Happiness is overrated

We all want to be happy, right? But what does happiness really mean?

You might think that happiness is a simple and obvious goal, but it turns out that it’s not. Chasing happiness can actually make us miserable.

That’s what psychiatrist Rafa Euba learned from his clinical work with patients who suffer from depression and bipolar disorder. He saw how some of them pursued happiness in unhealthy and unrealistic ways, such as seeking manic highs or idealising perfect lives. But these strategies never worked. They only led to disappointment, frustration, and more pain.

So what’s the alternative? Euba suggests that we should stop chasing happiness and aim for something more attainable and satisfying: contentment. Contentment is a state of reasonable satisfaction with one’s life, with occasional joy and pain. Contentment is not based on unrealistic expectations or constant excitement but on acceptance and self-compassion.

Euba also argues that in addition to contentment, we also need meaning. Meaning is the sense of purpose and value that we derive from our actions and relationships. Meaning gives us a reason to live and a motivation to grow and is not something we find but something we create.

How do we create meaning? By aligning our actions with our values, contributing to something bigger than ourselves, connecting with others who share our vision, and learning from our challenges and failures.

So, don’t chase happiness if you want to live a better life. Chase meaning and contentment instead. They are more realistic, more fulfilling, and more sustainable. And they might just make you happier in the long run.