How does the pursuit of happiness make us more miserable?

Researchers have warned that the pursuit of happiness makes us more miserable. By constantly trying to improve our mood, we deplete our mental resources, making us more likely to make decisions that increase our misery rather than alleviate it.

A team from the University of Toronto has uncovered the intriguing mechanism by which our desperate attempts to improve our mood turn us into exhausted, less self-controlled individuals, leading us to make decisions that increase our misery rather than alleviate it.

This phenomenon is called the "happiness paradox," as they found that attempts to boost happiness deplete mental resources, leading to a decline in the ability to engage in activities that actually bring happiness and an increased tendency toward destructive behaviors, such as overeating.

"The pursuit of happiness is like a snowball effect," said study co-author Professor Sam Maglio. "When you're trying to improve your mood, it drains your energy to do the things that actually bring you joy."

The professor concluded that the more mentally exhausted we are, the more susceptible we are to temptation and destructive behaviors, which reinforces the unhappiness we're trying to avoid. He gave the example of coming home after a long, tiring day at work, where we feel mentally exhausted and our ability to take on responsibilities (such as cleaning the house) is diminished in favor of less rewarding activities (such as scrolling through social media).

In one experiment, participants who were shown ads with the word "happiness" were more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors (such as eating more chocolate) than those who weren't exposed to these stimuli.

In another experiment, participants underwent a mental task to measure their self-control. The group that sought happiness stopped early, suggesting their mental resources were exhausted after attempting to improve their mood.

Professor Maglio of the University of Toronto Scarborough concludes: "The point is that striving for happiness costs you mental energy. Instead of trying to feel different all the time, stop and appreciate what you already have." He adds: "Don't try to be overly happy all the time; acceptance may be your best path."

Source: Daily Mail - Published 31-3-2025 - https://ar.rt.com/zkyp