The Happiness Myth We’re All Buying Into

“Once I make six figures, I’ll be happy.”

“My life would be perfect if I could find the right partner.”

We’ve all fallen into this happiness trappings game, tying our joy and life satisfaction to future achievements, milestones, or relationships.

Here’s the harsh reality: all those “If only…” scenarios fool us. The truth is, authentic happiness doesn’t come from any external source. It’s an inner working of the mind that each of us already possesses.

I know, I know. That sounds like a fundamental woo-woo concept, glazed with crystals and chakra vibes. But stick with me; I’ll explain!

A growing body of scientific evidence points to the same counterintuitive conclusion.

Let’s start with a famous Harvard study that tracked two groups of people for over 75 years. The wildly divergent life paths of presidents and people experiencing homelessness were all represented.

Researchers’ key finding? Once basic needs were met, external factors and circumstances showed no correlation to overall happiness or life satisfaction. Instead, the study conclusively linked maintaining strong social ties and leading an engaged life as the prime drivers.