Be happy, get married

Let’s get married.

For this is the one event we can control that makes us quite happy.

A study by the New Scientist magazine, published on 4 October 2003, found that the degree of joy in life is half decided by transient events. In the remaining half, 90 percent is determined by genes, according to studies of twins.

That is, we can only control up to 5 percent of our cheerfulness.

Getting married ranks highest among all factors in the hierarchy of happiness. Friendship and desiring less followed.

Because an individual can only take charge of 5 percent of his happiness, it is increasingly likely that one would be easily upset in a relationship. By the multiplication rule for probabilities, it is possible that we can only control .25 percent of whether we are happy or not in a relationship.

That brings out an interesting fact. Despite the small potential of being happy, most people are happy in a relationship. There must be something that makes a person find such a compatible partner. And there must be something between the two that makes them enjoy their moments together. It cannot be mere coincidence.

But you never know when this “something” will lose its magic.

Happiness is neither stable nor concrete. It cannot be put into a safe or into a freezer to keep it the way it is. It cannot be smelled or touched, but you can feel it if you are lucky. So embrace it with all your might when it comes, and don’t be sad when it slips away.

Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump taught us a good lesson. He always said, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” You never know whom you will become in 10 years’ time, or whom you will meet at the next street corner. Therefore it may be wise to have a more liberal and open mind.

Just take a few more tips from the experts. For a blissful life, you can try to do someone a good turn, find God (or a belief system), stop comparing your looks with those of others, and don’t worry if you are not a genius.

One might think that achieving a lot in life would bring joy. But think of Forrest Gump, who had a below average IQ. With his simple way of looking at life and his cheerful attitude, he led a life full of joy. One may argue that it does not reflect reality, but movies are also “real” to a degree that people enjoy watching them. Try comparing him with gifted kids who go to university at 10. They often have a lot of problems in life and turn out to be unhappy.

As mentioned above, marriage gives a clear boost to happiness. But this happiness can only last from about a year before the wedding until a year after it. Although it sounds short, a happy, prolonged marriage is actually the most significant happiness factor that we can govern.

So it may be a smart investment to dedicate more of your time searching for your other half.

Maggie Lini
Managing Editor

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