How would you rate your sense of your own happiness? On a ten-point scale: 10 points — the highest degree of happiness, zero — the experience of absolute unhappiness and depression. Most likely, your answer will be somewhere between 6 and 8, which means «happy sometimes or quite often.» At least, this is exactly the average level of answers to this question — 6,92 points.
But is it worth striving for absolute happiness, for the “top ten” cherished by many? The results of recent studies led by Professor Edward Diener of the University of Illinois (USA) show that there is a certain optimal level of happiness — somewhere in the region of 8 points *. Proof: those who rate their happiness as an 8 feel great in life and earn more money than those who rate themselves as 10. Students (study participants) who were 8 points happy were more conscientious, skipped less classes and had more time it is better.
And what do 10-point lucky people look like? They seem to me either frivolous or too smug. If you are absolutely satisfied with everything, then what to strive for, what else to work on? Although in fairness it should be noted that for a stable relationship, 10 points are still better: perhaps looking at the world and a partner through rose-colored glasses helps to avoid minor troubles — like arguing about washing dirty dishes.
We need space for emotions, different ones, because they inform us about how our life is going.
Each of us needs space for emotions, different ones, because they inform us about how our life is going. If we feel bad, it means that something went wrong, repairs are needed. And if we are happy, then perhaps because everything is fine in life now and we should enjoy the moment. If we are constantly at level 10, we simply have nowhere to go! Can we draw a line between, say, the birth of a son and the purchase of a cell phone?
Do they not seem to us equivalent? I don’t think they compare. And I will willingly agree to feel “quite happy” (that is, 8 points) in order to experience moments of supreme pleasure at certain moments of my life.
* S. Oishi, E. Diener, R. Lucas. «The Optimum Level of Well-Being: Can People Be Too Happy?». Perspectives on Psychological Science (in press).