Most of us spend our entire lives pursuing happiness. Why? Well, have you ever notice that happy people just seem to have it all going on? No really, the Gorilla considers himself to be a relatively happy guy, but he knows someone else who is just so darned happy all of the time and quite frankly, there are days when it is simply nauseating. Oh c’mon, you know someone like that and just admit it, there are times when you just wanna punch the guy in his happy-loving face. Well, of course, the Gorilla is just joking. But, on those bleak stressful days when you are late for work, spilled coffee on your shirt, and you just had an argument with your wife, HE is not the guy you want to run into on your way into the office. Him, with his smiling face, that little skip in his step, his perfect teeth- no coffee on this guy’s shirt, no sir. Not the happy guy. Everything just seems to go his way. So, what’s up with that anyway?
Well, rest assured, there is a reason and it doesn’t have to do with anti-depressants! New studies reveal that happiness is largely out of our control. One study, performed by researchers at the University of Edinburgh, suggests that genes may account for 50% of the variation in people’s levels of happiness. Other determining factors have to do with genetically predetermined personality traits, such as ”being sociable, active, stable, hardworking and conscientious,” says co-author Timothy Bates. In addition, Bates says these “happiness” traits generally come as a package, and he says that “if you have one, you’re likely to have them all”. The study published in Psychological Science involved 973 pairs of adult twins and found that, on average, a pair of identical twins shared more personality traits than a pair of non-identical twins. And when questioned about their happiness, the identical twin pairs responded much more similarly than other twins, suggesting that happiness and personality have a strong genetic component.
The study went on to suggest that innate personality traits actually cause happiness. According to survey data, which represented 2 million people in more than 70 countries, happiness typically follows a U-shaped curve: among people in their mid-40s and younger, happiness trends downward with age, then climbs back up among older people. Well, the Gorilla doesn’t know about you, but that would seem like common sense! Life is much more carefree for the young (barring war-torn and impoverished countries), and by the time we are 40ish-60ish, let’s say, we have all lived long enough to have experienced plenty of hardships and drama. But yes, those that just seem naturally happy certainly are lucky to have the ability to be so on a regular basis. Even though the Gorilla jokes about “that happy guy” at the office that we all secretly loathe, it is not because of who he is, (he is probably a really nice guy) but it is because he has something that-let’s face it- we all want….genuine happiness!