Happiness is not an innate quality or an accident that cannot be influenced. Happiness as a development goal: what science says and why it matters Culture and education
What does it really mean to be happy? Is happiness a fleeting feeling, a lasting state, or something that can be learned? On the International Day of Happiness, celebrated annually on March 20, the United Nations calls on the world to look beyond economic indicators and consider human well-being as one of the main goals of development.
Dr. Robert Waldinger, a psychiatrist and professor at Harvard University, leads one of the longest-running studies in history on human well-being. In an interview with the UN News Service to mark the International Day of Happiness, he explained that happiness is much more complex and at the same time much more accessible than is commonly believed. “Research shows that there are two main types of happiness,” says Dr. Waldinger. One of them is hedonic well-being, that is, a feeling of joy and pleasure at a particular moment. “We’re having a pleasant conversation right now, and I’m completely happy,” he explains, noting that such emotions can change throughout the day.
The second type – eudaimonic happiness – is much deeper. It is a stable feeling that life as a whole is successful and full of meaning, even if some days are difficult. According to the scientist, most people strive for both types of happiness: joy in the here and now and long-term internal satisfaction. However, society is often mistaken about where real well-being comes from.
The myth of success
class=”notranslate”>__GTAG5__ Many people still believe that happiness comes with success, wealth or recognition. However, as Dr. Waldinger points out, scientific evidence contradicts this notion.
I can be successful, I can be rich and still feel happy – yes, it is possible. But these things in themselves do not make us happy
“I can be successful, I can be rich and still feel happy – yes, it is possible. But these things in themselves do not make us happy,” he explains. “Many people, even those who receive major awards, including the Nobel Prize, become depressed afterward. Because they suddenly realize: this did not make me truly happy, this is not the goal that will forever make my life good.”
According to him, a kind of cultural myth has taken root in society: “If I get rich, become famous, receive a lot of awards, then I will be happy.” But in reality, the scientist notes, this scenario rarely works.
Small habits – big changes
At the same time, happiness is not an innate quality or an accident that cannot be influenced. “Happiness can be learned because it can be built,” says Dr. Waldinger. “One of my teachers said: happiness is an accident, but we can make ourselves “more susceptible to chance.”
One of my teachers said: happiness is an accident, but we can make ourselves “more subject to chance”
He explains: it is impossible to guarantee that a person will be happy at every specific moment. However, it is possible to consciously create conditions that make this more likely.
“We cannot ensure happiness for ourselves always, but we can bring things into our lives that increase the likelihood that we will feel happy more often,” the scientist continues. “This is also associated with greater involvement in relationships with other people, caring for them and maintaining these connections.”
Meditation, cultivating a sense of gratitude, and spiritual reflection also help people become more aware of the value of their lives and strengthen their sense of connection with others.
Happiness and relationships: a look at the classics
Even classical ideas about happiness, as the scientist notes, do not always stand the test of modern science. In response to Leo Tolstoy’s famous line from Anna Karenina – “All happy families are alike, every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way” – Dr. Waldinger offers an unexpected perspective.
“I disagree. I think Tolstoy was wrong,” he says. “In fact, it’s rather the opposite.” He refers to the research of American psychologist John Gottman, who studied family relationships.
“We see that unhappy families and couples exhibit very typical, repetitive patterns of behavior. Their negative emotions are predictable, their reactions are similar to each other. Therefore, in my opinion, it is misfortune that often develops according to similar scenarios,” explains the scientist.
A more isolated world
Modern life creates new challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic, according to the scientist, has not changed the very nature of happiness, but has weakened social ties, isolating people from each other.
An additional role is played by political polarization and the use of social networks, which increase mistrust between people. Social media can help you make connections and keep in touch with friends – and this is a positive side, but passively observing other people’s lives sometimes leads to the opposite effect, because people post mainly reports about happy moments, creating the illusion of an ideal life.
“It’s easy to start thinking that others are always happy and we are not,” notes Robert Waldinger, advising the use of digital platforms primarily for communication.
Advice for the younger generation
Today’s youth face serious economic uncertainty, from rising housing costs to an unstable labor market. This increases anxiety for the future. Here again, community plays a key role.
“Living a good life with other people is much easier than trying to cope alone,” says Dr. Waldinger, emphasizing that social connections often help find work, housing and support.
The role of the UN: happiness as a global goal
By promoting the idea of happiness as one of the guidelines for development, the United Nations is actually changing the very understanding of progress. Through the Sustainable Development Goals, humanitarian programs, efforts to reduce poverty, provide access to education, health care and human rights, the UN helps create an environment in which people can feel safer, more confident and, ultimately, happier. This is not about short-term emotions, but about creating fairer societies where everyone has a chance for a decent life and well-being, the expert believes.
International Day of Happiness
According to the scientist, the International Day of Happiness is important not only as a symbolic date. It reminds governments and societies to rethink the very concept of progress. “It reminds us that happiness is worth thinking about and that we can learn to become happier,” he says.
In a world full of conflict and division, this message sounds especially relevant.
Dr. Waldinger’s main advice to the international community is simple: listen to voices that remind you how much people have in common, and do not give in to those who sow fear and division. Because ultimately happiness is something that is created together.