The formula for perfect happiness

Forget fast cars, a millionaire lifestyle or the body or a supermodel.

The recipe for perfect happiness, it seems, is:
P + (5xE) + (3xH)
That's according to a leading psychologist, anyway.

Psychologist Carol Rothwell says she's tested the formula on 1,000 people - and it works.

We talked to her research partner, life coach Pete Cohen, in the Breakfast studio:

click here to watch Breakfast's interview in full with Pete Cohen

To make sense of the formula, you need to give yourself marks out of ten for four questions (0= not at all; 10= to a large extent)

P is outlook on life, adaptability and resilience
1) To what extent are you outgoing, energetic, flexible and open to change?
2) Do you have a positive outlook on life, bounce back quickly and feel that you are in control of your fate?

E relates to Existence: health, finances and friendships

3) To what extent do you feel your basic needs are met (such as personal, health, financial, sense of community)?

H is your Higher needs, such as self esteem, expectations, ambitions and sense of humour

4) To what extent can you call on the support of those close to you, meet your expectations and feel a clear sense of who you are?

Scoring: calculate your marks according to the formula, to rate your happiness as a percentage of perfection

Using the formula, Carol and life coach Pete Cohen discovered that falling in love comes higher on men's list of priorities than women's (20 per cent to 14 per cent).

While women tended to put spending time with their children and dieting successfully above romance.

The research was commissioned by holiday group Thomson.

Men's priorities, apparently, include going on holiday, having a good sex life and sporting success.

Women rate sunny weather, family time and dieting above romance.

Money is apparently less important to Londoners - and the Scots break their national stereotype by enjoying giving money to charity.

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