The hottest Happiness Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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How To Be Happy In A Genocidal Dystopia On A Dying World

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 3306 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Existentialism Happiness Dystopia Human experience Perception
  1. You can find joy even in tough times. Appreciate the little things like nature and moments of beauty.
  2. It's okay to feel sad about the world, but don't let it steal your happiness. Engage with reality and feel all the emotions.
  3. Focus on recognizing the amazing parts of life. Shift your mindset to see the good things around you every day.

How ‘Puss in Boots' Reveals the Key to Human Happiness (Seriously)

The Take (by Jon Miltimore) • 158 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Film Philosophy Happiness Society Literature
  1. Appreciating what you have is key to happiness. Instead of focusing on what you don't have, think about the good things in your life.
  2. The characters in 'Puss in Boots' show that friendship and love matter more than wishes. Sometimes, you realize what you want is already around you.
  3. Envy not only makes you unhappy, but it can also lead you down a dark path. Being grateful helps you enjoy life better.

Want to Be Happier? Use These Five Charts to Improve Your Life.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2796 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Personal Growth Wellbeing Happiness
  1. Happiness comes from many types of wealth, not just money. You should focus on time, social connections, mental well-being, and physical health too.
  2. Reflect on the time you have left with loved ones. Understanding this can help you prioritize your time and who you spend it with.
  3. There's always something more to chase in life, like a bigger boat. Instead of striving for what society tells you to want, figure out what truly matters to you.

The Uber Driver Ratings Theory of Happiness

That Damn Optimist • 146 implied HN points • 03 Jun 25
📖 Philosophy Happiness Self-Improvement Mindset Relationships Perspective
  1. Drivers who rated their experiences positively often didn't see problems as a big deal. They focused more on the good aspects of driving, which helped improve their overall happiness.
  2. Building healthy relationships and having a sense of purpose were important for many drivers. They often mentioned doing their job for their families or to support side projects they loved.
  3. Shifting focus from personal problems to being curious about others can help reduce feelings of unhappiness. Engaging with others can remind us that our own problems might not be as significant.

Wealth, Trauma, Splendor - Introduction

Inland Nobody • 80 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
📖 Philosophy Ethics Happiness Meaning Values Humanity
  1. Happiness is the ultimate goal in life, and it takes many paths to achieve it. Finding what brings you joy is a personal journey.
  2. Wealth is important, not just as money, but as having enough resources to help others and improve lives. The more resources we have, the more good we can do.
  3. Decreasing trauma and increasing joy in life, or 'splendor', are key to personal and societal happiness. Every small effort counts in making the world a better place.
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Life in the matrix

Austin Kleon • 2877 implied HN points • 30 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Travel Happiness Mental health Writing Philosophy
  1. Life consists of three stages: anticipation, experience, and recall. Enjoy the waiting time before an event to boost overall happiness.
  2. Writing can create more worry than actual suffering. Try to dedicate specific time for writing and not think about it outside those moments.
  3. For enjoyable activities like vacations, embrace the planning and recall process to extend the joy of the experience. Taking photos and journaling can enhance the memories.

The elusive concept of happiness

The Pursuit of Happiness • 659 implied HN points • 01 Sep 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Happiness Neoliberalism Utilitarianism Political theory
  1. Happiness matters most in life. Without happiness, everything else seems meaningless.
  2. The pursuit of happiness is an important idea from history, reminding us that the journey to a good life is often more meaningful than simply trying to be happy.
  3. An expansive view of happiness includes kindness and virtues, suggesting that helping others can actually enhance your own happiness.

Palm Beach, Friendship Paradox, Personality and Eating

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1231 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Psychology Social Status Relationships Personality Behavior Happiness
  1. Women with tattoos might be more open to casual relationships and tend to enjoy new experiences more than those without tattoos.
  2. Going to religious services regularly can make people happier than having a lot of money, showing the power of community and connection.
  3. Good-looking people are often seen as more trustworthy and capable, which can even influence how they're treated in court.

Chip Conley Wants You To Love Getting Older

Changing The Channel • 1096 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Aging Happiness Self-care
  1. Life truly begins at 50, according to Chip Conley, as everything before that is just a dress rehearsal.
  2. Despite negative messages about aging in our culture, getting older can bring increased happiness and excitement for the future.
  3. Unlearning toxic social conditioning around aging is essential, especially with industries that profit from instilling fear of aging.

Marcus Aurelius VS Diogenes

Classical Wisdom • 1788 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Stoicism Cynicism Comparison Lifestyle Happiness
  1. Stoicism and Cynicism share the goal of achieving happiness through living in accordance with nature, but differ in how they view societal expectations and material possessions.
  2. Stoics like Marcus Aurelius valued harmonious living with others and some luxuries, while Cynics like Diogenes prioritized individual freedom and rejected wealth and excess.
  3. The Stoics refined Cynic philosophy into a more widely accepted practice, promoting virtue and wisdom as essential for a fulfilling life.

The aim of maximising happiness is doomed to fail as a public policy

Optimally Irrational • 79 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Utilitarianism Happiness Public Policy Ethics Cognitive Science
  1. Aiming to make everyone happy through public policy might not work. Happiness is not a simple thing that can just be increased.
  2. People adapt to their situations quickly, which means that any increase in happiness usually fades back to a normal level. This makes it hard to keep happiness growing over time.
  3. Happiness is often more about feeling good in the moment than about long-term goals. People might even choose challenging paths because they bring deeper satisfaction, rather than just chasing fleeting feelings of joy.

Happiness and the pursuit of a good and meaningful life

Optimally Irrational • 79 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Happiness Meaning of life Ethics Well-being Existentialism
  1. Happiness is more than just pleasure. It's about living a good life that includes strong relationships and a sense of purpose.
  2. We often face trade-offs in life, like choosing between immediate pleasures and long-term goals. Balancing these can lead to greater life satisfaction.
  3. Finding meaning in life often comes from contributing to others and building connections, rather than just chasing personal happiness.

Summer mailbag

Austin Kleon • 2677 implied HN points • 19 Jul 22
🎭️ Culture Art Literature Philosophy Media Happiness
  1. Going out to do small tasks can bring joy and purpose to your day. It's nice to find little errands to make life feel active and engaged.
  2. Answering letters is rewarding, but managing email can be overwhelming. It's great to connect with others but sometimes it's hard to keep up.
  3. Happiness often feels elusive, and chasing it can be tiring. It may just come to you unexpectedly if you're living in the moment.

Kindness

Venture Prose • 379 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Kindness Trust Happiness Values Self-Improvement
  1. Kindness should be a default currency when engaging with people, not something to reserve only for special situations.
  2. Expressing kindness can help to quickly determine if someone is trustworthy or not.
  3. Kindness is a valuable attribute that triggers positive responses, builds trust, and fosters happiness.

Seduced By The Machine

The Ruffian • 368 implied HN points • 16 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Values Metrics Autonomy Technology Happiness
  1. Humans are becoming more like machines by allowing apps and corporations to define their values and goals.
  2. Metrics and rankings from technology and organizations can shape our values, making us prioritize quantifiable standards over personal fulfillment.
  3. Value capture by external agents can lead to a loss of individuality and hinder personal growth, as people conform to standardized metrics and neglect their unique aspirations.

Why It's Important to Be Happy: an Instruction for Empaths

Tessa Fights Robots • 35 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Self-care Happiness Spirituality Emotional Wellbeing
  1. It's important to prioritize your own happiness; you are not a sacrifice for others. Taking care of yourself allows you to genuinely help others too.
  2. Feeling the pain of others can lead to self-destructive behavior. It's better to find a balance where you can support others without losing yourself.
  3. Real love and healing come from within. Being happy and nurturing yourself empowers you to contribute positively to the world.

Do You Get The Feeling That Something Is Different

Carefree Sketches • 99 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
⚔ Fiction Relationships Memories Happiness
  1. The concept of revisiting past moments and redoing decisions is explored through the idea of returning to save points, sparking a reflection on the ease of changing the course of one's life.
  2. The narrative delves into the complexities of relationships, showing how misunderstandings, miscommunications, and past actions can impact present dynamics and intimacy.
  3. There is a theme of perception and memory, highlighting how individuals may struggle with recognizing changes or differences in themselves or their lives, leading to uncertainty and self-reflection.

What's in a house?

10x your mind • 219 implied HN points • 12 Jan 23
🎭️ Culture Personal Growth Memories Moving Family Happiness
  1. Moving homes can bring a mix of excitement and nostalgia, especially when leaving behind cherished memories of pets and loved ones.
  2. Old connections and memories hold a special place in our hearts, making it easier to adapt to new environments and changes.
  3. Accepting and embracing both joyful and painful emotions is crucial for a fulfilling and happy life journey.

The Big Lie About Success

The Leadership Lab • 118 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Wellbeing Happiness Strengths Self-Improvement Motivation
  1. Success does not guarantee enduring happiness - beware of the Arrival Fallacy that assumes achieving a goal will bring lasting joy.
  2. Believing in the Arrival Fallacy can lead to a constant feeling of something missing, as true happiness requires a different mindset than just striving for success.
  3. Use the Arrival Fallacy as a short-term motivator, but focus on developing contentment and happiness for long-term well-being.

Are 10x happiness boosts possible?

inexactscience • 19 implied HN points • 31 May 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Personal Growth Happiness Self-Improvement Emotional Well-being
  1. You can significantly improve your happiness, possibly even by 10 times, especially if you start from a low point. Moving from a bad state to an average one can feel like a huge boost.
  2. Some people may find it hard to believe they can achieve extreme happiness, but even a small improvement, like 10%, can make a difference. It's about finding growth in your emotional state.
  3. Whether it's a 10x or 10% increase, the important thing is that personal growth is possible and it gives hope for a happier life.

Color

Rocket Philosophy by Ian • 78 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Happiness Pain Experience Connection Meaning
  1. Don't prioritize only being happy or 'chill', embrace pain and discomfort for a more meaningful life.
  2. Seeking out pain can lead to experiencing unimagined joys like connection and creation.
  3. Unique pains shape our personality and provide value, while shared pains foster understanding and community.

The Happiness Paradox

The Ruffian • 288 implied HN points • 13 May 23
🎭️ Culture TV shows Happiness
  1. Happiness is more complex than we think and modern culture acknowledges.
  2. TV shows like _Succession_ and _White Lotus_ highlight the struggle for happiness in a world that caters to wants more than needs.
  3. Gender can play a role in determining happiness according to scientific literature.

Perhaps You Should Quit Your High-Paying, Stressful Job

antoniomelonio • 77 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Lifestyle Society Philosophy Work Happiness
  1. Consider reevaluating the pursuit of high-paying, stressful jobs and reflect on what truly brings happiness.
  2. Question the societal emphasis on material wealth and the concept of 'conspicuous consumption' as measures of success.
  3. Examine the value of work that contributes meaningfully to society, prioritize personal well-being over societal expectations, and explore simpler ways of living for greater happiness.