the happiness formula

“Here, then, is the only equation I ask you to consider:

H = S + C + V

where H is your enduring level of happiness, S is your set range, C is the circumstances of your life, and V represents factors under your voluntary control.”

― Martin E.P. Seligman, Authentic Happiness

The happiness formula is key to figuring out what factors have a direct influence on our happiness. Based on the variables, we can easily determine whether our happiness levels are low, medium, or high.

Your enduring level of happiness is the sum total of your genetic set range for happiness, the circumstances in your life, and certain variables under your control. Let’s unpack this formula and discuss each variable in more detail:

• H - Your enduring level of happiness: It’s important that we know the difference between enduring and momentary happiness. Any little joy such as flowers, a feel-good movie, a massage, a heartfelt compliment, sex, or a chocolate truffle can easily boost your happiness. However, the goal here is enduring happiness—a feeling that our life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile. Simply increasing the number of transient positive feelings has no impact on your enduring level of happiness.
• S - Your set range: Close to 50% of our happiness is determined by our genes. And there’s absolutely nothing we can do about that. Some of us are genetically wired to be happy most of the time. Some of us are wired to be sad most of the time. And others fall somewhere in the middle. This means each of us has a “happiness set point” towards which we tend to gravitate both in good times and bad. When good things happen, we fly high above the set range. When bad things happen, we sink way below the set range. But sooner or later, no matter the scale of fortune or misfortune we encounter, we always drift back to our pre-established set point.
• C - The circumstances in your life: These include fixed aspects of your life, such as your age, gender, ethnicity, physical appearance, profession, income, net worth, living situation, the city or country you reside in, social network, and whether you’re married, divorced, widowed, or single. As you can notice, some of these external circumstances are difficult, if not impossible, to change. And even if you succeed in altering most of them, surprisingly, they won’t make a significant difference in your life. Why? Because all these circumstances together only account for 10% of your happiness.
• V - Factors under your voluntary control: The remaining 40% of your happiness is determined by voluntary variables. If you want to change your enduring level of happiness, this is where your eyes should be. These factors mainly comprise your behaviors i.e. what you do or don’t do in your daily life, and how you perceive different aspects of your life. In addition, the more you develop an awareness of the positive aspects of your past, your present, and your future, the happier you become.