Why can it be so hard to be happy?

There are a number of errors we consistently make when predicting what will make us happy. (I’ve embedded links below to explain them further.)

Via Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth:

There are several predictable thinking errors people commonly make that lead them to incorrectly predict their own future emotions in general, and future happiness in particular:

1. Focusing on a single salient feature or period of time in a choice, rather than looking at the big picture.
2. Overestimating the long-term impact of our choices.
3. Forgetting that happiness is an ongoing process, not a destination.
4. Paying too much attention to external information while overlooking personal preferences and experience.
5. Trying to maximize decisions rather than focusing on personal satisfaction.
6. Confusing wanting something for liking it later, and forgetting to evaluate whether we will enjoy the choice once its novelty wears off.

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