Life’s highs and lows rarely shape our long-term well-being as much as we predict.  It’s like a limbo dance – how low can you go?

Most of us believe a promotion, dream home or perfect relationship will make us happier for longer than it actually will. We also assume a job loss, breakup or disappointment will leave us miserable for years.  Psychologists Daniel Gilbert (Harvard) and Timothy Wilson (University of Virginia) have spent decades studying this mistake, known as affective forecasting. Their research shows people consistently exhibit an impact bias—overestimating both the intensity and duration of future emotional reactions.

In other words, bad things are not the end of the world like we think and that good things will fuel our happiness longer than they really do. Keep expectations low, motivation high to stop living in emotional limbo.  Don’t postpone your happiness waiting for life’s next high, and don’t assume today’s setback will define tomorrow. We are remarkably resilient. We adapt more quickly meaning our greatest victories and toughest defeats usually don’t have the lasting emotional power we imagine.

“The future is fundamentally different than it appears through the looking glass of the present.” — Daniel Gilbert and Timothy Wilson.

Thanks for sharing DayStarters