Happiest Person In America: Whats Sex Got To Do With It?
Who is the happiest person in America? USA Today featured Happiest Person in a cover story in its USA Weekend magazine. Bad news: it's not you. Nor is it me.
Just how did they find Happiest Person and determine that he is indeed the happiest person in America? The USA Today research team appears to have used an elegantly simple three-step process.
First, they identified "the world's leading authority on happiness", Martin Seligman ... which must have come as a wee bit of a surprise to several of his equally well-known and equally well-respected peers. How they picked Seligman remains more of a mystery than how a land-locked nation of mountains and yodeling became home to the holy grail of yachting, but we are working feverishly to crack the code.
Next, they asked Seligman to name six principles of happiness. Seligman listed couple strengths, a win-win approach, savoring success, playing to one's strengths, opening doors to opportunity and finding meaning in life.
Finally, they applied Seligman's principles to determine who best matches them. Naawww, just kidding. That would make way too much sense. Instead, USA Today created a make-believe process of its own that stands out from Seligman's list like the Jolly Green Giant at a dwarf convention. Here is the USA Today process.
Geography. It seems that Happiest Person must live in the best place to live, which is Virginia Beach, in case you didn't know. If somebody even happier than Happiest Person lives in San Francisco or Vermont, the USA Today research team does not want to know.
Why confine their search to one town? Could geography be the secret to happiness that Seligman failed to mention? True, research does show that people living in free societies tend to be happier than others, but there is no evidence that where you live within the free world makes a difference.
Sex. Women are prone to higher emotional highs and lower emotional lows, whereas men are prone to more constant emotions. So Happiest Person must be a man, concludes USA Today. While the science does hit the bull's eye, the conclusion misses the barn wall. I suppose they'll be telling us that Seattle is the sunniest spot in America because the weather fluctuates less than in The Sunshine State.
Family. Happiest Person is married, has children, and is healthy. People with intimate relationships do tend to be happier, and marriage is a fairly good indicator (especially for men). And health is important. These may not be among Seligman's six principles, but let's not argue against good health.
Money. Happiest person has a "good, dependable job" as a stockbroker, a 2,300 square foot house (with an eat-in kitchen and a deck!). The truth comes out ? money does buy happiness, according to the USA Today research team.
In fact, studies show that money makes a difference only if it elevates a person above the poverty level. When a person has means enough not to struggle for basic necessities, money rarely buys happiness.
Brand-awareness. This one must have made the big ad agency tycoons drool in their Corn Flakes. Happiest Person is for real because he likes all the right brands! He "digs" Coca-cola, so he must be the real thing. And he loves Craftsman tools and Dell computers. Say no more.
Where does the USA Weekend exposé leave the rest of us? If you are a little old lady enjoying retirement in Atlanta or a student conquering new fields of knowledge in Ann Arbor, you clearly are not happy enough for USA Today. But cheer up, even The Happy Guy eats "donuts" rather than "Krispy Kremes".
About The Author
David Leonhardt is the Happy Guy, author of "Climb your Stairway to Heaven: the 9 habits of maximum happiness". Sign up for your free "Daily Dose of Happiness" at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html, or visit the Self-actualization Resource Center at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/self-actualization-articleshtml.
 Google News Updated : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:50:00 GMT Get moving: Guidelines set healthy activity levels - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - WASHINGTON (AP) - Get moving: New exercise guidelines released Tuesday set a minimum sweat allotment for good health. For most adults, that's 2 1/2 hours a week. Government tells Americans to take stairs, go out and play Get 2 1/2 hours of exercise per week, US says Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:11:51 GMT Fed Announces Plan to Buy Short-Term Debt - New York Times
New York Times - By EDMUND L. ANDREWS and MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve announced a radical new plan on Tuesday to jump-start the engine of the financial system. Fed makes boldest move yet Federal Reserve to buy up short-term commercial debt Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:51:44 GMT Study: Using fan on sleeping baby reduces risk of SIDS - San Jose Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News - By Linda Goldston Ayde Gonzales's mother was surprised when she insisted that her newborn son must sleep on his back, not on his side. Fan Use May Save Your Baby’s Life, Reduces SIDS Risk Fan in Room Seems to Cut Infants’ Risk of Crib Death Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:46:19 GMT Kenya deports anti-Obama author - Christian Science Monitor
Christian Science Monitor - Jerome Corsi, author of "Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality," tried to launch his new book, but violated immigration rules, Kenyan officials say. Barack Obama's African grandmother Sarah Onyango Obama roots for him Anti-Barack Obama author detained while promoting his book in Kenya Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:09:55 GMT Axelrod Says Obama Will Counterpunch if McCain Raises Ayres - New York Times New York Times - By Patrick Healy NASHVILLE - Senator Barack Obama is prepared to hit back, including with Keating Five scandal if necessary, if Senator John McCain uses tonight’s presidential debate to attack him over his associations with controversial figures like ... Video: AP Campaign Minute Palin Adds Fannie Mae Execs to List of Objectionable Obama Associates Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:32:14 GMT Fitch says AMD factory move has no ratings impact - Forbes
Forbes - AP 10.07.08, 3:48 PM ET Fitch Ratings said Tuesday Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s ratings are not affected by the chip maker's plans to spin off factories into a new joint venture with investors in the Persian Gulf state of Abu Dhabi. What AMD's fab spinoff means for Intel, industry Who Benefits From AMD’s Financial Engineering? Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:58:11 GMT Union-Backed Party Opposes Term Limits Plan - New York Times
New York Times - By Fernanda Santos The Working Families Party began on Tuesday the labor community’s first major offensive against Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s plan to change term limit laws through legislation that would extend to three, from two, the number of terms ... UPDATE 1-NYC lawmakers to weigh bill raising term limits Bill to end term limits introduced in City Council Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:15:23 GMT Legitimate Work From Home Jobs |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Have you ever had one of those days where you... Read More I have decided to declare 2004 as the YEAR OF... Read More 1. roll around in the grass, and don't brush the... Read More If there was ever a principle that was responsible for... Read More The following three inspirations were adapted from A Daily Dose... Read More Right off the top: What is the difference between dating... Read More Yes, it might feel great to win the lottery. Money,... Read More The most important achievements you can ever have in this... Read More One of the most important colors in advertising is the... Read More If you have a very low self esteem or a... Read More So many people overwork themselves literary in the quest for... Read More The older I get, the more I realize that ninety... Read More Don't Let Life Happen To You ... Read More A pervasive sense of low self-esteem, a feeling of unworthiness,... Read More It seems like I set out in this life to... Read More When people are asked, "How many of you are content... Read More Placing your attention, energy and focus on the negative aspects... Read More If your blood is still pumping through your veins, you... Read More Anger can make us feel good and enlivened for a... Read More Where does happiness fit on a scale of 1 to... Read More Women are conditioned to be people pleasers. Women are taught... Read More I ran a contest in "Your Daily Dose of Happiness"... Read More Is there any necessary connection between our actions and the... Read More This question and answer article was done by Gizelle River,... Read More Imagine that the Internal Revenue Service in your country claimed... Read More
Adsense
websites
7 Surprising Keys to Happiness
The Year Of Happiness
Ways to Bring Play into Your Life
Achievement and Happiness the 80/20 Way
Three Inspirations for Happiness
Hanging Out
Gratitude For Dummies
Creating Better Relationships
Colors: How Do They Make You Feel?
You Need To Start To Like Yourself
Live Happily Ever After!
Choose To Be Happy - NOW!
Dont Let Life Happen to You
How A Psychovirus May Be Destroying Your Life
Growing Up Backwards
The American Dream ? At What Cost?
How to Stop Attracting Negative People to Your Life
Forgive to Succeed - Im Talking to the You Behind Your Eyes
Letting Go of Anger and Awaken to Lifes Grand Aventures
Who Controls YOUR Happiness?
Could Your Thoughts Sabotage Your Happiness? Take This Quiz And Find Out
How Do You Define Happiness?
The Happiness of Others
Relationships and the Law of Attraction
Happiness and Keeping Ahead of the Joneses
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Creating Better Relationships
The most important achievements you can ever have in this... Read More
Relationships and the Law of Attraction
This question and answer article was done by Gizelle River,... Read More
Love Yourself First ? Im Happy. Youre Happy. Were All Happy!
As a teenager growing up reading 'Blue Jeans' and 'Jackie',... Read More
Boosting Your Success with Six Easy Happiness Tips
In what areas of your life would you like to... Read More
Simple Pleasures: Ingredients to Feed Your Spirit.
"When we do something we love, again and again, our... Read More
Ten Ways to Eliminate Guilt From Your Life
1. Say "Yes" Only When You Want ToYou want to... Read More
Getting Out Of Dodge
The freeway was relatively clear. It was early in the... Read More
How To Live Happily Ever After
In life, many of us simply plunge ahead, only to... Read More
Get Out Those Legos
Many of my clients are working harder than smarter. This... Read More
7 Gifts that Multiply Happiness
Did you know that there are gifts that will multiply... Read More
Can Money Buy You Happiness?
Well, doesn't that depend on what's causing you to be... Read More
The Art Of Happy Living
What do you think about happiness? A philosophical approach to... Read More
Happy Buttons
What makes you happy? What are the simple pleasures that... Read More
Laughter and Your Health
Did you know that according to research, children laugh about... Read More
May the Budgie of Happiness Sit on Your Head
My grandmother, Mimi, was a great solitaire player. My family... Read More
Tap Into Wellness - the Secret Self Help Tool Your Doctor Doesnt Want You To Know About
Everyone has issues with self esteem. It's no wonder then... Read More
Are You Doing What You Love?
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the... Read More
10 Tips for Living the Life of Your Dreams
Why Are You Here?When I ask this question, I'm not... Read More
Happiness
Without getting into the core basics of philosophy, I will... Read More
Impractical Magic
Witchcraft is a messy, expensive, time-consuming, and inefficient way to... Read More
Wisdom
What is wisdom? But first, what are the conditions that... Read More
Conversational Negative Self-Talk
Most people don't even know they're doing it. Throughout the... Read More
How To Be Happy
Happiness is a state of mind, so your state of... Read More
If You Can Dream It you Can Do It!
Confuscious, the Chinese Philospher is quoted as saying : "I... Read More
It Costs Nothing To Smile
I like to be around positive people, people who tend... Read More
Finding Happiness |