On The Nature Of Happiness

Too much freedom and too many choices--a by-product of modern civilization--cause dissatisfaction, regret, and unhappiness. On the other hand, this allows us to tailor our choices to match our individual preferences.

People incorrectly believe that they will only be happy if they get what they want. They overestimate how much individual decisions and outcomes affect their long-term happiness. This belief is what drives people to be ambitious, productive, industrious, but can also drive people to make moral and ethical compromises. In reality, happiness is relatively fixed regardless of situation (baring extremes like poverty, abuse, sickness).