The Pie sure Paradox

Money doesn't bring happiness—nor do good looks, intelligence or youth. The

things that matter most may not be sexy, but they've got a charm all their own.
HAPPINESS IS STUBBORN—hard to find, difficult to augment. Circumstances under our controi (empioyment,
education, money) account for only about 10 to 15 percent of our "subjective well-being," the technical term for
how good we judge life to be. Happiness is largely due to personality traits and temperament; the torments or glories
of fate don't make a huge difference in how we feel. When it comes to subjective well-being, "you don't get a big
bang out of the real world," says Alex Michalos of the University of Northern British Columbia.
For example; Youth, beauty and riches may be lots of fun, but they don't make you happy. Once you earn
enough to afford the ordinary pleasures of middle-class life, more money does virtually nothing to lift your spirits.
Middle-class people usually have more and better free time. They exercise more; they belong to more clubs, take
more vacations and have a more active social life, and all of these leisure habits make them happier
Some everyday triggers for happiness are predictable: listening to music, being in love and having lots of sex.
Finding money, being in a sunny room, watching a funny movie or having a few drinks can also make you feel
good, but the effects don't last.
If you're determined to turn that 10-15 percent to your favor, the chart at right has a few hints, each based on
multiple studies; Develop good social skills. Volunteer Get married—or at least cohabitate. Pursue meaningful
goals, and take pleasure in the process—progress with a purpose generates good feelings. Enjoy the little things;
Being pleased frequently has more influence on well-being than being intensely happy once in a while.
—Kathleen McGowan
The Myth: We think the finer things in life will make us happy.
The Reality: Most of what makes us happy is pretty prosaic.
GLAMOROUS

BEAUTY
People like pretty. Good MONEY
looks help your populari- If you're poor,
ty and, by extension, money does
your career—both boost make a
mood. But pulchritude difference.
on its own doesn't do But above a threshold of about
much good. $40,000 a year, more won't make
you happier Comparisons, though. NARCISSISM
influence your state of mind: No High self-esteem protects
matter how much or how little you against psychological suf-
make, doing better than your fering, and a little bit of
neighbor will make you feel better. narcissism is good for your
mood: People with abun-
dant self-love are less
likely to be depressed,
lonely or anxious.

YOUTH
Young people are more aware of
bad news and negative emotions
than are the el- SENSE OF
derly. Aging HUMOR

•I i W ^ ^ B
seems to bias U5
toward the posi-
tive, despite
more fragile
INTELLIGENCE
Smarts have only a weak
effect on happiness; being
Not taking things so
seriously can bring
hope and happiness.
People with a hopeful
I
health and fi- brainy may decrease sat- m
outlook tend to also be
nances: that may isfaction by raising your good at laughing. tn
be because expectations and making
we've come you more aware of your Z
closer to reach- shortcomings.
ing our goals. o
7)
m
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EDUCATION z
In the 1950s, book SOCIAL SKILLS O
learning brought happi- Friendship is one of life's
ness, but a coiiege edu- main joys. Due to noyelty, c
cation no longer lifts spending time with H
weii-being on its own. friends lifts your mood
X
Education opens the more than spending time Z
door to a better career, with family Being cooper-
but it also fosters high- ative and knowing how to
er expectations that chat up the
may be disappointed. FREE TIME
Weli-spent leisure time opposite sex are
can lead to great leaps also associated
in happiness: Activities with happiness.
that combine socializ-
ing and physical activi-
ty and require some
moderate skills are the
best (think salsa!). Most
of us spend a lot of our VOLUNTEERING
leisure time watching in one study, volunteer and
TV, which can be relax- charity work generated more
ing—but we'd be hap- joy than anything except
pier if we just went dancing. The sense of accom-
RELIGION plishment, the social connec-
Surprisingly, churchgo- bowling. Don't envy
your laid-off friends- tion and the chance to do
ers get oniy a smaii lift something meaningful are
from the Lord. The while the unemployed
have more time, most i.,hav ,-viai<e. jt so much fun.
cause: faith fosters
both community ties have little active
and social networks, leisure, which is one of
which are both known the reasons they're so
to make people happier. unhappy.

MUNDANE
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