Whatever It Is, You’ll Get Over It

Despite wars, famine, economic collapse, and personal tragedies, a majority of human beings feel happy a majority of the time, extensive studies have demonstrated over the past two decades. In fact, people seem to have “happiness set-points” to which they return after even the most extreme perturbations, says a team of researchers led by Ed Diener of the Gallup Organization. The reason for our baseline happiness may have to with evolutionary advantage: A good mood leads to greater creativity, sociality, and, ultimately, reproductive success, the researchers say.