365 Days With Self-Discipline: 365 Life-Altering Thoughts on Self-Control, Mental Resilience, and Success

WEEK 9

Day 57: On Two Types of Happiness

People  who  have  high  levels  of  what  is  known  as  eudaimonic  well-

being  —  the  kind  of  happiness  that  comes  from  having  a  deep  sense  of

purpose  and  meaning  in  life  (think  Mother  Teresa)  —  showed  very

favorable  gene-expression  profiles  in  their  immune  cells.  They  had  low

levels  of  inflammatory  gene  expression  and  strong  expression  of  antiviral

and antibody genes.

However, people who had relatively high levels of hedonic well-being

—  the  type  of  happiness  that  comes  from  consummatory  self-gratification

(think most celebrities) — actually showed just the opposite. They had an

adverse  expression  profile  involving  high  inflammation  and  low  antiviral

and antibody gene expression.