As the ancient philosopher Marcus Aurelius Antonius concluded after considerable thought into the concept of happiness “Very little is needed to make a happy life”.
The pursuit of happiness is a right enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. So an increasingly important question for economists, psychologists and decision-makers is the role that happiness plays in society and how to increase it.
General Social Survey
One of the best sources for this kind of data is the U.S. General Social Survey, which has been carried out since 1972. Teng Guo and Lingyi Hu, provided a detailed statistical analysis of this surveys.
The results are really interesting. Health is the biggest personal factor in determining happiness. Healthy people are about 20 percent happier than average. Unhealthy people are about 8.25 percent more unhappy than average.
Source: Cornell University Library, Economic Determinants of Happiness
Happiness and Health
The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.
Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
Gautama Buddha
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