Finding The Statistical Path To Happiness (Yes, That Is Possible)

Happiness is one of internet’s favourite tropes. Which means all of us ask the dreaded question to ourselves more often than perhaps needed: ‘Am I happy? Really?’ Ah. There is the crux: If you have to ask, well, you aren't. Happy, that is.

And because happiness is such a present, live thing on the Internet (believe me, it is), I almost didn't read this article. But then ‘lazy guide’? That was irresistible, and thankfully, the article lives up to the claim.

The writer interviews Dan Buettner, who over the past 15 years at National Geographic has travelled the world in search of “the healthiest people” and has “distilled their lessons”. His experience, as the writer puts it, is a “mix of journalism, academic epidemiology, advocacy and entrepreneurship”. This evidently gives him an enviable perspective on all the grey areas that make up happiness as a concept.

His interview ticks so many boxes and is a refreshingly different take on a tired subject. This, for instance: “You could work your butt off, pursue your purpose, become financially independent, and get there and realise: ‘Oh, my life sucks’.”

Buettner has recently published his third book on the subject. Titled The Blue Zones of Happiness, it focusses on how instead of relying on positive psychology or learning to count your blessings and being grateful (to be happier), we should focus on “statistically driven things” we can do to optimize our environment for more happiness.

How do we do this? He suggests we look at happiness the same way we would look at a retirement portfolio — in terms of choosing a place to live, working towards financial security, surrounding ourselves with the right kind of people and buying experiences instead of stuff.

Essentially, his message is that happiness is not a coincidence. And that there are always some common factors that come together to produce it. We just have to get those factors in place.