when it comes to understanding how to achieve happiness, most of us have it backward. We believe, “Once I become successful, then I’ll be happy.” Or, “Once I become healthier … once I find that relationship … once I’m living where I want to live … once my income is high enough to manage my life without stress … then I’ll be happy.” But that’s not how it works. Oh, we think it does. We all assume that’s the way things work. If I do this, and I do it long enough, then I’ll be happy. That makes sense. But it’s just not what happens. In fact, says the research, it works exactly the opposite way.
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