How do we become happy?

Last week I found out that having a million dollar does not necessarily make you happy. But now I am curious what it is that makes us happy.

According to professor Bartels from the Erasmus University of Rotterdam, happiness is partially due to heredity. If none of your family members suffers from a depression, it is likely that you will not develop a depression either.
As people grow older, their environment tends to have less impact on them because they have to build their lives on their own. So if your grandfather was a grumpy old man who died alone as a result;  poor you.

However, about 40% of being happy can be affected by an individual itself! According to some philosophy professors, the so called ‘life skills’ are an important aspect. The life skills exist from three parts: independence, decisiveness and sociability. What does this mean in daily life? Well, Kennislink  gives a few interesting do’s and don’ts:

ü  Get married (I could not believe it either but is said to be true) 

ü  Do not be materialistic (that means throw away your I-phone?)

ü  Try some exercise (but, so the article says, if you really believe you are not made for all kinds of movement faster than walking ; just stop exercising immediately)

ü  Get in some sort of club

ü  Change what you can change and accept what you cannot change

Although people who suffer from a depression swallow antidepressiva in order to be happy, this is not recommendable for healthy people. If I look at the do’s and don’ts, it appears to me that happiness is just luck in combination with hard work.

Want to know more do's and don'ts about happiness? Check http://www.kennislink.nl/publicaties/de-kunst-van-het-geluk