill. The medicine men and women didn't know why. Then someone suggested that the king wear a happy man's shirt for a night. Soldiers were dispatched to find a happy man. It was a long and arduous search since no one was willing to claim to be happy. The soldiers finally zoomed in on a fellow singing happily under a tree. “Are you happy?” they asked. The man smiled and nodded. “Will you give your shirt to the ailing king?” He happily replied, “But I don't have a shirt!”
Here is one chase in which we are united -- the pursuit of happiness. Never mind that it is intangible, impermanent, and elusive. Never mind that gurus, governments, and guys on the street have different interpretations of what it is. The American Declaration of Independence lists "the pursuit of happiness," along with "life" and "liberty" as an inalienable right, endowed by the creator.
Bhutan measures its wealth in terms of GDH, a per-capita happiness index ("Gross Domestic Happiness"). People fill websites discussing it.
You can't buy happiness, yet you can inherit it, say British and Australian researchers after studying 1,000 pairs of identical and non-identical twins. Their eureka moment on happiness is that genes control half the personality traits that make people happy, while factors such as relationships, health, and careers are responsible for the rest of our well-being.
A SKILL?
The researchers identified common genes in identical twins that result in certain personality traits and predispose people to happiness. Sociable, active, stable, hardworking, and conscientious people tend to be happier, the researchers reported in Psychological Science.
The researchers identified common genes in identical twins that result in certain personality traits and predispose people to happiness. Sociable, active, stable, hardworking, and conscientious people tend to be happier, the researchers reported in Psychological Science.
“We have a set point in our brains for happiness that is determined by genetics as well as our upbringing,” says Deepak Chopra, the digital-age guru. Happiness is usually situational, he says, and can be learned, like riding a bike. Being happy is a skill anyone can acquire. More>>
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