A good definition of happiness

I just finished reading a book by Paul Zane Pilzer, who has written many “rag to riches” books before that one and had a fascinating business career as well as an interesting life story. He also happens to live in Park City. 

In his book, “Becoming an Entrepreneur”, he introduces at some point what I find to be a very astute and valid concept, that is an equation about Happiness. It goes like this: “Happiness = Reality minus expectations.” While it may sound simplistic, if not limiting, this equation suggests that happiness is determined by the extent to which our stage in life stacks up against our own expectations. In other words, if we fall short of our goals, our happiness won’t be as great. 

This equation reflects the idea that having realistic expectations can contribute to one's overall happiness. Unrealistic or excessively high expectations can lead to disappointment and dissatisfaction when reality isn’t able to quite meet them. On the other hand, having lower or more achievable expectations may make it easier to find happiness in everyday experiences. It’s true that most of our expectations are not always realistic, whether they are about what we can achieve or what life should be like.

When our expectations are unrealistic, we are more likely to be disappointed and unhappy. It’s also true that our expectations can change as they are influenced by our experiences, our values, and our social environment. As we grow and change, our expectations may also change. Yet, we can control our expectations to some extent. 

Overall, I see the equation "Happiness = Reality minus Expectations" as a useful reminder we’re masters of our happiness barring some huge streaks of bad luck. In conclusion, happiness as it’s defined by that equation, is all in the way we set our expectations; they need to be realistic, focus on elements we can control and also need to remain flexible, adaptable and open to new experiences. 

By following these tips, we’ll get a bit closer to happiness by creating a more balanced and fulfilling life for us.