Buzz
A recent study reveals that true happiness doesn’t come from constantly filling your mind with positivity. Instead, it’s about embracing your emotions— even the so-called negative ones— as long as they align with your values. When you understand the feelings you most desire and savor them when they arise, you’ll be in a better place emotionally.
This study was published last month in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. Traditional well-being research suggests that more pleasant emotions lead to greater happiness. However, Aristotle said that it’s the emotions we want to experience that bring true happiness.
To test Aristotle’s theory, the researchers brought together 2,324 participants from eight countries: the United States, Brazil, China, Germany, Ghana, Israel, Poland, and Singapore, representing a broad range of global cultural perspectives.
“Desiring to feel happy or joyful all the time isn’t realistic,” says lead study author Maya Tamir, director of the Emotion & Self-Regulation Laboratory at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, in an email interview. “It’s unrealistic to avoid sadness, anger, or fear entirely. If we can accept, or even welcome, all our emotions— whether pleasant or not— we’re more likely to be happier and more satisfied with our lives.”
Participants completed surveys either on paper or online. They first ranked the emotions they wanted to feel most and how often they hoped to experience them. Then, they played five minutes of emotionally neutral word games to clear their minds. Lastly, they reported how frequently they experienced those emotions in their everyday lives on a 1-to-5 scale.
Some people prefer high-energy positive states, like excitement, while others favor calmer, more subdued emotions such as tranquility. For these individuals, happiness hinges on whether they feel passion or contentment.
Then there are those who find satisfaction in self-affirming emotions like power and success. They enjoy pride— but also anger, resentment, and contempt. For them, a good ol’ Emperor Palpatine-style “Let the hate flow through you!” actually contributes to their happiness.
“It’s valuable to seek emotions that we find meaningful and worthwhile, even if they’re not always pleasant,” suggests Tamir. Next time you're stuck in traffic, feeling frustrated— maybe it’s all part of your journey to embrace your most fiery, passionate self.
