The pursuit of happiness is deeply integrated into our culture and value system. The happier you are, the better and more successful you are perceived to be. But is that really true? As a healthcare professional dealing with emotionally demanding responsibilities and living busy lives, the modern interpretation of the pursuit of happiness may not be helpful. Here, we discuss the adverse effects of the pursuit of happiness in modern society in relation to mental health.
The pursuit of happiness has long been a cornerstone of human aspiration, deeply woven into the fabric of our societal and individual value systems. Traditionally, this journey involved engaging in meaningful tasks, overcoming challenges, and diligently working towards a better life. Happiness was seen as a natural outcome of these efforts and accomplishments.
In 340 BCE, the Greek philosopher and scientist Aristotle described happiness as the outcome of purposeful actions:
"Happiness, then, is something final and self-sufficient, and is the end of action."
Today, the quest for happiness tends to prioritise immediate satisfaction, with a strong focus on achieving goals and external gratification. The emphasis has shifted from valuing the journey and the efforts invested, to celebrating the end results. If these results don’t meet today’s heightened expectations, feelings of inadequacy and disappointment often follow.
Living a routine life, finding satisfaction in the ordinary, and managing daily struggles are no longer considered or portrayed as “happiness” in modern societies. Happiness is now often associated with achievement and extravagant things. This perspective can lead to an endless cycle of chasing, rather than cultivating a deep and lasting sense of fulfilment in our everyday lives.
Learn more about the adverse effects of the pursuit of happiness:
For healthcare professionals who navigate highly stressful environments, face emotional challenges, and risk burnout, this contemporary approach to happiness might not only be unrealistic but potentially counterproductive.
Here we delve into the relationship between the pursuit of happiness and mental health. We contrast traditional and contemporary views on seeking happiness, explore the psychological aspects of happiness, and discusses how adversity plays a crucial role in achieving wellbeing.
How does the pursuit of happiness look like to you as a healthcare professional? Share your ideas in the comment section below.
Historical Context of the Pursuit of Happiness
The pursuit of happiness has significantly evolved throughout history, reflecting shifts in societal values, philosophical insights, and scientific understandings, impacting today’s views on happiness.
In ancient cultures, happiness was linked to divine favour or living in harmony with cosmic orders. The ancient Egyptians’ adherence to Ma’at, suggested happiness stems from fulfilling one’s role in a divinely ordered universe. Stoicism, another influential Greek school of thought, taught that happiness is found in accepting the moment as it presents itself, by not allowing oneself to be controlled by the desire for pleasure or fear of pain, but instead finding peace and fulfilment in one’s inner attitude and virtuous actions.
The Enlightenment era redefined happiness as a fundamental human right, emphasising individual fulfilment. This shift, exemplified by the US Declaration of Independence’s “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”, focused on personal freedom and happiness as central life goals.
With industrialisation, happiness became closely linked to material success and consumerism, resulting in a modern perspective on happiness that emphasises chasing wealth, success, and status.
The modern pursuit of happiness:
Today, modern society grapples with the consequences of associating happiness with material gains, perpetual optimism, external validation, and constant pleasure-seeking. The challenge involves recognising the adverse effects of “modern happiness” focused on material or hedonistic pursuits and the avoidance of negative emotions. However, there is a growing awareness of the downsides of this approach, supported by recent psychological research and alarming mental health statistics.
Over 280 million people globally suffer from depression, and suicide claims more than 700,000 lives annually*, with healthcare professionals being particularly vulnerable. Studies indicate significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and burnout among healthcare professionals compared to the general population.
This historical perspective reveals the complexity of happiness’s evolution, from divine favour and deeper virtues to individual rights and materialism. It underscores the need for a paradigm shift towards a more holistic approach to happiness. One that could help reduce the rising rates of depression, mental illness, and suicide globally. Rethinking our pursuit of happiness may require us to embrace the full spectrum of our emotions, cultivate self-awareness, resilience, hard work, and place more focus on collective wellbeing.
Adverse Effects of The Modern Pursuit of Happiness
Happiness research includes disciplines like psychology, sociology, neuroscience, and economics. This field acknowledges the subjective nature of happiness, shaped by personal values, cultural norms, and individual experiences. Despite this subjectivity, research identifies universal contributors to wellbeing: financial security, physical health, fulfilling relationships, meaningful activities, and a sense of purpose. These elements underscore the complexity of achieving happiness, pointing to a nuanced balance between the traditional view, which emphasises purpose, and the modern view, which leans more towards pleasure.
The psychological research of happiness offers two prominent perspectives: hedonic and eudaimonic. Hedonic happiness focuses on pleasure seeking and pain avoidance, suggesting a simple equation for happiness. However, this approach can lead to a superficial experience if pursued exclusively, risking habituation, where continuous pleasure-seeking demands more stimuli to achieve the same level of happiness. This can foster addictive behaviours and a neglect of fulfilling life pursuits. Moreover, prioritising hedonic happiness may correlate with higher anxiety and depression levels, as it often overlooks long-term fulfilment.
Conversely, the eudaimonic perspective emphasises meaningful engagement, personal growth, and achieving one’s potential. While it promotes deeper fulfilment, an exclusive focus on eudaimonia might neglect the importance of experiencing simple pleasures. This could potentially lead to stress, burnout, and feelings of inadequacy due to unrealistically high expectations – sometimes referred to as “the dark side of happiness”.
Recent research on happiness advocates for a more holistic approach that integrates hedonic pleasure with eudaimonic fulfilment for optimal mental health. This integration, as illustrated by the PERMA model (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Achievement), proposed by Martin Seligman, suggests that blending pleasure with meaningful engagement yields the highest levels of wellbeing. Therefore, while happiness is inherently subjective, combining elements of both hedonic and eudaimonic happiness is most conducive to mental health and overall wellbeing, offering a more sustainable path to happiness.
The Role of Adversity in The Pursuit of Happiness and Wellbeing
Adversity plays an important and complex role in mental health, wellbeing, and happiness, serving as both a potential source of stress and a catalyst for growth and resilience. The relationship between adversity and wellbeing can be understood through various psychological frameworks and research findings, which highlight how individuals and healthcare professionals in particular navigate challenges.
For example, research on Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) suggests experiencing adversity can lead to significant personal growth, including improved relationships, a greater appreciation for life, increased personal strength, and a redefined sense of priorities. While not everyone who experiences adversity will undergo PTG, it indicates the potential for positive change following challenging life events. Avoiding hardship or negative emotions may deprive us from the positive outcomes of these experiences.
The ability to bounce back from negative experiences and adapt to adversity through resilience is another important aspect of happiness. Resilient individuals often exhibit a more positive outlook on life, a higher level of emotional wellbeing, and less distress in the face of hardship. Developing resilience can be a protective factor against mental health issues and contribute to overall happiness. In this perspective, all emotions, including the hard and uncomfortable ones, can be seen as being crucial in the pursuit of happiness.
Adversity in the Healthcare Profession:
Healthcare professionals frequently face high levels of stress and adversity, including long working hours, emotional demands of patient care, and exposure to traumatic situations. These challenges can negatively impact their mental health and wellbeing. However, the very nature of their work also provides unique opportunities for eudaimonic fulfilment through meaningful engagement, compassion, and professional achievement. Healthcare professionals often report a high sense of purpose and dedication to their work, contributing positively to their sense of wellbeing and happiness.
Adversity can have both detrimental and beneficial effects on mental health and level of happiness. The difference often lies in the individual’s resilience, support systems, and coping strategies. For healthcare professionals, the adversity encountered in their work can lead to both stress and burnout, as well as a sense of meaning and satisfaction. The practice of resilience, the creation of supportive work environments, and adherence to self-care practices are important factors in fostering the latter. Understanding and leveraging the complex relationship between adversity and wellbeing can help individuals and professionals alike to navigate challenges more effectively, leading to personal growth and a more profound sense of happiness and fulfilment.
As psychologist Adam Grant put it:
"Happiness isn’t about always being joyful.
It’s about finding meaning in life’s challenges and learning to bounce back stronger."
How do you pursue happiness as a healthcare professional? Share your thoughts or favourite quote on happiness in the comment section below. If you found this article on the adverse effects of the pursuit of happiness helpful, send it to a colleague via social media:
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