Who says being happy is always good? A study published in the journalPerspectives on Psychological ScienceIt reveals that happiness also has a dark side, that it should not be conceived as a universally good thing, and that in some cases it can even make us feel bad.
There are many books that tell us how we can be happy. Butsetting happiness as a life goal can be a bad ideaAccording to researcher June Gruber, from Yale University (USA), who assures that people who strive to achieve this feeling as a goal can end up feeling much worse than they started. In fact, a previous study by Iris Mauss of the University of Denver and her colleagues found that people who read a newspaper article extolling the importance of happiness feel worse after watching a “happy” or funny movie. than those who read an article that does not talk about being happy. The key, they say, isthe disappointment that occurs when those who pursue the feeling of happiness do not feel better doing certain things.
On the other hand, recent studies reveal thatFeeling “too” happy makes us think less creatively, as well as tending to take more risks(drive fast, spend the savings …). On the other hand, being happy in exchange for not having oneminimal dose of negative emotions-which play an important role in life- is also dangerous. Fear prevents us from taking unnecessary risks, and guilt reminds us that we should be good to others. Ultimately, the best way to feel happy is to stop worrying about happiness and invest your energy in maintaining the social ties we have with other people. “The rest will come alone,” says Gruber.
