THE HAPPINESS CREATORS
TAKING CARE OF THIS HALF OF THE EQUATION

CONTENTS

Determining the adders and the reducers
Identify where you are starting (test)
Focus on what matters most
Follow a plan
The happiness producers
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DETERMINING THE ADDERS AND THE REDUCERS

On this page, we discuss and link into what will add to your happiness (see The Happiness Producers piece, plus the summary list below).  Of course, you would want to also link into How To Create Unhappiness - and then stop doing those!  After all, the formula is simple:

Net happiness = Happiness adders minus happiness reducers.

     Add happiness adders ↑ --> add happiness  --> net happiness ↑

     Reduce happiness reducers ↓ --> net happiness ↑

This is a bit of a "Duh!" when we look at it this way, but it is oh, so very true - and most people miss it!  And if they continue to miss it, then they are wasting days where they could be much happier!  (We bemoan and groan instead of solving all of this!  Ultimately, when we master what is in this section, we learn that there is no valid reason to be unhappy.)


IDENTIFY WHERE YOU ARE STARTING

Before you start, it is a great idea to see where you are starting from, so we can see later how far you've come!  This is also, by itself, a happiness producer - one that actually lasts! 

Inasmuch as the tests identify where changes would be desirable, the tests also serve as a "road map" to those things that will enhance your happiness.  

The Happiness Tests


FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS MOST!

If we focus on those factors that matter the most (on the upside and on the downside), we'll get the bulk of the results we want.  We can fine tune later.  (This also means that you need to stop chasing those things that do not produce happiness, especially those that end up creating unhappiness!)

The 80/20 Principle applies here, as in everything.  The top 20% (or so) in importance produces 80% of the results.  Incidently, operating from this principle will increase your happiness in total, reducing the big reducers and upping the big adders.


FOLLOW A PLAN

Plan out what you will work on, such as suggested in The Happiness Plan.  Then stick to implementing it - as a super priority!


THE HAPPINESS PRODUCERS

This is a copy of the table from The Happiness Producers.  The table lists what has been proven to produce happiness and what doesn't, based on actual scientific studies (based on actual facts and results).  Note that happiness is not controlled or caused by one's childhood or one's circumstances and abilities or good looks.

Actual effect                                           Factor

    HIGH             (Prioritize, invest in these)

High        Developing optimism style and positive viewpoint 
High        Learning thought control and creating thoughts anew 
     High        Gratitude
High        Using your ‘signature’  strengths ("gratification" vs. pleasure) 
     High        Personal and social intelligence (knowledge of self and of others)          High        Consistently exercising kindness and generous actions 
     High        Good memories (and recalling what is pleasant and positive) 


    MEDIUM       (Ok to spend time on, but after you've done the "high" payoffs.)
    
     Medium   Hope (from a study on religion, but independent of religion also)
Medium   Avoiding negative events and negative emotions


     MINOR         (Don't depend on these, though they are positive.)

Minor     Marriage
     Minor      Rich social life
Minor      Social intelligence, by itself


     NONE           (Don't waste any time nor concern on these.)

     None       Income increase (increase beyond subsistence)
None       Having "things"
     None             High accomplishments, achieving
None       Childhood events
None       Physical attractiveness
     None       Being “cool”
     None       Education
None       Intelligence
None       Climate
None       Race
     None       Gender
    
The latter (the "nones") are so encultured into us that we continue to believe them, although they are proven to not have the consequences or effects that we think they do.  Read the basic pieces in the Happiness section in order fully buy into the fact that they have no effect!