The Science of Happiness

Laurel and I moved five times in our first six years of marriage. We could pile all our possessions onto a pickup truck. Three kids later, we’ve accumulated a lot more stuff.

Boxes

And it’s not just our family. Consider the following data points on what is happening at a national level:

  • Closet space. David Weekley, one of the nation’s most successful home builders, says you can track our nation’s economic prosperity by examining closet space. Today’s standard master walk-in closets (approximately 6 ft. by 8 ft.) are comparable to the size of a bedroom 40 years ago.
  • Self-storage. Having increased by 2 billion sq. ft. between 1984-2005,  the self-storage industry exceeded Hollywood in profits in 2005! In the ’80s only 6,601 existed nationwide, but by 2008, 51,250 self-storage facilities existed: “There is 7.4 sq.ft. of self storage space for every man, woman and child in the nation; thus, it is physically possible that every American could stand — all at the same time — under the total canopy of self storage roofing.” ~ Self Storage Association

But here’s the surprising aspect of our prosperity. While we’ve accumulated many more possessions, our happiness levels are static. The average American has 150 percent more purchasing power today than they did in the ’70s, according to AEI President Arthur Brooks. In the ’70s, 31 percent said they were very happy. Today, the percentage is the same.

What if we finally believed that happiness is simply not found in accumulating more?

As our resources have increased, so has a growing body of research demonstrating that happiness is correlated to giving, not getting. Essentially reinforcing what Jesus taught, science is showing it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Recently Michael Norton and Elizabeth Done, authors of Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending, completed a study on happiness in Uganda and India. They gave participants as little as $5. Half were invited to buy gifts for themselves. The other half were instructed to spend it on someone else. Those who spent money on themselves remained the same. But those who gave were significantly happier.

A 2009 study from Harvard Business School found the part of the brain that activates when receiving “rewarding stimuli” – like when we view art or listen to music – also fires when we give. We are hardwired to receive joy in giving.

This year, with my family, I hope to give and love more, in response to the One who gave us everything.

Want to learn more? Check out More or Less by my friend Jeff Shinabarger.

 

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Tom Vanderbilt, “Self-Storage Nation,” Slate, July 2005 (http://www.slate.com/id/2122832/).

Lalin Anik, Lara B. Aknin, Michael I. Norton, Elizabeth W. Dunn, Feeling Good about Giving: The Benefits (and Costs) of Self-Interested Charitable Behavior (Harvard Business School Working Paper, 2009) 10.

 

 

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