Synthetic Happiness!
Krishnakumar Ramanathan
Managing Director and Group CEO S & S Power | Acrastyle | Hamilton Research and Technology | At the intersection of Engineering and Management lie infinite possibilities!
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Synthetic Happiness! / 103, 25 Nov 2023
We get what we want, we are happy with it (Natural Happiness).
We don’t get what we want, but we can still be happy with it (Synthetic Happiness!).
Despite the name, there is nothing artificial or fake about Synthetic Happiness, the theme for today’s article. It is a positive and pragmatic response to the events happening around us. In a famous TED TALK, Harvard Psychologist and author of the book “Stumbling on Happiness” Daniel Gilbert talks about the unique frontal lobe in our brains that enables us to simulate experiences and recollect our emotions from those experiences for future situations. That means, even before having an actual new experience, we can simulate it in our brains from an older one. However, our simulators tend to overthink the positive or negative impact of a new experience on our future lives – like that of passing / failing an exam, of getting / not-getting a promotion, of buying / not-buying a car, etc. Hence, we are often wrong in assessing what will make us feel happy or sad, and the eventual outcomes often surprise us! But the good part is that such outcomes hardly matter in the larger scheme of life, and for critical outcomes that don’t go our way, it has been proven that we can create our own ‘synthetic’ happiness to tide us over.
Dr. Gilbert looks at data of two sets of people – one set of people who won lotteries and the second, a set of people who became paraplegic, both extreme situations on the happiness scale. Naturally, at first, lottery winners were extremely happy while paraplegics experienced extreme sorrow or depression. But after one year, it was found they both experienced similar levels of happiness. This is because the paraplegics had learned to look at the positives of their situation, leading to increased happiness. The lottery winners, on the other hand, having made multiple choices and received varied experiences, were re-imagining what they could have done better, leading to reduced happiness. Like the paraplegics, we have the ability in our brains to create ‘synthetic’ happiness and look at the positives even in difficult situations. BUT, like the lottery winners, having multiple choices reduces our brain’s inability to create ‘synthetic’ happiness.
Many of us live in a middle zone, unlike the extreme examples above. And yet, we experience both happiness and sorrow as we go through different situations in our life. Sometimes we do get what we want (positive outcome), and we are happy. But more often, we do NOT get what we want (negative outcome), and we are unhappy. The outcomes may not be in our control, but our reactions to them are! Facing negative outcomes with fortitude and believing that it will change for the better helps us generate ‘synthetic’ happiness in our brains. A few examples:
To summarise, by taking difficulties and setbacks in our stride, believing that they are momentary, and by committing to stay focused and invested in ourselves, we can increase our ‘synthetic’ happiness to keep us motivated when the going is tough.
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I hope you enjoyed reading this one, and – as always – look forward to your continued feedback and perspectives as we build a buzz of discussion on this topic. Warmest regards, Krishnakumar.
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Reference Sources:
Former Vice President - Siemens Real Estate - Asset Management Unit India & Bangladesh
1yIf we believe KK that the journey is more important than the results then we can derive happiness from the excitement of trying to make things work . If things always went our way things could get boring is the other way to look at things . But of course we need to balance -ve energy and + energy in the process of making things go our way is my thought . Not always easy of course .
Production and Quality Manager in Raviraj Process Controls Pvt Ltd
1yNice sharing.Very true.We should always think positive to achieve happiness
A journey from self gratification to self fulfillment - live learning forever
1yThanks KK. Great piece as usual. The underlying philosophy as well as science of the concept is strong. The article motivates us to direct our thought process in the line that triggers the happiness chord to play positive tunes in our lives. Love it. 👍
Management Professional.- IIML Alumnus- Startup Mentor. Helping Customers with Innovative Solutions.
1yDr. Daniel is a psychologist and what he has emphasized is essence of theories and collected data in his brain as a case study. Chemical changes in brain will control our mood no doubt but basically chemical reactions in brain are controlled by mind. Irrespective of our situation , if we take certain drugs it will keep us happy for few hours. External factors can induce certain chemicals but the result will not be same at all time and situation. Lord Krishna himself told it is not that much easier to control the mind. It is much much faster than wind. This synthetic happiness and all will not work for majority of people. Shockingly, highest suicide committed by psychologist and psychiatrist in USA. Why? Meditation is the only proven way to calm in any situation. Peace will allow brain to produce chemicals for positive mind set. We should learn how to disconnect ourself from the external world as we as internal thought. It is possible only with commitment and continuous practice. This is what our Yogis taught 10000 years ago. So it is not possible to be happy in all situations and nothing wrong in being sad also.. Both are emotions That's all. Living in present is the key. Thank you.
Freelance Professional - Management Consultant, Business Consultant
1yStaying out of negative thoughts is the first step to happiness.