Philosophers, scientists and psychologists have been pondering this question for centuries, engaging in countless studies and analyses of the human condition to find an answer to Are We Born Happy? Why do certain people have the gift of being intrinsically at peace, while others are caught in the grips of depression and sadness, feeling trapped in the quicksand of everyday life? Unfortunately, the answer to whether we are born intrinsically happy is not entirely clear, but research does confirm that all of us come into this world with a specific “happiness gene.” So there you have it, right? If we all have this gene, we all should be happy.
Well… not so quick. Like most things in life, not all things are created equal. And, when it comes to science, especially as it relates to the human body, there are almost always conditions to every conclusion.
A Little About The Happiness Gene
Researchers have identified that being happy is engrained in our DNA nearly from the point of conception because of a specific gene identified as 5-HTT or “the happiness gene.” This means that all of us have this gene. On its face, this revelation would SEEM to suggest that all of us should exit the womb happy, grow up happy and live happy lives. Great… so why is that not the case?
Because there are exceptions to every rule, even in science. Research conducted by Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, a behavioural economist at the London School of Economics, and a study by the Journal of Human Genetics suggests that all of us are predisposed to be happy BUT that doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed over the long haul. When we dig a little deeper into the science and research that has been done on the subject of the “happiness gene,” the answer to “Are We Born Happy?” becomes a bit more complicated.
Understanding the Science
The 5-HTT gene carries the code for serotonin receptors. Serotonin, a primary “feel good” neurotransmitter, requires a receptor on our cell walls for them to attach to in order to exert their effects. So, while this “happiness gene” does not get involved in making serotonin it is necessary for it to work. The 5-HTT gene varies from person to person meaning it can be either short or long. Researchers embarked upon a definitive study to determine whether a short or long 5-HTT gene had any correlation with happiness levels. They did this by asking participants in their study whether they were very satisfied, satisfied, dissatisfied, very dissatisfied or “none of the above” with their life as whole. They then matched their genetic makeup to these results, remembering that every person has two codes for the 5-HTT gene: one from their mother and one from their father.
Among those who had a long-long version of the 5-HTT gene, 69 per cent said they were very satisfied or satisfied with life. Only 19 per cent of those with the short-short version were satisfied or very satisfied. This illustrates a very strong link between the 5-HTT gene and happiness, although it does not say that genetics are the whole story. What this does tell us, though, is why we each have a unique baseline level of happiness and why some people tend to be happier than others. (Source: Journal of Human Genetics)
Clearly, genetics play a significant role (nearly 50%) in how we present ourselves to the world. Physically, there is not much we can do to change how we look, walk, talk, our mannerisms, etc.
Emotionally and psychologically, however, even the researchers acknowledge that there are additional factors, including other genes, external circumstances, environmental factors, and our individual actions and thoughts, that combine to impact our ability to be happy.
We are, if you will, predisposed to be happy if we are born with the long version of the gene; unfortunately, those with the short version of the happiness gene might not be so lucky. So, how do we know, and it does it really matter? And if we are truly “born happy,” why do many of us struggle with finding our personal happy place?
The Dalai Lama is widely quoted as saying that “The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” Personally, I believe this to be true. But putting this principle into practice can, at times, be insurmountable. It’s just not as easy as it sounds. Yes, we are all born with the so-called “happiness gene.” But that is just one part of a complex internal ecosystem that is different for everyone. No two individuals are exactly the same, which makes our existence both beautiful and complex.
On the one hand, it is clear that most of us want to create certain feelings like passion, excitement, purpose, love and other emotions that make us happy. But this journey to happiness can often fall flat because we set unreasonable expectations for ourselves and others or look in all the wrong places. And, in other instances, some people who are generally perceived as being happy can experience certain circumstances in their lives that turn their world upside down leaving them sad, angry and a shell of their former selves.
The good news is that most people generally find their way to – or back to – their own baseline for what makes them happy. Life can be challenging to navigate but perhaps we can all find solace in knowing that our body is predisposed from birth to be happy! Much like being genetically predisposed to being happy, we are also capable of facing our challenges believing in our ability to be resilient. We can overcome external and environmental factors that affect our happiness, as well as obstacles that will inevitably come our way. I’ve done it – you can, too.