Debunking the Myths of Happiness

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June 12, 2013

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The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.

- Alfred Lord Tennyson -

Debunking the Myths of Happiness

Psychology professor Sonja Lyubomirsky is an expert on the subject of our most common happiness myths. One pervasive myth is that a desired change in lifestyle such as getting married or striking it rich will make us irrevocably happy. Research has shown that while these events may cause happiness in the short term, their positive effects are unlikely to last as long as we might hope. A second myth is that a number of eventualities could result in our permanent unhappiness -- such as a cherished dream being unfulfilled. But the truth is, by and large people are quite effective at normalizing both positive and negative change. This phenomenon is termed "hedonic adaptation", and ensures that nothing is really as joy-producing or misery-inducing as we think it may be. This fascinating article shares more. { read more }