Scientific American has great article written by Sam McNerney on what makes us happy.What makes us happy? Alexis de Tocqueville vs. Kanye West
The article discusses the ingredients essential to happiness. Contrasting what Alexis de Tocqueville’s paradox of choice outlined back in 1835 in the seminal text Democracy in America? with iconic Kanye West’s struggle (despite his fame and success) to find the elusive ingredients and emotional fulfillment.
Kanye’s problem is choice: he simply has too much of it.
This idea is what many call the paradox of choice, where the issues of discontent are perpetuated every time we are given more options.
The assumuption being that more choice means better options and greater satisfaction.
Tocqueville warned us, that there are people like Kanye who still don’t understand that money is not intrinsically fulfilling.
So what does make us happy? What did Toqueville know that Kanye doesn’t know?
Curious?Link to read the article
Source:Scientific American
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A book called You’re Looking Very Well,[*this is not an affliate link] written by Lewis Wolpert, emeritus professor of biology at University College London, suggests that most people were “averagely happy” in their teens and twenties, declining until early middle age as they try to support a family and a career. “But, from the mid-forties, people tend to become ever more cheerful and optimistic, perhaps reaching a maximum in their late seventies or eighties.
A study published by the American National Academy of Sciences, based on a survey of 341,000 people, found that enjoyment of life dwindled throughout early adulthood but began an upward trend in the late forties, and continued to increase until reaching a peak at 85. Read more
Source:TheTelegraph Time
You win some, you lose some. You get the perfect job—the one your heart is set on. Or you get snubbed. You win the girl (or guy) of your dreams—or you strike out. Such are life’s ups and downs.
But what if you win and lose at the same time? You land a good job—but not a great one. Or you do get a plum offer—but not the one you wanted?
A study published in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, says you’ll find a way to be happy anyway. [continue reading…]
Published: March 16, 2011
Well in the words of psychologist Ed Diener
Quit sitting around worrying about yourself and get focused on your goals.”
Research studies show that:
84 per cent of married people in the US say they are very satisfied with family life
66 per cent of single people in the US say they are very satisfied with family life
21 per cent of people aged 21-29 in the US say helping others in need is one of the most important things in their lives
The relentless pursuit of happiness may be doing us more harm than good.
Some researchers say happiness as people usually think of it – the experience of pleasure or positive feelings – is far less important to physical health than the type of well-being that comes from engaging in meaningful activity. Researchers refer to this latter state as “eudaimonic well-being.” Curious? Continue reading
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Scientific American has great article written by Sam McNerney on what makes us happy.What makes us happy? Alexis de Tocqueville vs. Kanye West 
