Cav's Place

Once again, it’s time to comment on a study. This one suggests that people could be too happy to achieve their full potential, since those who ranked their happiness as ten on a ten-point scale had a somewhat lower income and somewhat poorer academic results than those who ranked themselves as nine, eight or even seven. However, it does point out that people who ranked themselves as ten had the biggest achievements when it came to relationships and socializing.

I take it as one more proof that the same data can be interpreted in opposite ways, because I look at those findings and come up with two completely different conclusions, both of which I feel are far more logical.
One is that the best measure of a person’s happiness is how content they are with their relationships, and I’m talking about all kinds of relationships here, money and success having a lesser significance. This is how it should be, but it’s rather nice to see it confirmed.
Second is that there is a point where a balanced person will be happy with what they already have and not want more. This is, of course, likely to make them not get more either, but why should they? On the other hand, people who never have enough, who always want more, may end up actually having more, yet they still won’t be happy with it.

So, no, I don’t think people can be too happy for their own good. I think we should all focus on the things that matter most instead of trying to keep up with this stupid game in which the one with the most toys wins. And that we should first figure out what we truly want, and keep it reasonable, and then be content when we get it without always wanting more and more.