Snippet: A Happiness Equation

Snip·pet | ˈsnipit | noun a small piece or brief extract.

I’m doing research for a sermon on joy for our Christmas Eve services, one of the major themes of Advent. Here’s a snippet from a Spanish Catholic saint Josemaria Escriva, quoted by Arthur Brooks in an article on happiness in the Atlantic:

“Don’t forget it: he has most who needs least. Don’t create needs for yourself.”

This idea can be taken too far into full-blown Stoicism (think Mr. Spock without his human side).

But it’s also so accurate when it comes to what we think we need to make us happy (e.g., three times my salary, which is about the average of people’s answer to how much more money would make them happy) or when we build up huge expectations (e.g., for the Christmas season).

So, one of Brook’s equations for happiness (he has several) is as follows: Satisfaction = What you have ÷ What you want.

Brooks offers this advice: “Don’t obsess about your haves; manage your wants, instead. …make an inventory of your worldly desires and try to decrease them.”

He also advises making a bucket list of attachments you need to discard, and make a plan for doing so.

It’s a great article with other great advice from a practicing Christian whose work on creating a more civil society has really impacted me.

“The 3 Equations for a Happy Life, Even During a Pandemic.”

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash