Using the happy test, you can find out your current happiness level in under 2 minutes!
But why? We believe it’s important to know where you stand, so you can move forward. Knowledge is power, and the first step to making yourself a happier person is knowing exactly where you stand, here and now. With that knowledge, you can bravely march forward into a happier future.
How do we measure our satisfaction with life? One of the simplest and nicest measures of happiness is the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) proposed by Diener et al. in 1985. Psychologists rely on this scale in their studies, and you can do it now!
THE HAPPY TEST
Below are five statements that you may either agree or disagree with to varying degrees. Using the 1-7 scale provided below, rate your agreement with each item by choosing the appropriate number for that item. Please be open and honest in your responses. There are no judgements here. The 7-point scale is as follows:
1 = strongly disagree
2 = disagree
3 = slightly disagree
4 = neither agree nor disagree
5 = slightly agree
6 = agree
7 = strongly agree
And here are the questions:
- In most ways, my life is close to my ideal.
- The conditions of my life are excellent.
- I am satisfied with my life.
- So far I have gotten the important things I want in life.
- If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing.
Add up your scores you used for each question, and then consult the following legend:
Scores:
30-35 Highly Satisfied. People in this category love their lives.
25-29 High score. People in this category like their lives.
20-24 Average Score. People in this category are satisfied with their lives.
15-19 Slightly below average. People in this category are slightly satisfied with their lives.
10-14 People in this category are dissatisfied with their lives.
5-9 People in this category are extremely dissatisfied with their lives.
Take a moment to reflect on your score. Is it what you expected? If not, why not? Were you being as honest as you could during your answers? Perhaps the score is surprising to you, but maybe upon reflection it makes sense. Either way, now you know how psychologists measure whether or not a person is happy.
BENEFITS OF BEING HAPPY
Being happy is a reward in and of itself, but there are several other interesting perks (not just for us, but for those we interact with, as well). People are more likely to help others and do well on a cognitive task if they are feeling happy. Many studies show that happy people live longer! Happy people also have more success in both work and love. Happy people are typically active, open minded, and feel in control of their lives.
It’s time to get happy, wouldn’t you say?
To learn more about happiness, and how to be happy, we invite you to read:
I would also highly recommend: Meditation – A Guide for Everyone, and Pursue Your Passion.
You now have the knowledge, use your new-found power and change your life, one moment at a time!
