On Happiness: The Surprisingly Simple Formula for Fulfillment
We all want to be happy, right? The problem is that when we talk about nebulous such ideas in culture, seldom does anyone define these terms. I recently listened to a super insightful interview with the happiness expert of today, Dr. Arthur C. Brooks. Oprah loves him so much that they have co-authored a book together, so he's someone worth listening to.
There's a "DNA" of happiness—both literally and figuratively. It turns out that genetic factors may account for more than 50% of one's happiness. However, having a genetic predisposition toward being more or less happy does not let you off the hook! Even in light of this, nothing can replace autonomy and personal responsibility (two of my favorite topics).
As for the remaining 50%, there's a blueprint for how you can experience more happiness. Once you realize that happiness is a journey, not a destination, consider how you might apply these principles to your life. According to Dr. Brooks, these are the "macronutrients" of happiness: 👇🏽
Enjoyment
Satisfaction
Meaning
Let's define these key terms by the formulas that constitute each of them. Note: My explanation is not verbatim that of Dr. Brooks, but I hope that you enjoy the perspective I've added to make sense of them in my life.
Degree of Enjoyment = Pleasure + People + Memory. Consider how this works with something like alcohol. There is a reason that beer companies don't make advertisements of some guy drinking alone in his house. There may be some pleasure in that experience. However, the lack of people to share in that experience, and the potential to not store the memories associated with, it don't necessarily render it enjoyment.
Beyond literally remembering a moment of pleasure, "memory" also arises when there is a particular occasion associated with an experience. Beer commercials don't just show some guy drinking with his friends on a random Tuesday. Usually, they have gathered to celebrate something and commemorate it with a drink. In other words, to make memories.
Pleasure without people is nothing but a bastardization of enjoyment, which is what your heart truly desires.
Degree of Satisfaction = what you have ÷ what you want. If the value of this quotient is greater than 1, then you have reached satisfaction. You must want fewer things, experiences, relationships, etc. than the amount you currently have. Of course, the quotient can always exceed 1, which means that it's okay to be addicted to personal development like I am. Just know that happiness is not on the other side of your next milestone and remember to take stock of where you are along the way.
Degree of Meaning = Coherence + Purpose + Significance. This is why storytelling is paramount. Coherence refers to your ability to connect the dots in your life. Without a basic understanding of causality and correlation, you fall prey to randomness, and no one wants that. I view "purpose" as twofold: the first aspect refers to how you process your past, and the second aspect refers to how you process your future.
Similarly, there are types of motivation: one that "pushes" us away from negative past experiences, and one that "pulls" us toward the *possibility* of positive experiences. I'd argue that most people experience the former aspect of purpose and motivation, but only those with a clear and compelling vision of the future can be driven by the second aspect. The most impactful people are pulled forward by the magnitude of their vision, not pushed through life by external factors that might not align with them.
Why any of this matters...
At the end of the day, anyone does anything because they think that it will make them happy. Personally, I experience happiness through the Unconditioned Mode podcast and MMM newsletter. My vision for this platform is that by sharing my own thoughtful reflections and actionable insights, people like you will be better equipped with the tools to create more happiness in your own life. What better topic to kick things off?
Please let me know what you think about this first MMM newsletter! You can email me at mo@unconditioned.co or message me on the socials with any and all feedback. Let me know what concepts, big or small, that you'd like me to ponder in future editions. I am a philosopher, after all. 😊
