Adam Grant’s Post

I wish more people understood that our emotions are merely indicators of how well (or poorly) our needs are being met in any given circumstance. We need to pay attention to them, not as ends in themselves, but as clues to how we need to live our lives if we want to be happy.

The key is "leading a life of meaning and engagement"...this encompasses a lot, but most importantly what it suggests is that it's not about what others value in you, it's what you value in you. To lead a life you find to be meaningful and to feel that you are engaged with individuals and activities you find to be significant and important. There's an active component here...happiness doesn't just come to you...it comes from making choices (even when they are challenging) that are meaningful and that create engagement.

Being obsessed with happiness can ironically lead to unhappiness because it creates unrealistic expectations and constant pressure to feel a certain way. When we fixate on achieving happiness, we may become overly critical of any negative emotions or setbacks, viewing them as failures rather than natural parts of life. This pursuit can also make us overlook the value in moments of discomfort, which are often where personal growth and resilience are developed. By focusing too much on happiness as a goal, we can miss out on the present moment and the richness of a full emotional experience. True contentment often comes from accepting life’s ups and downs, rather than forcing a constant state of happiness.

Happiness is a life free from abuse or any form of torture or bullying being given fur credit praise due and deserved boost which used to be basis manners and respect appreciated and valued for and not being used to power other people's careers at your expense which id occurring far too much n my humble opinion your worth doing your best and your contribution no matter what station you are in life or in career - to be appreciated for all you give or have given rather than being looked down on every profession and trad or role etc has its unique value and contribution and should be treated and respected as such even thank you is too much for people or i hear or heard you |I will take some responsibility and help you deal with this issue etc etc I am listening or I believe you etc I acknowledge is often too much for people.

Careful, joy and happiness are two substantially different things, much like being in a good mood and and having a good character are not the same at all. Happiness denotes a state of mind of abundance, a mental balance that makes us detached from that which doesn’t serve us, while joy - much like fun and pleasure - deal with instant gratification and remains situational. Focusing on pleasure is therefore detrimental, but focusing on happiness is essential.

Chasing happiness as a primary goal can often lead us astray, but when we focus on meaningful experiences and purposeful engagement, joy naturally follows. It’s a powerful reminder that fulfillment comes from living a life aligned with our values and passions, not from the constant pursuit of an elusive emotion. Interestingly, some of our most creative and driven moments can arise from places of unhappiness or fear. These emotions can push us to grow, innovate, and find deeper meaning in our pursuits."

Happiness is a state of being. We don’t find it along the way to anything or in leading any particular kind of life. We just experience it when something, anything, makes us happy in the moment. Just stop, recognize and enjoy being happy when it hits.

I Agree and disagree. Happiness ought to be the most ultimate goal. Not as a feeling to pursue in the moment, but definitely as a byproduct of meaningful purposeful life. How do you know this is true? Ask yourself WHY ought you live a life of "meaning and engagement"? Happiness is the WHY. Meaning and engagement is the HOW. Your job is to figure out WHAT do you truly most want in life. My strong opinion held loosely.

I once read somewhere: “If you think you need to be successful to reach happiness try the other way around.” I find this to be an extremely valuable and– based on my own experience–true piece of advice.

Yes... and happiness is a muscle you need to exercise, which you can do with intention. As you go about "leading a life of meaning an engagement," being intentional about showing gratitude and reflecting on the positive help "prime the pump" for happiness.