The Misconceptions About Happiness

Many people put a lot of effort into being happy but still feel unhappy. This is because our minds often deceive us about what truly makes us happy. We have misconceptions that certain external achievements or possessions will bring us lasting happiness, such as the perfect job, higher salary, or academic success. However, studies show that although these things may provide a temporary happiness boost, they do not lead to long-term happiness. People who have these misconceptions are often termed 'happy if' or 'happy when' people because they believe they will be happy if certain conditions are met in the future. This mindset is known as the arrival fallacy, where people mistakenly believe that achieving a particular goal or desire will bring everlasting happiness.