The Recipe For Happiness According To Dan Gilbert

Dan Gilbert is a psychologist, author and professor at Harvard University . He is known for writing the book What is Happiness? (Stumbling on Happiness) , which has been translated into more than 30 languages. He is also known because in many of his lectures and conferences he claims that he has found the recipe for happiness.

At first glance, Gilbert’s statements may seem shallow. The whole “recipe for happiness” scheme seems more like a self-help scheme. However, he is a strict psychologist. He is convinced that it is a recipe for happiness, but that there are no shortcuts to it either.

Dan Gilbert states that the first task is to know what makes you happy. He also says that you can not and should not be happy all the time. If you were, you would not know when you were happy and when you were not. Gilbert compares this to a compass that always points to the same place. That needs to change, too.

The science behind happiness

Dan Gilbert says that being happy is easier than people think. Happiness is not hidden somewhere nor is it a treasure waiting to be found. It is neither the result of achieving specific goals nor a matter of course that comes with success.

Gilbert distinguishes synthetic happiness from natural happiness. Synthetic happiness is when you get something you set as your goal, such as a job, getting married, traveling, winning first place in a competition, getting an “like” or something like that. He believes that this type of happiness is temporary and conditional on a specific outcome.

On the other hand, you have natural happiness. This is not about a feeling, but a state of mind that happens by default. It is there if you have just achieved a goal or even when you do not. You were born with it.

The recipe for happiness

The recipe for happiness needs two ingredients that anyone can get. The first is not to make suffering a bigger thing than it is. Many people always remember the bad times they have been through, in addition to thinking about and fixating on them. Therefore, they oversize future disorders.

This ingredient is linked to the second part of the recipe for happiness: Relying on your own resilience. This means being able to resolve any situation that is giving you pain. Your lack of confidence in yourself to move on through pain is what makes you suffer in the first place.

When you are crippled by pain, you stop or never start doing the things you want to do. In a way, you limit yourself by expecting pain. The worst thing is that usually this disorder has happened. You are not afraid of the pain itself. Instead, you are afraid that you will not be able to overcome them.

The road to happiness

The recipe for happiness is supplemented with little things you can do every day to help you gain confidence in your resilience. The Road to Happiness includes five simple activities that anyone can do. Dan Gilbert states that learning to be happy is like losing weight: You have to do your part.

These five simple activities are:

• To wish to be happy. Happiness is a choice you make every day.
• Taking care of yourself. Eating healthy, exercising for half an hour a day and sleeping seven hours a day are the foundation of happiness.
• To establish and maintain healthy relationships. Leave relationships that make you feel bad and build better relationships with the people you love the most.
• Fun activities. Make a list of the things you enjoy doing and prioritize them.
• To be grateful. For yourself, for your life and for everything that gives you something, teaches you something or allows you to grow in some way. Helping others can also make you happier.

Natural happiness is a state of mind you build every day, step by step. The good news is that everyone is able to be happy. In a way, believing this and motivating yourself will give you the energy you need. Learning skills, such as emotional intelligence, will make the transition easier for you. In a way, it’s the recipe for happiness: the will to enjoy life.