Researchers explain why the search for happiness tends to ultimately make more unhappy.
For more than a decade, scientists have been studying the paradox of happiness … that is to say how the quest for happiness actually makes even less happy.
Researchers from the University of Toronto Scarborough have discovered the cause of this fairly ironic deterioration in life satisfaction. Trying to improve your well-being is mentally exhausting to the point of undermining the ability to use self-control and will. This leads to being more likely to succumb to temptation or to make self -destructive decisions.
This mechanism was detailed in the review Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being.
The search for happiness exhausts mental resources and energy
To better understand the origin of the paradox of happiness, the team first questioned hundreds of people about their well-being. She then confirmed that the more the volunteer was trying to be happy, the less he showed self -control in his daily life. During another survey, the researchers asked participants to classify lists of objects in order to measure their mental resources and their self -regulation. Result: the more people were looking for happiness, the less time they devoted to this task. This highlights that the search for happiness and self -control was in competition for the same limited source of mental energy.
Similar results have been highlighted during an experience. Daily objects were presented to the participants. A group was instructed to take those who strengthened their happiness. The second was invited to choose according to his personal preferences. The two groups were then subjected to a mental task that evaluated their self -control capacities. The Happiness Group arrested earlier, indicating that they had fewer mental resources.
“The quest for happiness is similar to a snowball effect. You decide to try to make yourself happier, but this effort reduces your ability to do things that make you happier”summarizes Sam Maglio, co-author of the study, in a press release.
To be happy, appreciate what you already have
However, the teacher assures that the quest for happiness is not in vain. For him, it is more based on letting go than action. He adds that happiness is like sand. You can have a handful in the hand and try to control it, “But the more you hold the strong sand, the more your hand will have cramps. You will possibly have to let go”.
His advice to boost your joy and well-being? “Relax. Do not try to be super happy all the time. Instead of trying to get more things you want, look at what you already have and accept it as something that gives you happiness.”
