Want to be happy? Researchers at the Mayo Clinic know how. Unfortunately, some of the most important factors in creating happiness are out of your control: Women are happier than men, genetics matter, and the midlife crisis is real with happiness peaks in the young and old (or does happiness help people live longer, skewing the results?).
But one major factor is in your hands. Simply engaging in activities of your choosing, especially if you’re mindful of this choice, can boost happiness significantly.
The Mayo study found this effect to be especially powerful in the context of goals. For example, fame, beauty, and other goals that require external recognition are good in the chasing (any goal adds purpose), but not so good in the having.
Beauty can’t amuse you, but brainwork–reading, writing, thinking–can.
—Helen Gurley Brown
Interestingly, the study found that as long as basic needs are met, wealth has no effect on happiness.