Happiness comes from choosing to be happy with whatever you do, strengthening your closest relationships and taking care of yourself physically, financially and emotionally.
Thus revealed a recent survey of Harvard’s class of 1980. They compared responses between those “extremely happy” and the rest of the respondents.
2010 Survey
An earlier survey of this same group suggested that “happiness is good”. Actually, happiness comes from three goods. Everyone is motivated by a blend of 1. Doing good for others, 2. Doing things they are good at, 3. Doing good for me.
2015 Survey
This year’s survey suggests you can be happier if you: Choose to be happy with whatever you do, strengthen your closest relationships and take care of yourself physically, financially and emotionally.
Choose to be happy with whatever you do
The correlation between happiness and occupation, income or wealth is far less that the correlation between happiness and how people feel about their occupation, income or wealth.
- 47% of those extremely happy said they thoroughly enjoy what they are currently doing versus 14% of everyone else.
- 62% have not and do not expect to hit a mid-life crisis versus 38% of everyone else.
- 49% of those extremely happy said they are already pursuing their dreams versus 18% of everyone else.
- 67% of those extremely happy said the happiest period of their lives is now versus 20% of everyone else.
Strengthen your closest relationships
The most important happiness choice is to invest in your closest relationship whether it’s a spouse, partner, parent, sibling or friend.
- 75% of those extremely happy give a top box rating to the importance of success in their intimate relationships versus 49% of everyone else.
- 77% of those extremely happy said the state of their relationship was either the “greatest” of “very good” versus 48% of everyone else.
Take care of yourself physically, financially and emotionally
We all know that exercising and taking care of yourself correlates with good health. The happiest among us actually do exercise and take care of ourselves.
- 78% of those extremely happy said they exercise at least three times per week versus 57% of everyone else.
- 93% of those extremely happy said they are in excellent or very good health versus 74% of everyone else.
- 68% of those extremely happy think they are “set” or “on track” for retirement versus 49% of everyone else.
- 10% of those extremely happy perceive themselves to be under stress versus 42% of everyone else.
- 44% of those extremely happy said they are at peace with their work-life balance versus 13% of everyone else.
Implications for you as an individual
Choose happiness in whatever you do. Strengthen your closest relationships. Take care of yourself physically, financially and emotionally.
Implications for you as a leader
Focus on how your team members feel about what they are doing even more than what they are doing. Remember to invest in relationships with your team members. Also invest in their physical, financial and emotional well-being.
This article was originally published on Forbes.