Determinants of the level of happiness

Positive psychology research has explored the various factors that contribute to a person's overall level of happiness.

A model has been proposed that distributes the influence of these factors in approximate percentages, highlighting that a significant portion of our well-being is under our voluntary control.

The Genetic Component ("Set Point")

Approximately 50% of our general tendency toward happiness seems to be determined by genetic factors.

This is known as the "set point" of happiness, a kind of hedonic baseline to which each person tends to return after experiencing emotional fluctuations due to life events.

Some people, because of genetic inheritance or birth variables, are simply born with a predisposition to be more cheerful, outgoing or charismatic, while others may have a natural tendency toward greater shyness or seriousness.

This genetic component influences, but does not absolutely and immutably determine our emotional destiny.

Life Circumstances

Surprisingly, according to some models, life circumstances only account for about 10% of the variation in happiness levels between people.

These circumstances include factors such as marital status, income, general health, where we live and other general variables that exist in a person's life.

Although complicated life situations, such as an economic crisis, an illness or the loss of a family member, can drastically affect momentary well-being, their impact on long-term happiness, once the initial adaptation has been overcome, seems to be less than commonly believed for the majority of the population.

However, it is important to note that for people in situations of extreme hardship, such as lack of food or shelter, these circumstances certainly weigh more than 10%.

The Voluntary Factor and Intentional Activities

The remaining 40% of our happiness, a considerable portion, depends on our intentional activities and daily choices; that is, on those behaviors and ways of thinking that we can actively control and modify.

This underscores that a substantial amount of our emotional well-being is under our direct influence.

The "will", understood as the human capacity to freely decide what one wants and how to act, plays a multiplying role in the well-being equation.