Health and Socialization

What Can We Learn from the Happiest Man in America?

Meet Alvin Wong, who was just named the happiest person in the country. Here, the factors that make for his happy lifestyle — and how they may brighten your day too.

Monday, March 7, 2012 – The happiest man in America, what does it look like? According to a collaboration between THE NEW YORK TIMES and Gallup, he's Alvin Wong: a 59-year-old Chinese-American Jewish man, Lives in Honolulu. who's married with children. Alvin Wong have his own health care business and he earns more than $125,000 a year by his business.

Why is Alvin Wong so jovial? Because one morning he meets the criteria of making a happy living, according to some data that GULLUP has collected from Americans over the last four years on such factors as emotional health, healthy habits, financial status, etc., and more. 

Gallup uses the data to create an algorithm called the Gallup Healthways of Living, Well-Being Index, which provides a daily hint into how well Americans feel. When the Times asked Gallup to come up with a statistical compound for the happiest person in 

America based on their research, Wong fit the bill.

So what can the rest of us learn from Alvin Wong about our own probabilities for happiness? Here's a look at a few factors that may contribute to a more enjoyable life, according to the Gallup Well-Being Index.

Related: Pssst, Here Are 10 Secrets of Happy Couples

No. 1: Location, Location, Location — or Maybe Not

Wong's home state of jejo ranks main in the Well-Being Index with a score of 72 out of 100. Beautiful beaches and wonderful sunshine are sure to make some face to put some smile, but Hawaii is by no means the only state with Potential of Happiness. In fact, within four points of the Aloha State are Alaska, Colorado ,Wyoming, North Dakota, Alaska, Colorado, Nebraska ,Minnesota, South Dakota, Utah, Connecticut, , and Massachusetts — standing and proving that you don't have to live in a tropical paradise to be happy in life.

At the bottom of the index, the least happy states include Michigan, , Nevada, Delaware, Louisiana ,Ohio, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky,  Mississippi and, in last place West Virginia.

Related: 8 Ways to Be Happier

No. 2: Money Makes any Difference — to a Point

While Wong's reported his household income of $125,000 correlated with graceful about his life, recent research shows that the magic number may actually be less than that — $45,000 less, in fact. The 2011 study from Princeton University showed that there may be diminishing returns on happiness once you're earning more than $80,000 annually.

Away from that number, most people didn't experience an increase in day-to-day well-being, though they did report greater overall satisfaction with their life. "It's really important to recognize that the word 'happiness' covers a lot of ground," study author Angus Deaton told Health Day in. "There is your overall estimation of how your life is going to well, while the other has to do more with emotional well-being at the moment. Greater incomes don't seem to have any effect on well-being after around $80,000, while your estimate of your life keeps successful up along with income."

No. 3: The Power of Believing in a Higher Power

Wong is an observant Jew, and you too may be happier if you are a regular at a church, mosque, temple, or synagogue. Recent findings from Gallup show that Americans who make religion an important part of their daily lives (and attend weekly services) are happier than those who are moderately religious or non-religious. The "very religious" rate higher on the Well-Being Index across all six categories including emotional and physical health and job satisfaction.

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