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If Your Only Goal Is to Be Happy, You’re Decreasing the Value of Your Life
The downfalls of happiness
I can hardly imagine a person who would answer the question: Do you want to be happy? With No, not at all.
The importance of happiness was known to humans for long centuries, and Aristotle proclaimed already 2400 years ago,
“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”
Feeling ecstatic and full of energy isn’t the only great thing about happiness, though.
It also helps us improve productivity, strengthen the immune system, decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and speed up recovery time.
In addition, setting happiness as your life purpose makes you think of yourself as someone with the proper values — you don’t chase superficial things like money, a good career, or success.
All these points sound great — until you realize that happiness comes with many flaws.
The problem with happiness
According to scientists, there are three main keys to happiness:
- Purpose — doing things that matter
- Pleasure — having the ability to do what you love to do