I come from an incredibly happy family. Holidays, Birthday parties, BBQ's.. all our family gatherings are loud and very social events. So I was interested to see this new study by British and Australian researchers that shows it appears you can inherit your happiness. A researcher at the University of Edinburgh studied nearly 1,000 pairs of identical and non identical twins and found genes control half the personality traits that make people happy. Factors like relationships, health and careers are responsible for the other half.
Researchers say, "It appears people with positive inherited personality traits may, in effect, also have a reserve of happiness to draw on in stressful times."
Especially in a career like this one, I've often noticed in times of higher stress people metabolize their anxiety very differently. While some are able to plow forward and work harder, others allow their stress to bubble up and over.
Take a look at how you handle stressful situations and how happy you are. Are your family members behind it, or do you think every person writes their own path to happiness?
Comments (1)
I missed this one.
As a twin myself, I can say I'm always happy, positive thinking and always moving forward. Stress is something I've come to manage and handle with ease.
I seldom see barriers, just another level to push through. Both my parents were this way and I will never be able to understand those that have a hard time grasping the concept of being happy no matter what.
One thing caught my eye, "loud and social". Just how loud and just how social?"
Paul -
Pretty social.. pretty loud. We're talkers.. Hence the career choice. So I do believe these factors are hereditary.. and environmental!!
Amy
Posted by Paul | April 17, 2008 6:39 PM
Posted on April 17, 2008 18:39