A comprehensive study on Australian households, measuring the quality of wellbeing over 16 years found the following results:

1. The biggest emotional scars come from deaths, divorce, and heavy financial losses.
2. Negative events linger in the mind for much longer than the positive ones.
3. The emotional costs involved with separation (like from a spouse) can be significant, and should be avoided unless completely necessary.
4. Problems rarely come all at once, and most people recover, showing resilience and adaptability.

Research shows an unexpected finding: happiness does not come from marriage, financial profits and other big events in your life, but it is available in the little things of daily life.

The events just become temporary surges or declines, with real happiness waiting f...