Certainly, factors in the outside world affect happiness, but often associations are moderate or weak. For example, health is important to well-being, but objective measures of health correlate very weakly with happiness.
Moreover, hedonistic and emotional state theories of happiness reject the view that a bare majority of positive feelings is sufficient for happiness.
Keeping Your Gas Mileage Up
When it comes to happiness, optimizing fuel efficiency is not only an economic choice – it’s a matter of personal survival. There will always be days when your “happiness meter” is on the red, but you can learn to make each tank stretch a little farther.
Just like the choppy and rapid driving experience, breathing fast can create stress hormones, while deep and slow breathing provides dopamine (happiness), decreases stress hormones and builds stronger immune systems, relationships and creative problem-solving abilities. Learning to meditate and practice these techniques regularly is the best way to keep your happiness “gas mileage” high!
Keeping Your Car in Good Condition
Keeping your car in good condition makes it last longer, saves you money on repairs, and gives you a decent resale value. Similarly, you need to keep yourself in good condition so that you can continue to be a positive role model to others and keep giving to your team and customers. Meditation teaches you how to drive with a full tank and allows you to remain calm no matter what is going on around you.