A Simple Happiness Equation: A Picture

The circle illustration is beautiful – such a powerful message that to be happier, you don’t need the circles to be bigger but closer.

Some of the best writings on Happiness I’ve seen recently have been from No Impact Man.

In one of his posts on societal happiness, he writes about a Colombian mayor who came up with a metric to see if some of the city planning initiatives were actually making people happier.

What was this measure of happiness? The number of children playing in the streets.
I cannot think of a better metric.

If you haven’t heard of No Impact Man, he is Colin Beavan, a New Yorker who (with his wife and kid) lived for a year without making any net impact on the environment – no trash, no carbon emissions, no toxins in the water, no elevators, no subway, no products in packaging, no plastics, no air conditioning, no TV, no toilets. And blogged about it. Not to show he could live in deprivation, but to find out exactly what things he actually needed. And in the process, he discovered that he was actually happier. The experiment ended, but the blog still thrives as an active place to discuss individual and collective action to save the environment while and make our lives better.

Hi Maya: Several studies have shown that once we have enough money to meet our basic needs, additional increases in money do little to raise our happiness level. Relationships, meaningful work, engagement, and pleasure are vitally important to happiness. You know, I see that you’re very visual. You take concepts and turn them into slide shows or graphs; that’s a great ability to have.

Marelisas last blog post..Fun, Whimsical Gift Ideas for Creative People

Nice figure!

I’m a fan of Venn diagrams. I use them a lot at work.

I think your diagram would be more accurate with:
1. internal fulfillment
2. basic needs (more general than money and includes food, shelter)
3. relationships

I like that Marelisa pointed out meeting our basic needs. I’ve been trying to create a visualization that combines Kano theory, Maslow and a concept of “Above the Line or Below the Line” (a metaphor from one of my mentors.)

I should share some of the patterns and practices I’ve learned on skilled happiness, but I haven’t scrubbed them yet.

J.D. Meiers last blog post..Lessons Learned from Peaceful Warrior

Hi Ram,

Thank you so much for introducing me to the “No Impact Man”.
I can totally relate to the metric regarding Number of Children Playign in the Street!

You know that we moved house about 6 months ago – it has been a great experience – we are in a more expensive place with a lot lesser “stuff” but we seem so much happier – We did not go as far as Colin Beavan did, but we made sure to unpack only the things we absolutely needed and I can say we are so much happier as a direct result of that!
There is so little we need really – and kids are just an excuse – they need nothing but some song and dance to be happy. It has been a great experience for us!

Hi Mare,
I know I can always rely on you for information from research . Thank you!

Hi JD,
Yes, I should have said basic needs – but I guess I was looking to say “basic needs + wants” by saying “money” – but what you say makes complete sense.
I would love to see your value add to the Kano+Maslow concepts.Do let me know when you have something roughed up

Mayas last blog post..A Simple Happiness Equation: A Picture

Maya, good to see that you are grappling with a very difficult problem; an objective perspective on a highly subjective concept.

Pranam Kolaris last blog post..proto.in: Startups in India

Hi Maya – They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and your drawing speaks volumes. I find it interesting how many say if they had a bazillion dollars they would be happy, but they forget there’s more to happiness, then money.

Barbara Swafford – Blogging Without A Blogs last blog post..When Your Truth Is Different Than Mine

Hi Maya – I love your equation. And it is true – you can have lots of relationships and wind up barely knowing those people. A few close relationships is better.

hey… a venn diagram to use as a happiness index is really an innovative thought !!

although it may vary from person to person … i mean different people may want to add different parameters on the basis of which they judge whether or not they are happy … but nevertheless cool stuff…

ankur kakkars last blog post..HERE I AM , THIS IS ME !!

Thanks for the picture…I’m a visual person too. Your picture and explanation reminds me of the saying that what we leave out of a piece of art is more important than what we include. I’m with you, I don’t like to feel scattered.

The idea that it’s not necessarily about making these circles bigger, but of growing the overlap – is a very important note. Sometimes we focus too much attention on one area, thinking that will make us “happy”. And, inevitably, we find empty happiness – because of exactly what your drawing shows – the importance not of the size of the circle, but of the overlap…

Very nice, Maya!

Lances last blog post..Kindness Comes In Small Gestures

I’m a big fan of Venn diagrams as well. Thomas Leonard used to have an entire website dedicated to them Unfortunately it came down when he passed on. I find myself intrigued by the dual overlaps you didn’t label. Like the intersection between money and relationships for example. Not necessarily all peace and puppy dogs in that one. Thanks for the stimulation and happy holidays.

Tom Volkar / Delightful Works last blog post..Pump Up Your Personal Power

Maya,
Thank you for the lovely email. I am just back on the Internet after the heavy snow storm did damage to our connections – sorry it took me awhile to comment.

I thought your drawing was very good and expressive along with your writing and had no problem stumbling the post.

I truly enjoyed also your commentors and being able to read them all and make it a whole piece. Speaking of pieces how the quilt picture fell right into place on your page made the whole post just a lovely statement – thank you so much..and Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Patricias last blog post..Snow Fun

Hello Maya!

That’s a beautiful diagram

I think internal happiness comes irrespect of external condition.
We can be happy with nothing and we are not unhappy even when we pursue more in relationship or wealth.

I think true happiness shines even in chaotic times and true unhappiness comes even in the most pampered life.

see you soon. Merry Xmas!

Your friend Relax ~

Relaxs last blog post..How to Develop the Capability of a Super Student

Thanks for the holiday wishes, Maya. I hope that you and your family are doing well this season.

The older I get, the more I long for fewer friends and more meaningful relationships.

In my personal journey, I have been trying to free up and open up my pocketbook in order to buy friends more gifts or small tokens of my appreciation.

Still Life in Buenos Airess last blog post..Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Hey Maya, just found your blog from Patrick’s Very Evolved, and loving it! Regarding this post, I agree to a large extent. Once we have a basic level of financial security (if we can surf the net I think that’s enough hah!), and a basic level of relationships (Some can be alone for extended periods of time, but I think there’s a biological basis behind our need for human contact), then happiness is largely internal. That’s just my opinion though!

Cheers,
Albert | UrbanMonk.Net

Albert | UrbanMonk.Nets last blog post..Using Behaviorism and Reinforcement Theory for Self-Exploration, Part 1

Hi Albert,

Welcome to ThinkMaya!
I have to agree with what you say – the external factors always influence happiness – make it easier or harder to achieve, but the source of happiness is internal.If we are not happy deep within – no outside awesomeness can make us happy.

Orhan Pamuk writes in his noble speech “My father's suitcase”, that we presume life begins and ends with happiness…why presume that it is happiness that we are seeking…
I was shocked when I read this….But I think its true…when we rethink shades…i might prefer adventure to happiness, exploring and discovery to happiness, melancholy, pain and knowledge to happiness…isn't it a personal choice…why presume and chase happiness..are we sure tht's what we want?

Love the contradictions in your comment Cynduja!

If I prefer adventure and get to experience adventure, it is my belief that the internal fulfillment I get out of it is nothing but a form of happiness.

And yes, I let myself experience pain, for that helps me learn from life and the knowledge and grwth I get from experiencing pain, internalising it etc in the end give me long term happiness and not instant happiness.

You are very right, we should not chase happiness. I believe we should chase fulfillment – and that might mean different things to different people.
Being true to our passions is what makes us happy in the end – not chasing happiness for happiness sake.

What do you think?

if you're moving the circles closer, that means lesser money but more happiness? looks confusing lol

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[...]   To be truly happy we need to focus on quality – on the region of overlap.To be truly happy, we need to be pushing these circles closer and not spend energy on necessarily making them bigger. Makes sense? —Maya, A Simple Happiness Equation [...]