Happiness by Design

much of what we do simply comes about, rather than being thought about.

If you are not as happy as you could be, then you must be misallocating your attention. You will be the happiest you can be when you allocate your attention as best as you can.

Nonetheless, there are many scholars who believe that attending to certain goals, such as achievement, bring happiness in themselves and others who maintain that there are objectives, such as authenticity, that transcend happiness. I consider these to be mistaken desires, for the reasons outlined below.

The message from this research is that if you care a lot about money, you better make sure you get it. If you do not become rich, then being motivated by money will, unsurprisingly, lead to disappointment.4

happiness for us as experiences of pleasure and purpose over time.

Attention devoted to one stimulus is, by definition, attention that is not devoted to another.

Children’s behavior and performance in school can be improved with challenging tasks.14

This leaves four overarching and related elements for you to consider: how to prime yourself to act differently, the defaults you set up, the commitments you make, and the norms of those you surround yourself with, as well as using these elements to alter your habits.

Those who are high in the personality trait “openness to new experiences” report being more satisfied with their lives and experience more positive emotions.