Striving Towards Excellence

-Karthik Gurumurthy

I discovered something fascinating about happiness: it follows a 50-10-40 formula that completely shifted how I live my life.

50% is Your DNA

Half of your happiness comes from your natural neurochemistry—the dopamine, serotonin, and other chemicals your brain produces. Think of it as your personal happiness thermostat, preset at birth. Some days you feel naturally more upbeat than others. That’s just your brain’s chemical dance, and it’s completely normal.

10% is Your Circumstances

Here’s the shocker: your external circumstances—money, status, opportunities, challenges—only account for 10% of your happiness. This explains why people in difficult situations can be genuinely joyful while others with everything still feel empty.

40% is Within Your Control

This is the game-changer: 40% of your happiness comes from your chosen activities, habits, and routines. But not just any activities—sustainable practices that actually elevate your baseline happiness.

Here’s the distinction: roller coaster rides, shopping sprees, and other temporary thrills give you a quick spike, then you crash back to baseline. They’re fake highs.

But “authentic highs”—reading a great book, taking a peaceful walk, having deep conversations with friends—create lasting positive effects without the crash. No downside, just genuine fulfillment.

The Takeaway

You can’t change your DNA. Circumstances matter less than you think. But that 40%? That’s yours to control.

Build habits around authentic experiences, not artificial thrills. That’s where real, sustainable happiness lives.