Happiness!

March 15th, 2025| Topic: RaMbLeS | 0

The right to happiness is hardwired in us (and enshrined in the US constitution as an “unalienable right” of humans “endowed by their Creator”). It is an obsession stoked by promises from the gurus of bliss, the influencers of Instagram, and the campaigns of corporations, all seeking to empty our bank accounts as we go all out to be happy.

Not a good idea, declare researchers at the University of Toronto Scarborough and the University of Sydney Business School in “Happiness Depletes Me: Seeking Happiness Impairs Limited Resources and Self-Regulation” published recently in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being.

Paradoxically, trying too hard to be happy may end up making you miserable. Apparently, the active pursuit of happiness drains your mental energy, leaving you with less willpower for other important tasks and decisions.

Lead author, Sam Maglio, professor of marketing:

The pursuit of happiness is a bit like a snowball effect. You decide to try making yourself feel happier, but then that effort depletes your ability to do the kinds of things that make you happier.”

First, they surveyed 532 adults about how much they valued and pursued happiness, then measured their self-reported self-control. The results showed a clear pattern: people who placed higher value on seeking happiness reported worse self-control abilities.

Our findings suggest that continuous acts of happiness-seeking may cause a chronic depletion of resources, which leads to daily self-regulation failures, a critical component in a cycle of reduced personal happiness and well-being.”

Another part of the study involved 188 participants making 25 choices between pairs of everyday products (like choosing between an iced latte and green tea). One group was told to choose options that would “improve their happiness,” while the other group chose based on what would “improve their accurate judgment.” Then everyone worked on a challenging anagram puzzle where they could quit whenever they wanted. The happiness-seeking group quit much sooner—lasting only 444 seconds on average compared to 574 seconds for the accuracy group. This suggested that pursuing happiness specifically drains mental energy more than other types of goals.

Considering that the self-improvement industry rakes in over $10 billion largely by promising to boost happiness, with bestsellers like The Happiness Project, The Art of Happiness, and The Happiness Advantage selling millions of copies, we need to be watchful.

Maglio again:

You can cling to a fistful of sand at the beach and try to control it, but the harder you hold, the more your hand will cramp. Eventually, you’ll have to let go. Rather, just chill. Don’t try to be super happy all the time. Instead of trying to get more stuff you want, look at what you already have and just accept it as something that gives you happiness.”

But here’s a better way:

Blessing [upon] the one pardoned of rebellion,
whose sin is covered.
Blessing [upon] the person
to whom the Yahweh does not consider iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
it was directed to my destruction [as] with the dry heat of summer.
My sin I acknowledged to You,
and my iniquity I did not cover;
I said, “I will confess my rebellions to Yahweh”;
and You—You pardoned the iniquity of my sin.
Psalm 32:1–5

And the result? Joy!

Many are the pains of the wicked,
but he who trusts in Yahweh, lovingkindness shall surround him.
Be joyful in Yahweh
and jubilate, righteous ones;
and shout for joy, all [who are] upright of heart.
Psalm 32:10–11

Worth pursuing!

SOURCE: Applied Psychology; Study Finds