At the Australian Centre on Quality of Life we have discovered that a person’s subjective wellbeing, like their core body temperature, is genetically set at a certain level.  This is referred to as someone’s subjective wellbeing set-point. Also, like our core-body temperature, our set level of wellbeing is designed to function within a narrow range of values.  This range ensures the product of wellbeing, motivation for life remains stable.  To maintain stability, this narrow range is protected by psychological mechanisms.  While core-body temperature is maintained by various physiological processes, our subjective wellbeing is protected by buffers.