Dan Gilbert: Why are we happy? Why aren't we happy?

http://www.ted.com Dan Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness, challenges the idea that well be miserable if we dont get what we want. Our "psychological immune system" lets us feel truly happy even when things dont go as planned.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers are invited to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes -- including speakers such as Jill Bolte Taylor, Sir Ken Robinson, Hans Rosling, Al Gore and Arthur Benjamin. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, politics and the arts. Watch the Top 10 TEDTalks on TED.com, at
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[mrkman35]

Happiness = Reality - Expectations

[Debbie Edwards]

There are so many variables as to why an individual is stuck, from nature to nurture to just choice ... It doesn't always mean people that are depressive.... Some people are used to behaving miserable, that neurologically they are prone to it ...some grow up in a family where people are unhappy and so it's learned .... Sometimes people have unrealistic expectations of self and/or others ....Some are used to being around misery and feel uncomfortable without it .... and so on .....and so on...etc

[Henry Graham]

"Truth resist simplicity" Hank Green

Happiness is more complex than a simple equation just as depression is not all about imbalances in brain chemistry.

[bhindigenie]

so basically lower your expectations,,,,

[zl13hallyuforever9]

Most basic summary I can make: Constantly searching for happiness is unnecessary because we can create our own happiness. If you have more questions, feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer, or maybe some other YouTube commenter will~^^

[DeAhura]

and like he said in the end: there are some alternative choices who are better. But the price to pay should not to be to high.

[DeAhura]

I think awareness does not matter. Even if we aware, we still rationalize our choices. The question about how to make a choice is a whole different one: we always have preferences, based on our brushed up memories of the past and our evalution of the good and the bad things of it, based on information we get through our senses. If not, if you really believe it does not matter, we will doubt as hell, like the people who had more time of making their choice.

[Zuchtsau]

20:40 "When our ambition is bounded, it leads us to work joyfully. When our ambition is unbounded, it leads us to lie, to cheat, to steal, to hurt others, to sacrifice things of real value. When our fears are bounded, we're prudent, cautious & thoughtful. when our fears are unbounded & overblown we are reckless & we are cowardly"

[Zuchtsau]

The problem about this: Emotions attach Expectations.

If we think about them, we wriggle them around.

Meaning as long as you dont have expectations you can never really feel & use the huge energy our emotions present us with, to go for our ideals/expectations. Its also the opposite of science, so the opposite of controling & to care for things that are naturally important to us. You also neglect the impact of your own doings & emotions to yourself with having no expectations. U miss life!

[ShaunDavin13]

Reality = Effort x Expectations.

[Shahzaib Siddiqui]

how do you measure happiness?