AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH ARTICLES
Is Happiness 50% Genetic Across The Board?
By Mike Mahler
"You’re happiest while
you’re making the greatest contribution." — Robert
Kennedy
The last issue of my magazine received more visits than any preceding. The article on the genetic connection to happiness struck a nerve with many readers and provoked a great deal of thought. To recap, the article covered a study indicating that 50% of happiness is genetic, 8-15% based on conditions, and the rest based on how much gratification we acquire and our ability to handle stress.
It's an interesting notion that so
much of our happiness is genetically based. While genetics may be a
large factor for most people, I find it hard to believe that it's
responsible for 50% of happiness--or sadness--across the board. I find
it hard to believe that changing conditions only amounts to 8-15% of
happiness for everyone. Upon what am I basing this? Myself of
course! Now is the time for another personal story.
While I'm not a depressive person
by nature, I've gone through periods in my life wherein I was greatly
unsatisfied. These times were always condition-based and always
took place during times in which I wasn't taking charge of my life and I
wasn't doing anything gratifying. Additionally, being in the wrong
relationship is stressful and depressing. When you dread going home to
deal with your significant other, it's a sign you're with the wrong person.
We human beings are highly adaptive organisms, which can lead us to dealing
with lame situations instead of doing something to provoke
major--positive--changes. Fortunately for me, I hate comfort zones and will
only stay in them for so long. Inevitably, I reach a tipping point in
which I make major changes leading to a greater level of happiness.
Without question, when I changed from dissatisfying work and relationships,
my happiness increased. Why wouldn't it? What we do for a
living, and whom we spend time with, impacts our life and it's hard to be
happy in a job you hate or around people who drain you.
I'm much happier now than when I
worked for other people. I set my own hours, spontaneously take a day
or a week off, spend more time with friends and family and--most
importantly--there's a lot of gratification in what I do and I feel good
knowing I make a positive difference in the lives of others. One of
the things about my business I most enjoy is putting out my online
magazine--which isn't something for which I get paid. Of course, the
objective of my online magazine is to generate income, but thousands of
people benefit from each issue without ever spending a dime on my business
and I'm fine with that--as long as they don't email me for more free
info, since there's a line between gratification and exploitation!
Changing from an unrewarding job wasn't the only big impact on my happiness: I'm also much happier now, with Carol, than in any previous relationship--or when I was single. While I don't hold the illusion that a great relationship makes up for an unrewarding career--or life--it certainly makes life more enjoyable, and a great support system can make all the difference when improving on life's other, messier, areas. No matter how much it's genetically set, changing conditions definitely made a big jump in my personal happiness.
I'm not encouraging you to quit
your job and start your own business or non-profit organization. I'm
encourage you to apply critical thinking skills to your life and determine
what can be done to increase your own happiness. Quitting your
job may not be the answer. You might enjoy working for others and hate
the idea of working for yourself and there's nothing wrong with
that...the last thing I want is for you to quit your job and be left unable
to afford my products and services. All joking aside, I'm encouraging
you to develop a personalized plan for increasing your happiness, and the
more you know about yourself, the more effectively you can develop that
plan. You can observe what others are doing and imitate but that's a
big mistake, since what works for them (if it even works at all) won't
necessarily work for you. Forget what other people think you should do
and take on the responsibility of determining what's best for yourself.
If you're not prepared to do so, then you're not yet an adult, regardless of
your age.
From experience, I've noticed I get
struck with mild depression when I'm not growing and improving. I'm
not talking about financially. Yes, I run a business and want to make
more money each year but that's not what I'm taking about. Making more
money doesn't increase my level of happiness: I use money as a measure
that my business is moving in the right direction and that I'm reaching and
helping more people. It also allows me to support organizations that I
believe in and enjoy life.
When it comes to growth, I'm taking
about personal growth, as in learning more about life and learning
more about myself. I like the idea of learning more every year and
accomplishing more, compared to repeating the same year twenty times over.
Time goes by, whether we want it to or not, and there's no slowing it down.
You can either take charge of your life and grow or simply let the years
pass by. When I sense the years are passing me by, I feel depression.
Being productive and accomplishing goals are major contributors to my
happiness. I enjoy relaxing and kicking back...but only for so long.
Eventually I need to jump back in the game and do the things which gratify
me.
Now that we've discussed happiness,
let's take a look at melancholy. Melancholy can be an organic sign we
need to make changes in our lives. If we use improper form while
strength training, we'll develop an injury; this is a sign we need to modify
form. Melancholy is a sign to stop, assess your life, and evaluate
what needs to change. It might not be anything external, such as
losing weight or relocating, but may mean you need to begin a meditation
practice, or meditate more often to develop a higher tolerance for stress.
It may mean that you need to have your hormones, such as testosterone and
DHEA, checked, to ensure you're not in a depleted state. Finally, it
may mean you need to seek more opportunities for gratification. On the
other hand, clinical depression is a more serious problem requiring
professional help.
Even if fifty percent of happiness
is genetically set, the other fifty percent remains within our power to
focus upon and improve. In addition to changing external conditions,
such as dead-end relationships and unrewarding work, we need to maximize our
health potential by optimizing our hormones, reducing stress, and increasing
stress-management skills.
As I mentioned in the last issue,
meditation is a proven method of reducing cortisol and should be practiced
daily. You don't have to sit in the lotus position chanting for an
hour, you might instead incorporate daily walks while focusing on the
breath, all of which works to increase levels of epinephrine, a
mood-boosting hormone. Other forms of active meditation are qi gong
and tai chi. Discover what's a fit for you and practice it regularly.
Regular physical exercise is a
popular method of reducing cortisol levels and increasing stress-management
reserves but, when taken too far, exercise becomes a negative activity,
resulting in increases in cortisol, anxiety, weakened immunity, and poor
mood from the decrease in "good feeling" hormones. Training
is a medicine: in order to be effective, the dose must be precise.
Avoid being a training/stimulus addict and follow planned, efficient
programs matching your goals and lifestyle.
An interesting way to reduce
cortisol levels is avoiding clutter! My brother told me about an
interesting article discussing a connection between having a messy
environment and increased cortisol levels. It's difficult to maintain
a clear and focused mind within the middle of a mess! Donate the
clothes you never wear to the local Goodwill or Salvation Army and stop
buying junk to fill your internal void--it won't work. If you're
addicted to buying things, go to your local children’s hospital and ask a
bunch of kids what they want, then get to work. I promise, buying them
things will be more gratifying than adding more junk to your own
environment.
Much of self-imposed misery comes
from over reliance on the approval of others. Get over your need for
approval and validation and pursue your goals for their own sake and for
your own excellence. Praise is fleeting and it's certain that most
people from whom you seek validation are more insecure than yourself!
Finally, while money doesn't buy
happiness, financial stress can certainly reduce your happiness. I've
been in debt more than once and you can believe I'm much happier debt-free.
You're not free when you owe money and I'm amazed how casual people are
about immense credit card debts. People are willing to go into
tremendous debt to mimic the American dream, which isn't authentic if it's
not earned and acquired on your own terms. Living a pretense is
unconsciously stressful: while money won't buy happiness, it can
negotiate peace of mind. Believe me, if your loved one needs an
expensive operation, you'll be much happier paying for the operation than
bearing the stress bombardment that comes with lack.
For some people, happiness is a birthright; for many of us it's an elusive potential. Certainly, just as we train to get stronger and smarter, we must train to become happier. I wish you smooth sailing with your happiness-training program.
Meditation is one of the best things you can do to relax your mind and handle stress more effectively. High stress equals low DHEA, testosterone, and GH levels. You must get a handle on stress to be at your best. My online client Les Larson told me about this program and after only a few weeks I am hooked.
Just listen to the program for 30-60 minutes per day and you will notice a difference after a few days. After a week you will look forward to each session. I like to use it after working out or before going to bed.
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