How Happy Are You In Life? (A Survey)

How happy are you in life?

I’ve shared things I read in Southwest Air’s Spirit Magazine before and recently I saw “The I Exam”. First listed in Pyschology Today, it’s a questionnaire designed to help determine how happy we are in life. While I am not sure we can measure true happiness in an 8 question survey, I thought this was interesting and worth sharing to fuel thoughts and discussion.

Here is the I Exam:

Consider your life over the last four (4) weeks, rating each statement below on the following point scale of which statement most indicates how you felt.

1 – Very much unlike me
2 – Not like me
3 – Somewhat like me
4 – Like me
5 – Very much like me

Pleasure
I had more good days than bad days. __________
I enjoyed some part of life every day. ___________

Involvment and Engagement
I was so involved with what I did at work or school that time seemed to stand still. ___________
I took time to pursue hobbies and leisure activities. _________

Good Relationships
I felt loved. ____________
I mattered to other people. ____________

Meaning
I felt connected to something larger than myself. __________
What I did made a difference in the world. _________

Scoring:
If you scored at least 25, you are usually a happy person.
If you scored at least 30, you are usually a very happy person.
If you scored above 35, wow!
If you scored below 25, maybe the next four weeks will prove to be better for you.

Again, this is just for fun, it’s not scientific, and not a real indicator of whether or not you are happy in life. I do believe, however, that this addresses some of the issues which make a person sense they are happy.

I have learned over the years that happiness for me is attained when I surround myself with people I love, find meaningful things to do with my time, and choose an attitude of thankfulness for all God has given me, instead of considering all the things I don’t have or wish I had.

I’m curious, how did you score? How do you measure happiness? Do you think happiness is something we create for ourselves or something that depends on the way life is working or not working for us at the time?

As followers of God, we are commanded to be joyful always…do you think that’s the same as being happy?

Share your thoughts.

Comments (19)

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@sleestac · 739 weeks ago

Interesting. I especially thought the question about feeling "connected to something larger" than myself was telling. I scored 34. Not bad if you think being happy is the goal of life. If happiness is the measure of a good life, that is (which I obviously don't believe).

1 reply · active 739 weeks ago

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ronedmondson 127p · 739 weeks ago

Good thoughts. I agree. I don't believe happiness is necessarily an indication of a good life....especially if defined opposite of joy, as other commenters indicate. There are many things that do not make me "happy", but I've got a good, blessed life.

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jack42 39p · 739 weeks ago

I don't believe happiness = joy. That's a good thing, as I scored a 14. Haven't full much joy lately, either, though. The only ones that are pretty constant in my life: I never feel loved, and I never feel like I matter. Well, maybe a 2 on the "I matter" part, rarely.

3 replies · active 739 weeks ago

Thanks for sharing. I wonder if you are full of joy...in the person of Jesus Christ, but not able to realize the joy you have in Christ. Make sense?

I think it probably makes sense. All I can see are the things I do wrong. I certainly don't live in any kind of freedom. I'm glad to be saved, but I haven't figured out what I'm saved for.

I understand.

Joe Sewell 48p · 739 weeks ago

My score was 27.

Happiness is fleeting. It's dependent on circumstances and many other things outside of our control. God doesn't call us to be happy. He calls us to be joyful.

Yes, there's a difference. Joy is fulfilled in the hope of getting out of the mess that is this cursed world and into a place where we may very well be able to be happy for eternity.

Thanks Joe. Good explanation of joy.

randleman 43p · 739 weeks ago

I agree. I think there is a huge difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is an emotion, and as a result it has the "roller coaster effect." It comes and goes. Joy is more of a decision. It is a choice.

Thanks for sharing!

Jacqueline Johns · 739 weeks ago

I feel happy and joyful are the same.

We can all find something to be joyful about if we try.

Those who are unhappy simply don't wish to be happy.

It is simply a choice we make on a daily/momentary basis.

Live Life Happy!

Thanks for sharing Jacqueline. I do believe there are many choices we make with the emotions we experience.

Thanks Jacqueline. I do think there are many choices we make in the emotions we experience. I wonder though if we can be joyful always (as the Bible says) without being "happy" about a situation...such as grief. Make sense? Overall, however, I think we have many opportunities to choose to see life from the blessed perspective over the woe perspective.

I scored a 36!!! Wow! That really surprised me. I tend to stress over things a lot which can communicate to others that I'm not happy. This is an area I'm working on this year. Apparantly I'm making some progress!

Shannon Clark · 739 weeks ago

Recently, a clerk at a store commented that I seemed very happy and wanted to know my secret. I thought he was joking at first, but he did seem a bit sullen. I then thought that perhaps God was opening the door for a witnessing opportunity; however, when I told him that I was a Christian, he said, "I am too, but there are a lot of Christians in the world who aren't happy. So, what is your secret?". This gave me pause. I knew I'd had a very difficult week and that my smile had absolutely nothing to do with my circumstances. It was at that moment that I truly understood that there's a difference (between joy and happiness).

I agree with Joe's comment above. Joy has absolutely nothing to do with what's going on in my life because that can change. God's command to us to be joyful is about relationship. It's a learning process. Once I trust Him, He teaches me contentment despite my circumstances. Philippians 4:11 is now a tangible reality for me. I've found that my ability to be content (joyful) continually is directly proportional to my ability to trust. Him - God bless

What a great story. Thanks for sharing!

fxgeorges 98p · 739 weeks ago

This test is good because it really tells you if your happy or sad in your life. I would really, extremely recomend this test to other people. This is the best test I have ever taken. I loved it. I congratulate the person that made this test.

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Join the discussion 12 Comments

fxgeorges says:

February 7, 2011 at 9:23 pm

This test is good because it really tells you if your happy or sad in your life. I would really, extremely recomend this test to other people. This is the best test I have ever taken. I loved it. I congratulate the person that made this test.
Jacqueline Johns says:

February 6, 2011 at 8:06 pm

I feel happy and joyful are the same.

We can all find something to be joyful about if we try.

Those who are unhappy simply don't wish to be happy.

It is simply a choice we make on a daily/momentary basis.

Live Life Happy!
- ronedmondson says:
  
  February 6, 2011 at 8:13 pm
  
  Thanks for sharing Jacqueline. I do believe there are many choices we make with the emotions we experience.
- ronedmondson says:
  
  February 6, 2011 at 8:15 pm
  
  Thanks Jacqueline. I do think there are many choices we make in the emotions we experience. I wonder though if we can be joyful always (as the Bible says) without being "happy" about a situation…such as grief. Make sense? Overall, however, I think we have many opportunities to choose to see life from the blessed perspective over the woe perspective.
Joe Sewell
Twitter: joe_sewell
says:

February 6, 2011 at 2:14 pm

My score was 27.

Happiness is fleeting. It's dependent on circumstances and many other things outside of our control. God doesn't call us to be happy. He calls us to be joyful.

Yes, there's a difference. Joy is fulfilled in the hope of getting out of the mess that is this cursed world and into a place where we may very well be able to be happy for eternity.
- ronedmondson says:
  
  February 6, 2011 at 8:16 pm
  
  Thanks Joe. Good explanation of joy.
- randleman says:
  
  February 7, 2011 at 10:09 am
  
  I agree. I think there is a huge difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is an emotion, and as a result it has the "roller coaster effect." It comes and goes. Joy is more of a decision. It is a choice.
jack42 says:

February 6, 2011 at 1:51 pm

I don't believe happiness = joy. That's a good thing, as I scored a 14. Haven't full much joy lately, either, though. The only ones that are pretty constant in my life: I never feel loved, and I never feel like I matter. Well, maybe a 2 on the "I matter" part, rarely.
- ronedmondson says:
  
  February 6, 2011 at 8:17 pm
  
  Thanks for sharing. I wonder if you are full of joy…in the person of Jesus Christ, but not able to realize the joy you have in Christ. Make sense?
  - jack42 says:
    
    February 6, 2011 at 8:48 pm
    
    I think it probably makes sense. All I can see are the things I do wrong. I certainly don't live in any kind of freedom. I'm glad to be saved, but I haven't figured out what I'm saved for.
@sleestac says:

February 6, 2011 at 6:10 am

Interesting. I especially thought the question about feeling "connected to something larger" than myself was telling. I scored 34. Not bad if you think being happy is the goal of life. If happiness is the measure of a good life, that is (which I obviously don't believe).
- ronedmondson says:
  
  February 6, 2011 at 8:18 pm
  
  Good thoughts. I agree. I don't believe happiness is necessarily an indication of a good life….especially if defined opposite of joy, as other commenters indicate. There are many things that do not make me "happy", but I've got a good, blessed life.