Happiness Fundamentals, 1 of 3
Happiness looks different for everybody. It’s whatever unique set of circumstances brings you sustainable contentment. (What kind of circumstances are we talking about? I’ll cover that next! First, just two more key principles).
That said, happiness is not a destination—it’s a state of being. The biggest and most common mistake is thinking that “when X happens, then I’ll be happy” or, worse, “when A-Z all happen, then I’ll be happy”. Sure, you may be happier after certain events transpire, but don’t be surprised if “happiness” itself doesn’t mysteriously materialize. To some degree, happiness is a state of mind.
Lastly, happiness is not a mood. It’s important to be able to distinguish between changes in your baseline happiness and fleeting highs and lows. For example, I could be in a terrible mood because I ruined the Thanksgiving turkey, but acutely aware that I’m still happy, because I know that the important things in my life are all in order. When you understand the difference between mood and happiness, you can often improve your mood and, more importantly, focus on changing those circumstances that do influence your happiness.
Next: Which levers influence our happiness?
The Happiness Paradigm →
Happiness Unboxed 