IT'S TIME TO BE HAPPY

 As we travel through 2022, I’ve decided to share some of the relevant and essential things to the way I’m looking at the year ahead.

Firstly, I’m excited at the prospect of a year that’s brighter and kinder – and for me, a little quieter. I’m also furiously reading about two subjects in particular. The market, yes, that most important of subjects when your working existence depends on it, and happiness.

Both subjects are covered by exhaustive resources. For the market, the material is more analytical – and potentially controversial. The other is more difficult to categorise because happiness, whilst being easy to explain, can be difficult to enact for many of us. 

There’s even a Happiness Pie! Yes, a neat and tidy pie chart, originally proposed in 2005 by researchers Sonja Lyubomirsky, Kennon Sheldon, and David Schkade. Put simply, they decided that 50 per cent of what determines happiness is genetically driven (not ideal for some of us!), and 40 per cent is your intentional activity. A mere 10 per cent is your life circumstance. This could be your occupation, financial status, possessions; all the things that supposedly have huge relevance to our personal happiness.

Who would have known? Coming from an optimistic clan, I’m even more encouraged to find that engaging in positive, intentional activities involving exercise, connection with others, sleeping well, and eating consciously all add to your happiness. 

This confirms the broader idea that all of us can take deliberate and relatively easy steps towards a happier state of mind. It’s not necessarily about big possessions; it can be the simplest things that lead to happiness. Two of mine are time with my loved ones – talking, laughing, listening – and a daily walk.

Here’s to you finding yours in the incredible year we all have ahead of us.