Is Happiness a State of Mind?

What makes people happy? Some researchers believe that people are born with a 'set-point' for happiness. One California researcher states that fifty percent of happiness is due to genes, forty per cent to activities and ten per cent to life's circumstances. Based on this theory, what can we do to help make our lives happier?

If activities make us happier then it makes sense that doing ones that make us feel creative, worthwhile, productive, unselfish and helpful would be good ones to choose.

Another survey, released by the University of Michigan, states that global happiness is on the rise in part due to democratization, economic growth and social tolerance. Research also indicates that keeping up with the Jones's is not a recipe for contentment. It stated that Americans earning more than $10 million annually are only slightly happier than the average American.

According to further research babies are born either happy or cranky. As a parent of five children and grandparent of seven children, I believe strongly that each one is born with a very well established personality. It does not seem to have anything to do with what their parents have in the way of material possessions, how much money the family earns or how many outfits the baby has. The theory is that as long as he/she is well-fed, warm and given lots of love, they will be happy. But interestingly, even the well-fed and well-loved ones can be cranky.

I believe that if a person is comfortable and has all of their basic needs met, they should be content; especially if they appreciate their life as it is, and are grateful each day for the good things in their life. Contentment is an attitude and especially if one focuses on the positive instead of the negative things in their lives.

If people are looking for a deliriously happy feeling, they will be disappointed. The feeling of contentment, which I believe equals happiness, is a feeling of well-being and can be ours if we are positive and don't crave what we don't have and probably don't need.

I have no huge desire to have expensive furniture or a fancier house. If I had, I may be worried about my grandchildren ruining something and then they would not feel welcome and may no longer think of me as a fun grandparent.

I am also quite satisfied with the car I have where I don't have to worry about what my grandchildren might do to suede or leather upholstery. And if I purchased expensive clothes, would I want to burp a baby, feed a toddler or cuddle a sticky child who has just finished eating an ice cream cone? Or would I want to hug a child who has chocolate on his face when he runs happily to greet me? Would I enjoy life more if I spent half of it away from the most important people in the world to me?

Happiness for me is being content, satisfied, and appreciative of what I have. In my contentment and happiness, I couldn't ask for more than I already have. For most of us, happiness can be a reality.