Happiness Psychology - Part 2: Happiness Is Not Luck

This was a highly debated topic in ancient times. In 1st-5th century BC China and 3rd century Greece, happiness was considered a matter of luck, a blessing or favor granted by the gods.

The Chinese character for happiness, "fú" (福), was used to signify being blessed, lucky, peaceful, and smooth-sailing.
The Greek word for happiness, "eudaimonia," meant having a good "daimon," a guiding spirit or soul, a symbol of luck and fortune.

During the Enlightenment, people began to realize that behaviors and habits directly influence their happiness. At this point, personal autonomy over one’s own happiness was highly valued.

This idea is also reflected in the U.S. Declaration of Independence: "... the pursuit of happiness is one of the most fundamental human rights."

In 2013, up to 80% of countries believed that happiness was a matter of luck or destiny. However, paradoxically, the happiness index in these countries was 20% lower than in others.

This can be interpreted as: those in countries where happiness is not seen as luck tend to be happier. They believe that happiness is something each person is responsible for and determines themselves.