In Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert, the author explores the gap that exists between our expectations of future happiness and the reality of what brings us joy. When I decided to dive into human cognition, I noticed that we often make mistakes in predicting our emotional reactions to long- or short-term future events. This has led me to believe that certain achievements like getting a promotion or acquiring material wealth will bring lasting happiness, even when they usually only fleetingly impact our well-being. The quote in the book that I feel has most illuminated this cognitive illusion is:
“Imagine that you have just won the lottery; you have a million dollars. Now imagine how happy you think you will be. Do you understand? Now, imagine that the happiness you expect from that stroke of luck is only temporary, fleeting, even. The truth is, once you have gotten what you want, happiness doesn’t last and soon you will be looking for the next big thing. “It is not what we get that makes us happy, but how we think we will feel when we get it” (p. 102).
I find this idea very surprising because as soon as I read it, it challenged my belief that external acquisitions, whether material or experiential, are the main sources of lasting happiness, or at least that is how it is put forward. Gilbert suggests that the mind tricks us into believing that we can predict how we will feel in the future, but happiness is often more complex and fleeting than we imagine. This quotation is important for me because it serves as a reminder that our assumptions about what will make us happy can lead us astray, shifting our focus from external gains to appreciating the present and cultivating internal satisfaction.