The Stuff That Really Makes Us Happy

Because for a minute it seemed like we might all have more time during the Great Covid Quarantine, my sister-in-law suggested we take an online Yale course called The Science of Well-Being. The professor, Dr. Laurie Santos, teaches how to be happier by applying what researchers know about happiness from psychological science.

I believe in and support science, so I agreed.

It's possible I'm missing some key take aways due to watching TV while also viewing lectures (that's what the Yale kids do, too, right?), but here's what's sticking with me so far:

1) Our intuitions about what will make us happy are totally wrong. Not only do we want the wrong things (aptly called miswanting) but we also think those things will make us happy for longer than they do.

2) There's this thing called Hedonic Adaptation, which means that we get used to things and then they don't make us happy any more. A new car, for example. Eventually (and sooner than you'd think), it's just the car you have.

3) Because we don't adapt to them, experiences make us happier than things. Even though you might want to extend that vacation, it's the shortness of it that makes it so great.

4) Our reference points, those completely irrelevant standards against which we compare ourselves, are also totally wrong and have an intense impact on our happiness. Dr. Santos has a lot to say about social media here, as you can imagine.

5) We can intentionally engage in practices that make us happier. Dr. Santos says we'll learn the details of The Stuff That Really Makes Us Happy next week. I'll be returning for that lecture. Obviously.

If you want to take this course, I'm pretty sure you still can.