Studies In Joy

Be happy. That is the first commandment of life as it should be. Of course, there's the usual modifications that complicate the pursuit of happiness: clauses like "not at the expense of others" and "treat everyone as ends not means" and "only in a socially acceptable manner" and of course  "without violating the law or at least getting caught".

All four are not the same as each other, obviously, because there are illegal things that harm no one and may not even be socially inacceptable.

But other wise "be happy" is the answer that doesn't quite need a question.

Sadly, science - even if it's the science of psychology, always iffy - is showing that happiness has very little to do with what we can do. To quote Laura Blue's story in Time on 12 Mar, "factors like genes and age may impact our general well-being more than our best day-to-day attempts at joy".

One study, done by researchers from the University of Edinburgh, suggested that genes account for 50% of how happy we are, in general. The genetically-determined traits that contribute to happiness (and tend to come together in a package) are ones like "being sociable, active, stable, hardworking and conscientious". In other words they just described those obnoxiously chirpy beings who see half-filled glasses in everything, from multiple bee stings to the Holocaust.

I'm not one of those. People who know me know that I hate people, I'm slothlike even in my hating, I prefer softwork to hardwork, and I am as careless as it gets, I could hardly care less. But at least I'm pretty stable.  

Another study said people have a baseline level of happiness they usually fall back to, even after bouts of great joy or great tragedy. Happiness, compared over age, is a U-shaped curve, which hits the nadir at about 44.

I'm 28. It's all downhill from here. After the shittiness is over? Well, I'll be old.

You can't win. I can't win.

But there's hope. That's the cursed thing about life isn't it? There's always hope. You can't just lie down and die without someone pointing out that it's not all bad there's the possibility even for the worst of you. There's the 50% of happiness that's not predetermined. (I raise however the possibility it is still pretty predetermined except not by genes.)

Anyway, here's the advice from the article: "Be social, even if it's only with a few people; set achievable goals and work toward them; and concentrate on putting setbacks and worries in perspective. Don't worry, as the saying goes. Be happy."

So here's three-step plan towards being a happier Wifflewiffle.

1. Be social: I will play more MMORPGS and take part in more groups.

2. Set achievable goals. A. Pass on expert on all the Rock Band songs I have on guitar and drums.
B. Learn to play the actual guitar
C. Don't get fired (The fact I am blogging at work may be contra to this goal)
D. Survive marriage even if it kills me

3. Put setbacks and worries in perspective: Whatever happens, at least I am not currently being raped by large hairy men with beanpole-like penises. (Note: This doesn't work if it actually happens.)