The Happiness Smile (EP.10)

Happiness Curve

The discussion on happiness over time reveals a fascinating trend where happiness follows a U-shaped curve throughout life. Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson explore this concept, noting that happiness is high during youth, declines through middle age, and rises again in later years 1. This pattern is likened to a smile, with Scott Galloway attributing the dip to life stresses like career challenges and personal losses.

Youth is replete with beer, college, and making out. We then graduate to job stress, trying to forge our career, and someone we love gets sick and dies. In our thirties and forties, we realize we won't be a senator or have a fragrance named after us. And then something happens. Our satisfaction and happiness turns upward as we age and realize we have so much to be grateful for.

--- Scott Galloway

Ben reflects on his own happiness, attributing it to his family and job satisfaction, while acknowledging that many people struggle with job dissatisfaction, impacting their overall happiness 1.

   

Expectations

Expectations play a crucial role in shaping personal happiness, as Ben Carlson and Michael Batnick discuss. They suggest that high expectations in youth often lead to disappointment, but as people age, they learn to appreciate what they have, leading to greater contentment 2. Michael emphasizes the importance of not being overly concerned with others' opinions, which often diminishes with age, allowing for more genuine happiness.

You care, and I say you, meaning not you, but just everybody cares so much about how they're perceived and what other people think about them. And as you get a little bit older and a little bit wiser, you realize that people's opinions of you doesn't matter at all.

--- Michael Batnick

Ben shares his desire to instill in his children the value of self-acceptance and not worrying about others' perceptions, a lesson he believes is crucial for long-term happiness 2.

   

Life Satisfaction

The intersection of happiness trends and expectations highlights a broader understanding of life satisfaction. Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson note that as people age, they often shed superficial relationships and societal pressures, which contributes to a rise in happiness 1 2. This shift is partly due to a realignment of expectations and a focus on meaningful connections and personal health.

As you get older, you probably lose frivolous relationships that really don't mean a damn thing. And so you have less people that you're trying to impress, and then you just all of a sudden become happy for your family, your health and everything else like that.

--- Michael Batnick

The hosts reflect on how these insights can be applied to personal growth, emphasizing gratitude and self-awareness as key components of happiness 1 2.