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Here Are the Types of Goals Research Has Shown Will Actually Make You Happy

benlefort.substack.com · 859 words · saved by 1 readers

These are the types of goals that are heavily promoted on social media and, frankly, in real life. They are also the kinds of goals that are unlikely to make you happy. In this article, I explore research on the types of goals that will—and won’t make most people happy. A 2010 research paper by Sheldon, Gunz, Nichols, and Ferguson explores why people who prioritize extrinsic goals—such as money, fame, and image—often believe these pursuits will make them happy, even though evidence suggests otherwise. The researchers suggest that this may be due to what’s called affective forecasting errors. This is a technical term to describe how people misjudge how future events will impact their emotional well-being. Essentially, the study aims to understand why extrinsic goals remain appealing despite their lack of long-term emotional benefits. To investigate this, the researchers conducted three studies involving college students. In the first study, they surveyed 201 students about their current

Materialistic goals will never bring you genuine happiness. A big house, a new Tesla, A prestigious job you don’t enjoy. These are the types of goals that are heavily promoted on social media and, frankly, in real life. They are also the kinds of goals that are unlikely to make you happy. In this article, I explore research on the types of goals that will—and won’t make most people happy. A 2010 research paper by Sheldon, Gunz, Nichols, and Ferguson explores why people who prioritize extrinsic goals—such as money, fame, and image—often believe these pursuits will make them happy, even…

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