Focus on adopting better habits and behaviors as the true source of joy, rather than expecting perfect life circumstances to bring lasting happiness.
Recognize that you will eventually return to a baseline level of happiness after both good and bad events, and don’t mistake this natural return as a sign that something is wrong. View happiness as a ‘vacation destination’ you visit, not a permanent place to live.
Have faith in your ‘psychological immune system’ to help you adapt and recover from negative events more quickly and effectively than you anticipate, even from severe adversity. Consciously practice bravery and reduce worrying by remembering this emotional superpower.
Actively reframe adverse experiences as opportunities for growth, learning, and identifying true support systems, transforming potential negatives into positive outcomes.
Understand that increased income beyond approximately $75,000 annually does not significantly increase happiness or reduce stress, challenging the common belief that more money always leads to a better life.
Recognize and account for ‘impact bias’ by understanding that both positive and negative events will likely have less intense and shorter-lived emotional impacts than your mind predicts.
When mentally simulating future events, actively consider potential negative consequences, losses, or overlooked details that your brain might miss, to make more accurate emotional predictions.
Allow yourself to rationalize negative events, as the happiness derived from self-generated rationalizations is a valid and often long-lasting form of happiness, not inferior to happiness from objectively good events.
Utilize unique personal circumstances, even those stemming from tragedy or perceived flaws, to connect with people, create meaningful dialogue, and open new opportunities.
Explore ‘walk and talk’ as a method for problem-solving or therapy, as some individuals find they think better and process emotions more effectively while on their feet.
Exercise caution when wishing for extreme windfalls like lottery wins, as research indicates they often don’t bring expected happiness and can lead to significant life disruptions and misery.