Our society pays great attention to happiness. But do we perceive it right? What if the things we believe in cause more damage, than good? Here we explore the most common misinterpretations on the topic of happiness with the help of Russ Harris and his book “The Happiness Trap”.

1.     “Happiness Is The Natural State For All Human Beings”

Research shows that 1 out of 10 people will attempt suicide, and 1 in 5 will suffer from depression. We experience loneliness, marital problems, stress, crisis, health issues, social isolation, low self-esteem, anger and lack of purpose at least once in our life. Being troubled is natural, and by facing life’s challenges with a proper attitude we grow and find meaning.

2.     “If You’re Not Happy, You’re Defective”

We tend to assume that mental suffering is abnormal. As a result, when we inevitably experience bad feelings, we criticize ourselves and assume we are weak or stupid. However, a healthy human mind will naturally experience psychological suffering because we were evolved to focus on negative things in order to survive in harsh environments.

3.     “To Create A Better Life, We Must Get Rid Of Negative Feelings”

The culture we live in is obsessed with finding happiness. Supposedly, the way to do it is to eliminate ‘negative’ feelings and accumulate ‘positive’ ones. However, we forget that things we generally value most in life bring with them a whole range of feelings, pleasant and unpleasant. Any meaningful project we embark on will bring with it not only excitement and joy but also fear, stress and anxiety. If you believe this myth, it is quite impossible for you to create a better life since you are not prepared for some degree of discomfort.

4.   “You Should Be Able To Control What You Think And Feel”

We tend to feel inadequate if we can’t control our feelings. In reality, we don’t have as much control as we think we do. In fact, excessive attempts to get rid of bad thoughts and feelings might lower our quality of life. However, we do have a huge amount of control over our actions. It is through the action that we create a rich, full and meaningful life.

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