Don't Trust Your Gut: Using Data to Get What You Really Want in Life

by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

According to my read of the research of Joel and her coauthors, the best three questions to figure out whether John is happy with Sally would have nothing to do with Sally; in fact, all would be related to John. The best questions to predict John’s happiness with Sally would look something like these: “John, were you satisfied with your life before you met Sally?” “John, were you free from depression before you met Sally?” “John, did you have a positive affect before you met Sally?” Researchers found that people who answered “yes” to questions such as these are significantly more likely to report being happy in their romantic relationship. In other words, a person who is happy outside their relationship is far more likely to be happy inside their relationship, as well.