One Albert A. once said: “If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is playing, and z is keeping your mouth shut.”
A = x + y + z
Ok, this is fair enough and obviously a good formula. But, allow me to try?
H = O / E
Where :
H = Happiness
E = Expected
O = Obtained
Discussion: if O == E , then H = 1, we call this “balance”. If E > O, H drops bellow 1. We call this a “nasty surprise” result. If E < O, then H raises above E (aka “balance”). We call this a “happy surprise”.
If E is 0, ie you do not expect anything, the result is Infinity, regardless of how much you obtained. We shall do the right thing and leave the interpretation of that result to yourself.
Outcome: if one Expects a lot, that one is usually not a happy one. Because generally in life, obtained is less than expected.
Sincerely Yours

ps: This was posted on 8 of September 2008