As we delve into the vast and complex realm of happiness, it’s essential to acknowledge the multifaceted nature of this concept. Researchers have long grappled with the notion that happiness is a fleeting experience, often contingent upon a delicate interplay of genetic predispositions and environmental factors. The prevailing wisdom at the time was that happiness was akin to a recalcitrant bloom, resistant to cultivation or deliberate pursuit.
In fact, a 1996 study suggested that attempting to engineer happiness could be tantamount to trying to defy the laws of nature, ultimately leading to a fruitless endeavor. However, a paradigm shift began to take shape in the 1980s, thanks to the tireless efforts of pioneers like Ed Diener and Sonja Lyubomirsky. Diener, a distinguished psychologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign… only began to seriously explore the subject of happiness after securing tenure.
Lyubomirsky, meanwhile, “was initially hesitant to focus on emotions,” “a domain she perceived as being somewhat stigmatized.” Yet, a fortuitous conversation with her adviser on her first day of graduate school at Stanford kindled a sense of determination… and she resolved to dedicate herself to researching happiness.
Reference: See here
## Chasing Joy: Beyond Fleeting Moments and a Stigmatized Domain For years, the pursuit of happiness felt… well, a bit foolish. Like trying to bottle sunshine, or perhaps even worse, like chasing a unicorn. Psychology, in its more austere moments, seemed to imply that happiness was largely a genetic lottery, a fleeting consequence of circumstance, not something you could actively cultivate. The idea of *trying* to be happy, according to some research, was akin to rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic. A nice thought, perhaps, but ultimately futile against the unyielding forces of nature. That happiness was a subject considered unworthy of serious research tells a story in itself. Why dissect something so ephemeral? Why dedicate rigorous scientific method to something so… fluffy? The field seemed more concerned with the pathology of unhappiness, with understanding depression, anxiety, and trauma. Understandable, of course, but it left a gaping void in our understanding of the other side of the coin. The prevailing narrative, whispered in the hallowed halls of academia, seemed to be: fix what’s broken, but don’t waste time trying to build something… happy. ## The Seeds of Change: Tenure and a Fortuitous Conversation Enter the quiet revolutionaries, the researchers who dared to question the status quo. Names like Ed Diener, who, interestingly, only truly committed to the study of happiness *after* the security of tenure. Was it the freedom to pursue less “serious” topics? Or perhaps the psychological safety net that allowed him to explore a field previously considered peripheral? Whatever the reason, Diener’s work laid a foundation for a more nuanced understanding of subjective well-being. And then there’s Sonja Lyubomirsky, who, in her own words, was initially hesitant. The study of emotions, she felt, carried a certain stigma. Perhaps a reflection of the broader societal discomfort with vulnerability, with acknowledging and exploring the complexities of our inner lives. But a chance conversation, a seemingly insignificant moment on her very first day of graduate school, sparked a fire. A sense of purpose ignited, a conviction that happiness was not just a frivolous pursuit, but a worthy subject of rigorous scientific inquiry. ## Reframing the Narrative: From Fleeting Emotion to Skillful Practice These pioneers, and others like them, began to shift the conversation. They dared to ask: Can happiness be learned? Can we develop strategies, practices, and habits that genuinely increase our sense of well-being? They moved beyond the deterministic view of happiness as solely a product of genetics and circumstance, and instead began to explore the potential for agency, for personal empowerment in shaping our own experiences of joy. This paradigm shift was more than just an academic exercise; it offered hope, a pathway towards a more fulfilling and meaningful life. The idea of approaching happiness as a skill, something that could be cultivated and honed, was a radical departure from the previously ingrained beliefs. The challenge now, is to take these initial steps and translate them into actionable insights that can genuinely improve our lives.
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Decades of wellness studies have identified a formula for happiness, but you won’t figure it out alone.
Susan Dominus’ last article for the magazine was about an IVF mix-up. She is the author of the forthcoming book, “The Family Dynamic: A Journey Into the Mysteries of Sibling Success.”
