There is this documentary called Happy. I only watched half of it because i fell asleep. Apparently there is a whole field in psychology that studies happiness. If they can study depression why not happy. It compared different people around the world. Americans rank like 23rd. Some dirt poor dude in India was extremely happy and so on.

The part that really struck me is that they said 50% of happiness is genetic. This is your base line.

Only 10% is your situation. Like economic status, job, car, ect. This part assumes you have your basic needs met. Food shelter water, can pay your bills ect. Obviously a homeless person is going to be happier with higher economic status. But once your basic needs are all met more and more of everything doesn't make you happier. Surprisingly they say only 10% is based on this.

The other 40% is your intention or things you can do with your own free will to increase your happiness.

I think we are screwed in the 50% genetic baseline thing. Our baseline is probably much lower than most.

The good news is the 40% where we can actually do something about it.

They said everyone can go through adversity and big change positive or negative and return to baseline in a short time. My base line is low.

This is all according to the experts who study it.

I thought I would just pass it along.

Oh yeah. The one thing they said all the happiest people had in common was close family and friends. This is why I think we all need a good support network even if family cannot be a part of it. I need a support network outside of family. Professional and friends and here and my family.