The Truth About Lasting Happiness (and Why It Has Nothing to Do with Winning the Lottery).
There was a time I truly believed that happiness lived just around the corner.
Maybe you’ve thought the same thing…
“If I could just fix this one thing in my life, e.g.: Had more money in the bank / Had more energy / Met my soulmate / Lost 20 kilos … then I’d finally be happy.”
But what if that’s a trap?
What if chasing the next thing keeps us stuck in a cycle of frustration, disappointment, and momentary highs that quickly fade?
This used to be me; until I hit my breaking point.
I got hit by a truck and was left with horrendous pain (I couldn’t sit comfortably for three years) and life-limiting injuries.
But here’s the thing: I discovered that none of this affected my happiness levels.
I was still OK on the inside.
In fact, if I ignored the pain, I was more than OK; lying by myself in a hospital bed in a small room, with machines beeping and nurses and patients making noise in the background.
For the first time in my entire life, I was able to give myself my full attention and be there for me.
I was able to tap into a vast reservoir of inner peace, calm, and contentment that had been there all along.
Many years later, I learned from one of my mentors that we all have a happiness set point.
Your happiness set point is like your emotional thermostat.
Whether something amazing happens (like winning the lottery), or something devastating (like losing a job), over time, you’ll return to your default emotional baseline.
It’s not your fault.
It’s how you were wired—programmed from conception to about age six or seven.
Here’s the breakdown of that set point:
- 50% is genetic – You were born with it. You inherited your happiness set point from your parents or ancestors.
- 10% is circumstantial – Think income, appearance, relationship status.
- 40% is habits of thought and behavior – and this is the golden key.
Most people focus all their energy on that tiny 10% sliver, thinking they’ll feel better if they can tweak their external circumstances.
But science says otherwise.
If you want to be truly happier, you need to work on the 40% you can influence: your thought patterns, daily practices, and ways of being.
And here’s where it gets even more exciting.
According to epigenetic trailblazers like Dr. Bruce Lipton (The Biology of Belief), when we consistently shift our thoughts and behaviors, we begin to shift our very biology.
That means…
Up to 90% of your happiness set point is within your power to shift.
Let that sink in.
So What Is Happiness?
Here’s how I define it now: Happiness is an inner state of peace and well-being that isn’t dependent on your circumstances.
It doesn’t mean you walk around with a fake grin 24/7 or deny your emotions.
You’re still human.
Life will still happen—sadness, anger, grief; but, underneath it all, there’s this anchoring feeling of “okay-ness.”
A kind of inner steadiness.
A quiet joy.
It’s the opposite of needing life to behave a certain way before you can feel good.
There Are 4 Types of Happiness (and Only One of Them Lasts)
Have a look at these four.
Where do you sit?
- 1) Unhappy / Depressed / Low
At least 25% of people live here—though I suspect it’s even higher.
- 2) Happy for Bad Reason
This is where people feel temporary highs from things that are destructive or unsustainable, like alcohol, overspending, or addiction.
It’s a short-lived buzz that fades fast and leaves you emptier.
- 3) Happy for Good Reason
Most people aim for this one.
It’s the kind of happiness that comes from loving relationships, meaningful work, a beautiful home, or having the “right” body.
It’s lovely while it lasts…
But it’s fragile, because it depends on life staying a certain way.
- 4) Happy for No Reason
This is gold.
This is life-changing happiness.
It’s not about what happens to you—it’s about what you carry within you.
The 200% Life
Now, don’t get me wrong—
I love being happy for good reasons too: my family, my work, my clients, my garden, my pets…
But that’s the icing.
The cake is my inner joy—my stable, unshakable core.
So I live what I call a 200% Life:
- 100% inner joy from within—anchored, solid, reliable
- 100% outer joy from the blessings and delights of the world
That’s true abundance.
But What’s the Real Payoff?
Why Bother?
Let me give you just a few reasons why this is the best investment you’ll ever make:
- Happier people are healthier
You’re 1/3 less likely to get sick when you’re in a joyful state.
- You live longer
Studies show that happy people live 7–10 years longer than their less joyful counterparts.
- You’re more successful
On average, happier people earn over a million dollars more across their lifetime. (No joke.)
- Your relationships improve
Lower divorce rates, deeper connections, and more satisfying bonds.
This isn’t just a feel-good idea—it’s a life strategy.
Expansion vs. Contraction: The Energy of Happiness
At its core, happiness is an energy state.
Everything in the universe is energy.
And there are two main energetic states:
- Expansion – open, flowing, creative, joyful
- Contraction – closed, fearful, stuck, resistant
It’s impossible to feel happy when you’re in contraction.
And it’s impossible to feel miserable when you’re fully in expansion.
So the million-dollar question is: What helps you expand?
Want to Flip the Script?
Let Happiness Flow Through You
If you’ve felt stuck for a while, please book a healing session with me.
Nobody needs to stay stuck or feel held back for longer than a few days.
You have the power to flip the script and let happiness flow through you.
If you need help opening the floodgates of happiness and abundance, come for a session with me.
I’ll help uncover your blind spots and guide you toward your personal happiness formula.
Because we are all different.
The things that keep you stuck might be the complete opposite of what affects your neighbour.
But I can see right into your energy field and nervous system and use the tools I’ve honed to restore the flow of life.
In the meantime, start with one tiny shift today— maybe it’s a gratitude practice, or changing one limiting thought, or doing something kind for someone else without needing recognition.
These little daily habits are the levers that raise your happiness set point.
“You don’t become happy because your life is good; your life becomes good because you are happy.”
And I’m here to walk that path with you.
Call 6428 3007, reply to this email or book online to secure your appointment.
We see clients on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays (9 AM to 5 PM); we can also assist with postal orders, so ring us on 03 6428 3007; to secure your order.
To learn more about the water we are using in our home, at the Purple House clinic & Purple House Kitchen – call Peter on 0428 283 007
With love,
