Happiness is Overrated — There’s a More Satisfying Alternative

I don’t know about you but I absolutely sick to the back teeth (if I had some) of the shiny shit, always-on-live-laugh-love toxic positivity in western culture.

Happiness is often held up as the pinnacle of human experience that we should all strive towards. We're bombarded with messages on social media, in our relationships and at work that we need to be happy, fulfilled, and cheerful at all times.

But what if I told you that happiness is overrated, and that a more steady state of contentment is actually preferable?

Now, I know that sounds like some joyless bullshit. Happiness is a wonderful thing, and we should absolutely cherish it in the moment. But, hear me out. There are some real downsides to the relentless pursuit of happiness.

For one, happiness is inherently fleeting. It’s a transient emotional state. You might feel like the birds are serenading you personally today, only to feel the beaks gnawing at your brain tomorrow. The extreme peaks and troughs can be exhausting. And when we inevitably experience the dips, we can end up feeling like failures and on the receiving end of chastisement for not maintaining the elusive state of bliss.

Contentment, is a more sustainable way of being. It's a deeper sense of peace and satisfaction that isn't as vulnerable to the ups and downs of daily life. Of course, content people still experience happiness - they just don't depend on it or let it define their existence.