Research by Barbara Fredrickson discovered that a positivity ratio of 3 to 1 – meaning you have 3 positive emotions for every negative one – is a good thing. Having this ratio means you will flourish in life, as opposed to languish. I’m not completely sold on her work, but what I do like about Fredrickson’s research is that she acknowledges the role “negative” emotions have in a positive life and doesn’t tout the current “happiness” mantra (the likes of which we haven’t seen since Bobby McFerrin’s Don’t Worry Be Happy hit in 1988) that suggests positive emotions are all you should feel.

She has a website where you can test for your own ratio. I had a pretty great day yesterday and decided to give it a go. I only received a positivity ratio of 1.75!