I am just about to embark on a 2 week New Zealand speaking tour on workplace Happiness. www.rightclicknz.co.nz This is sponsored by Hewlett Packard, Microsoft and the Chamber of Commerce network. If you look at research of the last 75 years, there are 5 major pillars of happiness. Without these things it is pretty hard to be happy. These are

1. Family

2. Friends

3. Health

4. Financial Security

5. A sense of purpose.

Consistently people who have these pillars are happier than those that dont. Those that are more secure in these areas are also happier. If you want to be happier, work harder in these areas, or focus on them.

While material things are not supposed to make us more happier I beg to differ. The argument is that if we get a new house or a new car, we adapt to that level of happiness. In other words if we get a new car we are happier for about 3 months. Then after we are used to it, our happiness levels drop to baseline, to a level we had before we got the new car. That is one of the drivers for us wanting new things, cars, relationships, houses etc. We are looking for that buzz, the dopamine rush of something new which according to some researchers wears off through adaptation.

Well as with all rules there are exceptions.

One of my sponsors is Audi NewZealand and Continental Car Services in Auckland. They have given me a new Audi Q7 to drive. Its been nearly 6 months and I am still alot happier. It has not worn off. Maybe it is because I was never really a car enthusiast. I am now. I have owned a number of 4 wheel drive vehicles in my time of being a surfer, snowboarder, parent and fisherman. Towing boats, horse floats for my daughter packing in kids rugby teams and long drives to hopefully isolated surfbreaks.

As a pilot I tend to fly myself to plenty of speaking engagements. Not any more…. I drive. Part of the key to my sustained happiness is not to take my Q7 for granted, I love it that much. I remind myslef of the safety, the comfort and the performance every time I get into it. That way I dont adapt and feel happy on longtrips or negotiating Auckland traffic. So I may have discovered a sixth pillar of Happiness, an Audi Q7.

Dont take the other 5 pillars of Happiness for granted either,…. family, friends, health, financial security and a sense of purpose. Without them it is alot harder to be happy.

Maybe I will see you on the right click tour in the next few weeks. You will recognise me driving around the country with my kids and a large number of work life balance tools (surfboards and snowboards) attached to the roof (one cant speak all day!!) In my Q7 with a big smile on my face and all the 6 pillars of Happiness in tow!!

I can honeslty say driving my Q7 makes me happy.

Dr Tom Mulholland