There's Actually A Formula For Happiness

In February of 2022, I attended a forum of university leaders in Grapevine, TX. The keynote speaker, a senator from a state I'll just leave as anonymous for now, talked about the declining levels of happiness and satisfaction across the world. For example, in 2007 the happiness level of teenagers and young adults plummeted consistently for the following ten years (this is largely due to the rise of smart phones and addictions to social media). Other statistics show the incredible unhappiness of lottery winners. Lottery winners! But wouldn't my life be better if I had all the money I ever needed!?

Mr. Senator then said one of the most profound insights I've ever heard in my life, "Happiness is directly correlated to the ratio of how much your kingdom was built based on your unique giftedness." Okay, fine, I won't lie. That's a paraphrase. But this is why lottery winners rate some of the unhappiest people. Akin to people who hate their job.

Their empire was not built on them using their giftedness; therefore, their happiness is thirsty for quenching.

The ratio of how much "your kingdom" or "your empire" is built on "your giftedness" is equal to your level of happiness. In other words, if your work is 100% in your giftedness and your wealth/lifestyle is a byproduct of that success, then you are 100% happy. Not that 100% is our expectation (no one's perfect), but getting away from only 20% is!

If you inherit a lottery but your giftedness is not a part of that, then you will still be searching for meaningful work, even though you don't need to earn another dollar in your life.

So the formula is:

G (giftedness) ÷ E (my empire) = H (happiness)

or

G/E=H

or

Why Is This So Important?

Notice that it's not about gaining a larger empire...

That's the misconception: that you just need more empire (wealth). What if you just needed a higher usage of your "innate motivating factors" in pursuing your wealth?

You are NOT called to "retire by 40." Yes, believe it or not, even if you won the lotto at 40 you'll still continue to work. Probably not in your current job, but you will become entrepreneurial, invest is non-profits that are meaningful to you, start non-profits for needs that are meaningful to you, side projects, and/or continue creating your dream job. This is human nature.

Happiness is NOT determined by how much money you have.

It's determined by how much of your life is a byproduct of you exercising your innate giftedness.

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