A British Neuropsychologist, Dr. David Lewis, gave this formula for happiness:
((L+As) / 2) 2 + (( E+N) / 2) + 2A+C+B) x (4/ (S+1)). Now they have a newer, more simpler, formula: Happiness= P + (5 x E) + (3 x H), where P= Personal Characteristics, E = Existence, and H= Higher order. In real life, this formula doesn’t apply because everyone has their own idea of what happiness is.
Remember the original formula that British Neuropsychologist Dr. David Lewis developed to calculate a person’s ideal work-life balance? Here it is:
((L+As) /2) 2 + ((E+N) /2) + 2A + C + B) x (4/ (S+1))
The variables never were explained, but, if you’re like me, adhering to such a complicated formula would have driven me mad.
Well, the British have done it again. This time, UK psychologists have devised a formula for happiness:
Happiness = P + (5 x E) + (3 x H)
Where: P = Personal Characteristics (like outlook and adaptability)
E = Existence (friends, health, and money)
H = Higher Order (self-esteem, ambitions, sense of humor).
There are other formulas for happiness. Positive Psychologists (those who focus on improving the mental
functioning of human beings, rather than on mental health) offer the following two versions:
Happiness = S + C + V
Where: S = Your set point (the level of happiness that we tend to return to after life’s highs and lows)
C = The conditions of your life
V = The voluntary activities you engage in.
and
Happiness = Pleasure + Engagement + Meaning.
Although the Science of Happiness has contributed much recently to peoples’ happiness – there is now a widely-held belief that we can make ourselves happier – the problem with any formula is that it raises our expectations to unreasonable levels. We believe that if we simply and consistently apply this formula, we’ll find perfect happiness every time.
The fact of the matter is that, in the real world, formulas and theories don’t work. You often times have to dig deeply and call upon all of your resources – your experience, knowledge, intelligence, wisdom, creativity, and instincts. There’s no one-size-fits all solution.
Additionally, because life is always changing, and because you’re constantly changing and learning and growing, you’ll always have additional skills and methods to accomplish things and achieve goals in your life.
