Never swap happy with happier.
The Mind Map Journal
Om forfatteren
Mind Map Journal er stedet der visuell tenkning møter personlig vekst. Nettstedet vårt gir deg velprøvde tankekartmetoder som gjør usammenhengende tanker om til klare, handlingsrettede planer. Vi tilbyr et komplett bibliotek med tips, veiledninger og maler som fungerer for både nye og erfarne journalskrivere. Visuell journalføring hjelper deg med å oppdage sammenhenger du ellers ville gått glipp av.
The Mind Map Journal features an extensive collection of practical hacks you can apply right now for better sleep, increased productivity, greater happiness, and improved health and fitness. We’ve also built a rich library of motivational quotes, inspirational stories, in-depth book summaries, thought-provoking blog posts, and media resources like videos and podcasts. All are organized by topic, so you can find exactly what you need when you need it.
The meaning of the quote
The quote warns us about a common mistake we make when we feel good. When we’re happy right now, we often start wondering if we could feel even better. This thinking seems natural – who wouldn’t want more happiness? But this search for “happier” can steal the joy we already have.
Think about eating your favourite ice cream. You’re sitting there, really enjoying it. Then your mind wanders: “Maybe chocolate would taste better than vanilla” or “I bet this would be better with sprinkles.” These thoughts pull you away from the simple pleasure of the ice cream you’re eating right now.
This happens in bigger life moments too. A person gets a good job they like, but starts thinking “Maybe I’d be happier at a different company.” Or someone lives in a nice apartment but thinks “I’d probably be happier in a house.” When we do this, we stop appreciating what we have.
Our brains play a tricky game with us. Research in psychology shows that humans quickly get used to good things in their lives. When we reach a goal that we thought would make us happier, we feel good for a while, but then start wanting something more. It’s like climbing a hill only to see another, taller hill ahead.
The quote asks us to break this pattern. Instead of always looking for a “happier” version of our current situation, we should learn to recognize and stay with genuine happiness when we feel it. This doesn’t mean never making changes or improvements in life. Rather, it means learning to tell the difference between real opportunities for growth and the endless chase for an imaginary “better.”